by Saint Browder
When I started working at Women of the ELCA in September, I was so excited about the prospect of engaging with racial justice through the lens of faith. Religion has such a beautiful and storied history of working alongside social movements, and I was eager to join the fray. From speaking with my new coworkers and the organization’s board, I knew there was a lot of energy ready to be put towards this initiative. I just couldn’t wait to get started on this important
work!
During our preparations to re-launch the Racial Justice Advocacy Network, current events have made it more and more clear just how important and necessary it is to consistently engage with racial justice, continuing to learn and grow as we stay informed. We are currently faced with threats to the security of our diverse community of neighbors, we should all work to do our part in keeping each other safe.
The Racial Justice Advocacy Network of the Women of the ELCA is committed to learning, growing, and building community with women who deeply believe in the need to actively pursue racial justice. Living into our baptismal call, we are a network of bold women working toward systemic change through anti-racism education and advocacy. Together, we seek to create bold and welcoming spaces where honest dialogue, reflection, and faithful action can
flourish.
We invite you to join us at our monthly engagement opportunities, held every fourth Thursday. These gatherings are opportunities to engage in thoughtful conversations about the realities of racism in our church and society, to listen to diverse experiences, and to explore what justice can truly look like in our congregations and communities. While the conversations may sometimes be difficult, they are grounded in faith, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to
transformation and healing. All questions in the service of growing in our journeys with racial justice are welcomed and encouraged.
On the 26th of February at 6:30 Central, we will gather on Zoom to center ourselves on poetry about immigrant experiences. As we follow the news and witness new injustices every day, it’s essential to stay rooted in the real, lived experiences of immigrants and the needs of immigrant communities. Meaningful racial justice work requires us to intentionally learn about and understand marginalized communities we may not know much about, so we can better
accompany them as they seek justice. Too often, this step is overlooked in the urgency to challenge oppressive systems, but prioritizing and supporting the communities most impacted must come first. We must cement ourselves first and foremost as allies to the affected communities, rather than enemies of opposing forces. Please register for this Zoom gathering.
We look forward to being in community with you!
Whether you are just beginning your racial justice journey or have been engaged in this work for years, there is a place for you in this network. To stay informed about upcoming meetings, resources, and opportunities for advocacy, be sure to read our newsletter and join our mailing list on our page on Women of the ELCA’s website. We look forward to walking this path of justice together.
Saint Browder (they/them), a recent Harvard University graduate, works with Women of the ELCA as a Lutheran Volunteer Corps fellow.