Congregations, Faith in action
August 19, 2019 in“Having Helpful Conversations about Race in the Church” — Anti-Racism Training for Rostered and Lay Leaders” (Part 1 – Context).
The first of a series of anti-racism training events for lay and rostered leaders will be held Saturday, September 21, 2019, from 9am to 5pm, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 203 N Valley Forge Rd, Devon, PA 19333
Register by sending an email to
Deadline: Friday, September 13
Registration Fee is $15* which includes lunch and materials.
(Some scholarships are available)
This is the first in a series of four anti-racism training events based on a model produced by WELCA. Participants are asked to bringhumility, curiosity and courage as we together enter the conversation. The curriculum involves four events covering the following areas:
Part 1 (Context) addresses gaps in what we have learned of our nation’s history, describing events which have deeply affected people of color but which often go untold. (9/21/2019)
Part 2 (Context) continues with the history of racism in the United States after slavery was abolished, describing how assumptions harmful to people of color have become embedded in attitudes and institutions and continue to affect them today (scheduled for 11/16/2019)
Part 3 (Connection) examines how our (mis)perceptions of others can be due to a lack of connectiveness. How can individuals, especially Lutherans, understand each other’s circumstances and life experiences in order to connect? (scheduled for 2020)
Part 4 (Conversation) will provide ways to begin the conversation of race in the church with a goal of becomingeffective advocates for racial justice.(scheduled for 2020).
*Registration fee may be paid on-site in cash or by check. Checks ($15) should be made out to “SEPA-ELCA” and on the memo line, write “Anti-racism” as well as participant’s full name. Pre-payment checks should be mailed to Ms. Mercedes Lee, SoutheasternPennsylvania Synod, ELCA, 7241 Germantown Avenue, Wiedemann Center, Philadelphia, PA 19119.