Toward Racial Wholeness:
A Commitment to Confront Racism in Church and Society

A STATEMENT APPROVED BY THE PARTNERSHIP TABLE OF THE MINNEAPOLIS AREA SYNOD, ELCA and RECOMMENDED TO THE MINNEAPOLIS AREA SYNOD ASSEMBLY, MAY 2003, FOR ADOPTION.

The church – the body of Christ – is made up of people from many different ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. In this it is no different from the society in which it exists. We believe, however, that the church can and will differ from society as a place where all people of God are given full representation, are encouraged to actively participate in the church’s evangelical mission, and have full opportunity to serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 12:12-13...

People of all ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds will be able to use their God-given talents at all levels of the Synod and will be fully included in decision-making processes. Any statements concerning racism will be affirmed and supported by actions at all levels of the Synod structure.

 “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears [God] and does what is right is acceptable to [God]....” - Acts 10:34-35

We may not be able to eliminate social, linguistic, and economic discrimination from the face of society, but we believe that the church of Jesus Christ can be the place where we promote brotherhood, sisterhood, love, justice, kindness – the place where barriers can be broken down and attitudes of hate and pride can be washed away.

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. - Galatians 3:28-29

We believe that the church is called by God to work toward a society in which justice and loving relationships prevail – where love, acceptance and kindness are shown to all who have in the secular world been excluded and been refused these things which are most basic and essential to the well-being of humanity. The church will provide what the secular world denies.

.. we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. - Colossians 1:4-5

The Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA and its congregations will continue to pray and work for the healing and reconciliation of all God’s people now and into the future.

-Provide an opportunity for the telling and hearing of people’s stories of exclusion or inclusion in both church and society, recording such stories on videotape which may be used as:

• A series of three two-minute vignettes to be aired at Synod Assembly.
• A half-hour film with discussion guide to be shared as a resource with congregations.  

-Provide an anti-racism component for orientation of rostered staff entering the Synod and anti-racism orientation for congregational call committees. Such orientation should raise awareness of “internalized oppression” and “white privilege” as well as address practical items.*

- Provide a Synod ministerium with an anti-racism workshop as its centerpiece.

- Active, creative and persistent promotion by the Synod for congregations and individuals in the Synod to gain the experience of anti-racism training. Put in place a team and a method to regularly monitor for signs of progress* toward our goal.

                                          *      *    *

* “Practical issues” and “signs of progress” might include looking at questions such as:  

• Is the decision-making body culturally and racially diverse?

• Are meetings/discussions open to all persons?

• Are meeting notifications and invitations in two or more languages and provided in advance of meetings?

• Have all materials, curriculum, instruction methods been screened for cultural/racial bias prior to use?

• Does the physical space for meetings reflect multicultural and anti-racist values in terms of posters, artwork, decorations, etc.?

• Are the rules of order, or other forms of meeting tradition, flexible enough to allow forms of participation commonly used in other cultures?

• Are institutional policies and practices based on a dominant group's worldview? Are   all aspects of institutional life audited and restructured for full participation of people of color, including their worldview, cultures, and lifestyles? Have new models, structures, policies and practices for inclusive decision-making, and other forms of power-sharing in the institution's life and work, been implemented?