New Date:

Sunday, April 3, 2022

4pm

Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church
(517 Sangree Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237)

The Southwest Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an ecumenical service of Holy Communion. The service will encourage membership of the SWPA synod and the synod's partners to be engaged actively in the practice of nonviolence in our continuing efforts to build the Beloved Community in Pittsburgh.

Livestream Here:

 
 
 
 

PRESIDING

Bishop Abraham Allende

 

PREACHING

Rev. Lamont Wells

ELCA Director, LuMin / Campus Ministry

 
 

 

Youth-group and confirmation-group aged youth (middle school and older) to are invited to stay after “The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” for pizza and discussion.

Pastor Lamont Wells, along with members of the synod’s Authentic Diversity and Justice Working Group and Youth Ministry Committee, will discuss the Declaration of the ELCA to people of African Descent.

Email Pastor Melissa Stoller with any questions about the event. Melissa.stoller@elca.org

 

 

Community Partners:

 

 

Ongoing Service and Advocacy Engagements to Honor Dr. King and his Legacy

Dr. King encourages us to grow in our engagement to create racial justice, civil rights, and a peace-filled, nonviolent community for ALL.  

The following are some suggestions for how we can live out this legacy
through our commitments as members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

  1. Implement the ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge in your own life and in the life of your congregation.  https://www.elca.org/racialjusticepledge

  2. Participate in “God’s Work. Our Hands”  to build relationships across lines of race and difference to serve God collaboratively.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -Colossians 3:17

In 2019, at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, voting members adopted a resolution designating June 17 as a commemoration of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9—the nine people shot and killed on June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Congregations of the ELCA are encouraged to mark this day of penitence with study and prayer.

As church we are called to confess the sin of racism, condemn the ideology of white supremacy, and strive for racial justice and peace. Beyond statements and prayers, we are called to also act and respond to injustices. We invite you to commit to one or more of the actions below:

 
 

1. Sign the ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge on the ELCA website
“I commit to study, prayer and action to become an anti-racist individual in an anti-racist church,” and share your participation on social media using #ELCA4justice.

2. Work to dismantle racial injustice by listening to voices, experiences and the expertise of people of color.

3. Learn the history of racial injustice in America and the ways racism and white supremacy impact every aspect of our life together.

4. Support/participate in the Anti-Racism Ministry within the Southwest Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA.

  • Join, support or attend the SWPA Synod Authentic Diversity and Justice (ADJ) team meetings and work with the ADJ to start a team in your congregation.  Become a participant in the Authentic Diversity and Justice Task Force by contacting Rev. Ryan Pusch, Chair (rpusch001@luthersem.edu)

  • Study the ELCA social statement “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture” and the “Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent.”

  • Participate in the anti-racism training process of the SWPA Synod of the ELCA.  Check in with Rev. Brenda Henry of the Authentic Diversity and Justice Task Force of the SWPA Synod (brenda.henry@gmail.com)

 

5. God’s Work. Our Hands Sunday (usually organized for September annually but can be echoed all year).  In addition to service projects, add a focus on advocacy.

6. Start where you are by joining community organizations working for racial justice in your own neighborhood.

7. Reach out to build or deepen relationships with Historic Black Churches.

  • Consider using the congregational resource “Understanding One Another,” co-authored by the ELCA and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, or our Joint Statement of Mission with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church as a way to get started.

  • Contact Rev. Martin Rafanan (mjr9201@gmail.com) for opportunities to work with AME and AMEZ congregations in the Hill District of Pittsburgh: 

8.  Explore and use the anti-racism resources of our ecumenical partners through the A.C.T. Now to End Racism initiative of the National Council of Churches. 

9.  Participate in Community-wide work in the spirit of nonviolence and public service.

 

Still unsure how to engage your congregation? See our Congregation Resources for Commemorating MLK Day >>