Rejoice with me! I lately served as a voting member from the Minneapolis Space Synod at Churchwide Meeting 2025. Had God instructed me earlier than arrival that I might witness the election of an African-American Presiding Bishop and Secretary, I might have prayed, “Lord, I imagine; assist thou my unbelief!”
I’m overjoyed that our denomination has referred to as Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry and Secretary-Elect Mills. In each instances, once I heard the phrases, “There’s an election!,” I coated my face and wept tears of jubilation. I can not let you know what it means to see myself mirrored on the highest echelons of our church’s management construction. I’ve lengthy noticed the ministries of those Holy Spirit-filled people and I do know that the ELCA will likely be higher having acquired the dear reward of their management.
I additionally confess that along with feeling ecstatic, I’m involved.
I’ve lived lengthy sufficient in a feminine, Black, and queer physique to know what we’ll quickly be listening to, “Why are each positions held by Black of us?” Was this query requested when it was two white leaders holding the identical positions?
Or how about this one, “Why do we have to proceed anti-racism initiatives within the church? We’re clearly not racist anymore!” If electing a Black chief solved the problems of racism, Obama’s presidency ought to have eradicated racism from our nation, however it didn’t.
Lastly, I’m anticipating this hurtful remark: “That is going to divide the church; we’re going to lose membership. That is simply one other DEI rent.” How shameful that anybody would suppose this about our extremely certified, skilled, and referred to as management!
While you hear one of these racist and disparaging commentary, I problem you to interrupt it instantly. Don’t merely stand by and permit this to occur. Even when your voice shakes, discover the braveness to say one thing like, “I don’t agree with you. I select to like and assist our management and pray for his or her ministries amongst us. You’ll not speak this manner in my presence!”
Beloveds, this might be a life or loss of life challenge. If Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry has not acquired loss of life threats but, he very doubtless will within the close to future. None of us who does such public work escapes this. Whilst a younger school pupil main anti-racism efforts in my school city, I bought loss of life threats and I wasn’t even on a nationwide stage. Your voice issues. Stan Mitchell, an LGBT+ activist, as soon as mentioned, “When you declare to be somebody’s ally, however you aren’t getting hit by the stones thrown at them, you aren’t standing shut sufficient!”
