February 2022 Newsletter
Racial Justice Training Opportunities
Region 8’s Racial Justice Training equips leaders (rostered and lay) to face the challenges of racism in a diverse, complex and changing world by providing tools and resources that foster healthy and holy conversations.
Each training is offered on Zoom using a combination of instruction and small group conversation. Facilitators will represent the region to the extent possible, spearheaded by the Reverend Carla Christopher Wilson.
For additional dates, more information, and registration, click here.
Online Training - Register here
Saturday, February 19, 2022, 9am-2pm
Friday, May 13, 2022, 12pm-5pm
In Person Training at Lutherlyn
Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 9am-3pm - Look for more details in the coming months.
"Talks at the Desk" video series
African Descent Ministries of the ELCA is celebrating Black History Month with Talks at the Desk, a new video series that will explore diverse expressions of the church. A new video will premiere each Wednesday in February at 7:30pm Central time. Watch them live on Facebook, stream them on YouTube, and download videos and discussion guides here.
Episode 1: Black Girl Magic
Episode 2: Black Boy Joy
Episode 3: Our Black Church - available February 16
Episode 4: Black Lives Matter - available February 23
Reparatory Justice Series
Join ELCA Advocacy on Wednesday, February16 for Atoning for Injustice and Building A Future Together, a webinar with interreligious leaders as they discuss theological perspectives related to reparations for people of African Descent, and to ongoing advocacy opportunities to pass H.R. 40 to further study the issue in the United States.
More information is available here; to register for the webinar, click here.
Pittsburgh Churches Discuss Reparations
Join Bethel AME Church from the Hill District and other partner communities (including St. Andrew Lutheran, Shadyside) as they think about the theological and ethical call to reparations to the Black Community in general, and to Bethel AME in particular as it seeks restitution for loss of land and wealth. These will be hard, vulnerable conversations, calling all participants to open hearts and minds to hear the stories of those marginalized and to recognize our own responsibility to repent and repair.
Discussions drawn from Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair by Duke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson. Prior reading is helpful, but not required!
Saturday, February 19 at 1pm at Bethel AME
2720 Webster Ave, Hill District 15219
Register for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZYrcuGuqTwiE9Vjx82taxiptlw...
Friday, February 25 at 6:30pm at Pitt Zoom Link: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/94294762324
Weekly Lenten Challenge
For this year's Synod Weekly Lenten Challenge, members and friends of the Authentic Diversity & Justice Team will be providing reflections on white privilege and the importance of racial justice work in their lives. Materials will be available in late February/early March.
MLK worship - New Date
The worship service celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that was cancelled due to inclement weather has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 3 at 4pm at Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church. Bishop Abraham Allende will be presiding, and Rev. Lamont Wells will be preaching. At this time, masks are required for in-person attendance.
For the livestream and resources for further engagement, visit swpasynod.org/mlk2022. The service will also be available on YouTube.