CHICAGO — In observance of the 2026 National Day of Racial Healing, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), in partnership with Augsburg Fortress Publishers, will host “Just Us Narratives: A Night of Centering Multiracial Voices Across the ELCA” on Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 6-8 p.m. Central time. The free program will be available online and in person at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Celebration Campus in Naperville, Ill.
The National Day of Racial Healing — an annual observance that follows Martin Luther King Jr. Day — is hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as part of its Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation efforts. The ELCA joins organizations, institutions and community leaders across the country to honor and carry forward the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his vision for a beloved community.
The program will feature diverse voices sharing powerful, intentional storytelling that fosters deep listening and reflection on narratives of truth and courage, challenge and triumph, lament and resistance.
“Storytelling is a sacred practice,” said ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry. “It preserves our histories, sustains our cultures, and helps us see one another more clearly as God’s beloved. Each story shared has the power to build connection, strengthen trust, and draw us closer to the multiracial, faith filled movement that Dr. King envisioned. My prayer is that this program creates space for honest reflection, deeper understanding, and a renewed commitment to the work God sets before us.”
Online attendees: No registration is required. A link to join virtually will be available on the event webpage.
In-person attendees: Space is limited, and registration is requested. Register here.
This program will be recorded, and the video recording will be available on the ELCA YouTube channel at a later date.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.7 million members in more than 8,400 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
