Birmingham Pledge

ELCA Churchwide Assembly Action CA01.02.07

Passed by the 2001 Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Resolved
To thank the Southeastern Synod for bringing the Birmingham Pledge to the attention of this church:

I believe...

• Every person has worth as an individual.
• Every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race and color.
• Every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful.
• If it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.

Therefore, from this day forward, I will...

• Strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions
• Discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
• Treat all people with dignity and respect.
• Strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.

To endorse the Birmingham Pledge, urging individual members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to sign it; and

To call upon the individuals, congregations, synods, schools, and affiliated agencies and institutions of this church to explore using the Birmingham Pledge in their efforts to overcome racism.