NT-NL News: February 2018, Fourth Monday

The Role of the Church in Undoing Racism

The Role of the Church in Undoing Racism

March 9-10

Shepherd of Life, Arlington

As bishop of the NT-NL, I write to encourage lay and clergy to take the time to attend to this vital training and awareness work. At our 2016 Churchwide Assembly, we adopted as church a goal of offering this training in every synod so that our leaders could become more aware of the realities of systemic and institutional racism and how it impacts our ministry and lives.

This is the first offering of such a training in NT-NL in many years, and it is being offered at a deeply subsidized rate. This commitment of funds from your Public Witness Team demonstrates our synodical commitment to this work. Please register today.

In Mission Together

Bishop Erik K. J. Gronberg, PhD

ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving

The 40 Days of Giving is a way for ELCA members to support hunger and poverty ministry during Lent. Choose one of five ELCA World Hunger programs that urgently need support, and walk alongside our neighbors as they address hunger in their communities.

Projects include:

Online giving is open through Easter (April 1).

Check back often – we are tracking our progress live, and new programs and projects may be unlocked if those goals are met.

Visit ELCA.org/40days to learn more about this life-saving, life-changing work, and make your gift today!

ELCA Disability Ministries

“As a church committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is called to welcome all people in all its congregations and ministries into full participation as baptized members of the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:14-26).

The ELCA social message “People Living with Disabilities” clearly states the hope that we as part of the body of Christ would work together across our various ministries, as well as in our personal lives.

All of us are disabled in some way as we stand before God. Thanks be to God, we are a church that believes God is calling us into the world — together. We don’t have to do it alone and we don’t have to do everything. We can connect with brothers and sisters to help us invite all into full participation in this church and in the world. The Disability Ministry Resource page proposes ways to connect, invite and participate.

Together we can:

Welcome all people warmly and without hesitation. We are a church that belongs to Christ. There is a place for you here.
Use language that honors and respects the individual person, language that always puts the person first — “person with a disability.”
Get to know people as people — not as labels, problems, or diagnoses. Find out about a person’s interests and gifts.
Ask if a person needs help before offering assistance.
Encourage all people to grow in their faith and their spiritual practices, and to use their gifts for the good of the church.

Related Ministries

The ELCA relates several areas of ministry with the work of Disability Ministries. The ministries include:

How do our NT-NL churches serve all those in the body of Christ? Share your stories with us at office@ntnl.org.