Social Justice

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 states: “There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” There can be no denying that our brothers and sisters of color have dealt with discrimination and discriminatory policies for many years. It is critical that we acknowledge the long history of systemic racism in our country and the deaths of so many people of color resulting from this racism. Pastor Josh and our church family at Pilgrim Lutheran share in the sorrow and outrage felt by millions across the country at the continued needless loss of life of our brothers and sisters of color in the United States. We pray for justice and accountability for their deaths and for reform in our state structures and policies so that all citizens receive equal treatment under law. We acknowledge the pain, grief, anger, fear, and frustration felt by communities of color, and we stand in solidarity with them to vehemently denounce racial discrimination and demand systemic change.

We will periodically post sermons, texts, and important links on this page as we regularly reaffirm our commitment to combating racism in the United States (and around the world) and pray for an end to racial injustice, inequality, and police brutality.

Black Lives Matter.

Selected Sermons

The transcript of this sermon can be found here.

The transcript of this sermon can be found here.

Links

• Statement from LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison on the death of George Floyd and the LCMS' denunciation of prejudice and racial violence: https://blogs.lcms.org/2020/statement-on-the-death-of-george-floyd-and-the-ensuing-riots/?fbclid=IwAR2u8TqWZBdEY8vJHv3NeOG8G1KJbmQKQayQkXeyvwFxr33zADzxITiGakA

• Black Clergy Caucus of the LCMS Statement on George Floyd: https://www.theunbrokencord.com/writings/black-clergy-caucus-statement-on-george-floyd?fbclid=IwAR0BdprDVXO0OiA5iX9iM3H2KjmoiSgyijy2BRm2DgRYIipQedgFEqYzUTo

• Reflections on racism from Lutheran pastors and parishioners: https://blogs.lcms.org/2020/racism-and-the-church-a-time-to-listen/?fbclid=IwAR1lxlJx7NDCJXE-qD0sfKb5xTw1fZOble1bvcz3AzU5Ed5KZf4kDW2v_Vo

• Racism: a Christian response: https://files.lcms.org/wl/?id=DSuTTNT99y6xIfdDtQuLE1cuqsY3ffsk

• A thoughtful reflection on race relations from Rev. William M. Cwirla of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hacienda Heights, CA: http://htlcms.org/2020/06/why-black-lives-matter/?fbclid=IwAR3p1FncR5-gnnYO1hw_3iap_7InoVM9eCJoYK8SUXHcB12-3xVjxmnZsXg

• An article highlighting the importance of being mindful of the words we use and how to speak words of love and inclusion (vs. racism and exclusion): https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-passing-black-woman-racism_n_5f54efc0c5b6578026cf935e

• Lutherans for Racial Justice website: https://lutheransforracialjustice.com/about-us

• LCMS Black Ministry: https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/black-ministry