by Jennifer Hockenbery
Women of the ELCA has a history of concern and advocacy to stop human trafficking and domestic violence. Our concern extends especially to the need to recognize the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Relatives (MMIWGR) who are trafficked, abused, and murdered at rates much higher than the national average.
WELCA, alongside the ELCA, has committed itself to “…advocacy for and being in solidarity with Tribal nations, MMIWGR organizations, families, and friends who have long been searching for their loved ones—Indigenous women, girls, and relatives—who have gone missing or who have been murdered.” (Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to American Indian and Alaska Native People, p. 4)
- Invite church members to wear red on Sunday, May 3rd, as a visible sign of their recognition for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and relatives.
- Fill the sanctuary with red, the color of remembrance, to show relatives and families they are not forgotten. Include prayers for individuals and families who are affected in your liturgy.
- Host or participate in a community prayer vigil. You can join Women of the ELCA’s virtual prayer vigil at 7pm on May 5th, a vigil for MMIW – Women of the ELCA
- You can hold your own in-person vigil using this template and liturgy. “Candlelight Vigil for Murdered and Missing Women,” written by Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy. Download the vigil.
- Join or coordinate a local MMIWR awareness session using this Bible Study created by Deborah Nyquist and Shannon Klescewski. This Bible study was created for the Alaska Synod Assembly on April 24-26, 2026. Download the Bible study Powerpoint.
- Post a photo of yourself wearing read on May 5th to social media with hashtags like #MMIW, #MMIWG2S, and #NoMoreStolenSisters
- Facilitate a community meeting to develop paths of MMIWR advocacy and assist in bringing relatives home: actively aiding families through search, financial support, supporting legislation using resources found here.
I am writing to share my very great disappointment after watching the video on Tuesday, May 5. It was very bland and boring; also entirely too wordy and too linear/rational. It should have begun with one indigenous woman telling one story, followed by a few minutes of the people chanting and singing in their canoes on the water. Then maybe two candles, a brief litany, and some closing prayers would have been fine; ending with the people in the water again and showing a sweep of the land over the singing/chanting.
This is why the ELCA remains so white. It is still too heady or rational, too verbose and with no real emotional color.
On the other side, I appreciate all the projects you do and always read Gather cover to cover. The sincerity of the organization cannot be questioned.
Respectfully
Rev. Karen Davis Thompson (Ret)
St. Paul, MN
[email protected]