Event Details

The content and approach of At the Intersection of Race and Poverty is shaped by responses to and findings from this year’s synod anti-racism team assessment. Earlier this year, an impressive 50 of 65 synod anti-racism surveys were received. Survey responses surfaced a variety of interests (e.g. exchanging stories and experience) and capacity building needs (e.g. organizing and sustaining teams, addressing resistance). Assessment findings surfaced the challenges teams face - creating diverse teams, establishing partnerships outside the Lutheran context, and engaging congregations' in the work. During the gathering we will learn more about self-reflection and accountability tools and discuss how to be more effective in our work. A conversation on survey responses and findings will be conducted at the gathering by Maggie Potapchuk, assessment consultant.

Approach:
To support the purpose of this gathering, a variety of methods will be used for relationship building (e.g. small, large, affinity, and mixed groups; worship; sharing stories; and mutual resourcing), to engage different ways of being, learning, and knowing (e.g. cognitive, emotional, reflective, embodied), and to incorporate accountability (e.g. process observation, consultation, planning, organizing, and evaluation). All who attend are asked to commit to being present the entire gathering.

Also to support the purpose of this gathering, it is important to recognize and value the varied language, approaches and partnerships used in working for racial justice. We have elected to use the terms “anti-racism” and “synodical” in advertising for this event. However, as we gather in Baltimore we assume all language, approaches as well as jurisdictional and sectoral partnerships are essential to the foundation of our collective effort toward affecting structural change within the ELCA.

Collaboration with synod bishops
Friday afternoon includes a session of engaged learning and dialogue with ELCA bishops on race and poverty. This is a unique opportunity to deepen synodical capacity toward becoming a racially and economically just public church. Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers, Bishop of Greater Milwaukee Synod & Chair of the Conference of Bishops’ (CoB) Ministry Among People in Poverty (MAPP) Committee, has invited his CoB colleagues to Baltimore for this session upon completion of the Bishops’ three day advocacy briefing in Washington, DC.