I consider it a pure blessing to serve God's church at any time; especially for such a time as this! As Children of God we are being called to a greater and deeper awareness of how we are to live together in community with others. God calls us to understand that cultural, ethnic and racial differences do matter, and that those differences ought to be seen and celebrated as what God intends them to be - blessings, rather than means of oppression and discrimination. I am thankful and grateful to God that we are a church that belongs to Christ where there is a place for everyone. That Christ's church is not ours to control, sort, divide, categorize or exclude who may or may not be a member of the Body of Christ.

Our church struggles with what it truly means to be grounded in the conviction that we gather together in the joyful freedom of the reign of God - announced by and embodied in - Jesus. The ELCA calls us to seriously regard culture and ethnicity; to confront racism; to engage in public leadership, witness and deliberate; and to advocate for justice and fairness for all people.

Reading the ELCA's social statement of "Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture" recognizes that Christ's reign has not come in its fullness. The statement holds tightly to the message of God, which breaks down all dividing walls, as we seek to live into the promise of our Lord. I am thankful for the webcast and forum of our ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton who wonderfully led, by example, a conversation with William B. Horne III of how we are all called to enter into this bold dialog to confront and dismantle racism in our time.

I deeply appreciate our Bishop Mark W. Holmerud, Bishop's Associate Nancy Feniuk Nelson, and the leadership of Sierra Pacific Synod who demonstrate their commitment to confronting racism with their work involving justice and social advocacy. Our Sierra Pacific Synod supports our leadership by providing ongoing introductory Dismantling Racism Workshops that have occurred at Hope Lutheran in El Sobrante, Bethlehem Lutheran in Auburn, and other congregations that seek to host this advocacy and ministry.

I invite you to visit the ELCA website and read or download the full social statement as adopted in 1993 at Churchwide Assembly on "Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture" in English or en Espaņol. I pray through your reading of this statement you will join in thankfulness and gratitude to God in advocacy and ministry, and that it is who God calls us all together for just such a time as this!

Reverend Carlton Monroe
Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop