Reflections on Attending European Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice

Shirley Paulson, The Rev. Barb Girard, and The Rev. Leslie O’Callaghan attended the EDLARG Triennial Assembly.

The European Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice (EDLARJ) Triennial Assembly in Minneapolis March 1-3 and the ECSW was well represented.

The highlight of the assembly was a pilgrimage to the George Floyd Memorial. EDLARJ president Shari Seifert (author of Ashes to Action: Finding Myself at the Intersection of the Minneapolis Uprising) moderated a panel discussion at nearby Calvary Lutheran Church. The community members told how after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, they worked together to support each other. Now they tell visitors to experience the memorial but then go home and make a difference in their own communities.

The assembly voted to change the name of the organization to the ELCA Association of White Lutherans for Racial Justice. The group will continue to offer support such as online book studies and monthly drop in discussion sessions.

Shirley Paulson
ECSW Racial Equity Team, co-chair

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What I saw-Experienced?

Power of community
Persistence
Grief
Anger
Hope
Determination
Solidarity
Every day people are out in the square telling their stories, telling the stories of their loved ones.
Determined that the stories will be heard.
Challenging white folks to do more than just feel bad.

What am I going to do?

Continue to work for racial justice.

Continue to listen to the voices of those most affected by racial injustice and their challenge to be more than a "good white person."

The Rev. Barb Girard
Member, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Neenah