Our Welcoming Statement
West Linn Lutheran Church is a community of faith that welcomes all regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, family status, national origin, age, disability, medical history, political affiliation, financial situation, mistakes made, successes achieved or any other category that you or the world have determined you belong. Our hope and prayer is that our congregation loves all as Jesus loves the world. No exceptions. This welcome extends throughout the life of our congregation.
West Linn Lutheran Church is a community of faith that welcomes all regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, family status, national origin, age, disability, medical history, political affiliation, financial situation, mistakes made, successes achieved or any other category that you or the world have determined you belong. Our hope and prayer is that our congregation loves all as Jesus loves the world. No exceptions. This welcome extends throughout the life of our congregation.
The congregation participated in the Reconciling in Christ process through 2014 in partnership with ReconcilingWorks Northwest. In 2015 the congregation overwhelmingly supported adoption of the Welcome Statement. WLLC was recognized as an RIC Congregation in 2015. We believe this public statement is our grounding for work that we are called to do in examining ourselves, our community, and our world, and joining others in the efforts for racial and social justice.
Call to Prayer and Action
Readings for ListenActPray
"Reimagine Oregon Issues Equity Demands, Gains Legislative Support" , The Skanner, August 6, 2020 Reimagine Oregon Website "Blacks in Oregon", essay in The Oregon Encyclopedia, Oregon Historical Society Poetry of Color
Tara Shepersky hosted "Poetry of Color" - a time for meditation on a poem by a poet of color (July 8, 2020). Those who wanted to also shared personal action plans or goals that the group could support them in pursuing. The poem is "The Bronze Legacy" by Effie Lee Newsome. The Bronze Legacy --To a brown boy ’Tis a noble gift to be brown, all brown, Like the strongest things that make up this earth, Like the mountains grave and grand, Even like the very land, Even like the trunks of trees-- Even oaks, to be like these! God builds His strength in bronze. To be brown like thrush and lark! Like the subtle wren so dark! Nay, the king of beasts wears brown; Eagles are of this same hue. I thank God, then, I am brown. Brown has mighty things to do. For reflection: 1) What is the strongest—or the most powerful—emotion you experienced on reading the poem aloud, or on hearing it read? 2) Read the poem a second time, and this time imagine yourself somewhere in it. Maybe you're in a particular image; maybe the words or the sounds are taking you into a memory or an idea. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, feel? 3) Does this poem have a call for you? What is it calling you to do or be? |
I think one of our responsibilities right now as white folks is to talk to our loved ones who don't understand, or who are confused about what's happening and why. We tend to be conditioned to stay polite and smooth over conflict. But if we have strong relationships with loved ones who don't understand the need for racial justice, those are powerful paths of communication we have a responsibility to use. Caveat, always: if we are safe to do so." Participant, Call to Prayer & Action, June 1. 2020 Commemoration of Emmanual 9 Prayer Service, June 17, 2020, Creator Lutheran Church
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Relationships
Respond to Racism: a neighborhood effort to interrupt racism in Lake Oswego, OR
West Linn Alliance for Inclusive Community: celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion
Going Home II: assisting inmates with a successful return to their communities (Michael Fesser, president)
"Black Girl in Suburbia" documentary by Melissa Lowery about West Linn
West Linn Alliance for Inclusive Community: celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion
Going Home II: assisting inmates with a successful return to their communities (Michael Fesser, president)
"Black Girl in Suburbia" documentary by Melissa Lowery about West Linn
Resources
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Racial Justice Resources
Oregon Synod ELCA - 2020 Resolution on the Study of Reparations in the Oregon Synod Work being done by synod members to "prepare a preliminary report to include the naming of the history of Oregon Lutherans and the genealogy of our lands and collectives, the needs of impacted communities throughout the state, and actions that will lead to deeper repair and reconciliation". Report to come to the 2021 Assembly.
"Unpacking White Privilege: The Important work of making the church less harmful" by Yolanda Denson-Byers & Shari Seifert, Living Lutheran January 2020; article plus study guide
"Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent", June 27, 2019; Explanation of the Declaration with study materials
"Strategy Toward Authentic Diversity in the ELCA" adopted by Churchwide Assembly on August 9, 2019
ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge: “I commit to study, prayer and action to become an anti-racist individual in an anti-racist church.” Follow the link to sign the pledge and to find more steps to help you live out that pledge in community with others. #ELCA4Justice
Oregon Synod ELCA - 2020 Resolution on the Study of Reparations in the Oregon Synod Work being done by synod members to "prepare a preliminary report to include the naming of the history of Oregon Lutherans and the genealogy of our lands and collectives, the needs of impacted communities throughout the state, and actions that will lead to deeper repair and reconciliation". Report to come to the 2021 Assembly.
"Unpacking White Privilege: The Important work of making the church less harmful" by Yolanda Denson-Byers & Shari Seifert, Living Lutheran January 2020; article plus study guide
"Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent", June 27, 2019; Explanation of the Declaration with study materials
"Strategy Toward Authentic Diversity in the ELCA" adopted by Churchwide Assembly on August 9, 2019
ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge: “I commit to study, prayer and action to become an anti-racist individual in an anti-racist church.” Follow the link to sign the pledge and to find more steps to help you live out that pledge in community with others. #ELCA4Justice
Oregon Specific Resources
The Reimagine Oregon Project is a newly-formed group of Black-led organizations, community activists, and protest organizers who developed a two-year plan to begin dismantling systemic racism in Oregon. Learn details in all the policy areas they are addressing and working with key Oregon leaders and groups.
