Resources:
People from far beyond the confines of the Jerusalem region are interested in this newest, infant royal: Christ’s birth interests the entire world. Wise and regal people journey from far-away places to see this baby lying in a manger. The range of Christ’s pull reaches beyond cultural or national borders. No one community, culture, language, region, or understanding of God can hold all of what Christ introduces to the world.
This is at the heart of what Decolonize Lutheranism is all about. God does not become human for a select few people, or a select region, or a select culture; rather, God becomes human for everybody. The Decolonize Lutheranism movement pushes back against the idea that God’s grace is only for one type of people, one set of cultural norms, one worldly perspective. God is bigger than that. Lutheran theology, then—the sure and certain hope that God’s grace is freely given, so that we might love our neighbor—this understanding of God is bigger than culture or race.
Decolonize Lutheranism is a large and growing movement in the ELCA and seeks to dismantle dominant cultural systems, systems of power which exclude various groups of people and their voice. This movement challenges our national ELCA body to reflect diversity in its leadership, make space for everyone’s stories to be heard, and push back against assimilation as a prerequisite for inclusion. You do not have to think of Jell-O when you think of Lutherans, in fact, we do Christ and Christ’s ministry a disservice when we do so.
The Decolonize Lutheranism movement is based in scripture, worship, and the Lutheran Confessions. In this Epiphany season,
as we are reminded of God’s global and diverse incarnation, we look for places to share all stories, from all cultures and perspectives. We must embody “love for all,” which requires action and challenge. I leave you with these words from Rev. Tuhina Rasche at decolonizelutheranism.org:
We are called into action, into persistence, into an active, lived, and embodied prayer. I do not know how this will look for you; that is a conversation you have to undertake with your siblings in Christ and with God.
We are not called to give into the conforming nature of this world.
We are not called to give into the conforming nature of Empire, which will constrict us… and kill us.
We cannot look away from one another.
We are intertwined with one another; we are accountable to one another. That was professed to us in our baptisms, that we belong to God… AND we belong to one another.
We’re called to do something. We’re called into a form of action. We’re learning that people’s identities, people’s lives are very much depending on how we act… or how we do not act.
Your prayer is your action… let your action be your prayer
Go. Do. The crucified and risen Christ is with you in the midst of all of it.
#decolonizelutheranism (continued)
Website
Statement of Beliefs
Program from the Conference
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