"Reimagine Oregon Issues Equity Demands, Gains Legislative Support" , The Skanner, August 6, 2020
"History of Racism in Oregon" page created by the ELCA Oregon Synod includes a list of key points about the history of racism in Oregon, links to 4 videos, articles that can be downloaded, a timeline, and links to two podcasts.
Black Resilience Fund is an emergency fund dedicated to healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders. See video telling the story of the Black Resilience Fund.
"Blacks in Oregon", essay in The Oregon Encyclopedia, Oregon Historical Society
The Reimagine Oregon Project is a newly-formed group of Black-led organizations, community activists, and protest organizers who developed a two-year plan to begin dismantling systemic racism in Oregon. Learn details in all the policy areas they are addressing and working with key Oregon leaders and groups.
"Reimagine Oregon Issues Equity Demands, Gains Legislative Support" , The Skanner, August 6, 2020
"History of Racism in Oregon" page created by the ELCA Oregon Synod includes a list of key points about the history of racism in Oregon, links to 4 videos, articles that can be downloaded, a timeline, and links to two podcasts.
Black Resilience Fund is an emergency fund dedicated to healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders. See video telling the story of the Black Resilience Fund.
"Blacks in Oregon", essay in The Oregon Encyclopedia, Oregon Historical Society
"9 Podcasts That Don't Whitewash Race", Yes! Magazine
All My Relations; The Nod; The Stoop; Identity Politics; Maeve in America; Latinos Who Lunch; Long Distance Radio: Stories from the Filipino Diaspora; Self-Evident: Asian America's Stories; See Something, Say Something
All My Relations; The Nod; The Stoop; Identity Politics; Maeve in America; Latinos Who Lunch; Long Distance Radio: Stories from the Filipino Diaspora; Self-Evident: Asian America's Stories; See Something, Say Something
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Anti-Racism Daily A daily on-line newsletter, Nicole Cardoza, Editor in Chief. "Each day, we offer an overview on current events and apply an anti-racism lens. Learn how practices embedded in our politics, criminal justice system, and workplaces enforce systemic oppression – and what you can do about it." Features include "Take Action" and "Get Educated". Suscribe to get a daily email.
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Storyline Community in Milwaukie, Oregon, offers a well-curated site of resources including anti-racism books, podcasts, videos, training; resources for conversations with children; black-0wned business links; fiction recommendations for all ages; spiritual resources; social media links; and connections for taking action.
Classes
Racism: History, Complicity, and the Whitest Denomination in the US
Class taught by Pastor Dianne Eller at West Linn Lutheran Church in 2019. The class used the book , The Color of Compromise (see below). The class handouts are in the download file and include a review of the history of racism and the history of the church in the USA.
Class taught by Pastor Dianne Eller at West Linn Lutheran Church in 2019. The class used the book , The Color of Compromise (see below). The class handouts are in the download file and include a review of the history of racism and the history of the church in the USA.
| racism_-_history_complicity_and_the_whitest_denomination_in_the_us_-class_by_dianne_eller___west_linn_lutheran_church2019.pdf |
Short Course: “Unpacking White Privilege”
This 3-session short course in the summer of 2020 focused on understanding white privilege and “the important work of making the church less harmful”. It drew from the article by that title in Living Lutheran January 2020. Discussion was facilitated by Pastor Donna Herzfeldt-Kamprath.
This 3-session short course in the summer of 2020 focused on understanding white privilege and “the important work of making the church less harmful”. It drew from the article by that title in Living Lutheran January 2020. Discussion was facilitated by Pastor Donna Herzfeldt-Kamprath.
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July 12, 2020 SLIDE SHOW
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July 19, 2020 SLIDE SHOW
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August 2, 2020 SLIDE SHOW
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Videos
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The ELCA's own Rev. Lenny Duncan was interviewed on NPR speaking about the role of the white church in dismantling white supremacy. His words and ideas might be difficult for white Christians to hear. However, in order to listen to the minority voices within our communities (and the ELCA is an overwhelmingly white community), we must be willing to feel the discomfort of being challenged. Click here to read.
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LaVeeta Gilmore Jones, ELCA leader at Salt and Light Lutheran Church/Leaven Community gives a sermon on June 14th sharing her experience of growing up Christian and black in Portland.
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"I Just Wanna Live" and "The Same (Decoded)" were shared at the first Call to Prayer & Action Prayer Vigil
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"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"
In this short film, five young descendants of Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" which asks all Americans to consider the country's long history of denying equal rights to Black people. A text version of the full speech is available here. |
Black Resilience Fund story
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Anti-Racist Reading List
A list of nonfiction books to help examine anti-Black racism and the fight for antiracism in The United States. This is from a website powered by Bookshop. Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. "We believe that bookstores are essential to a healthy culture. They’re where authors can connect with readers, where we discover new writers, where children get hooked on the thrill of reading that can last a lifetime. They’re also anchors for our downtowns and communities. As more and more people buy their books online, we wanted to create an easy, convenient way for you to get your books and support bookstores at the same time. ... By design, we give away over 75% of our profit margin to stores, publications, authors and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books! We hope that Bookshop can help strengthen the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keep local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities." |
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