To Recognize Atlantic District Successes, Failures, and Opportunities in Ministry with Communities of Color

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention (2019 Resolution 11-04A, “To Affirm the Common Humanity of All People and Ethnicities”) resolved, “That the members of the congregations of the Synod be encouraged to work toward racial reconciliation and equality within the Church and within society-at-large…”; and

WHEREAS, The legacy of racism enacted through prejudice and discrimination has negatively impacted the needs, well-being, income, and property of people based solely on the color of their skin; and

WHEREAS, The people of God are striving to live faithfully, but still may participate in sinful thoughts, words, and deeds in what they do and leave undone (1 John 1:8–10), which can include and has included the sin of racism; and

WHEREAS, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:30–31); and

WHEREAS, Jesus illustrates for his disciples that they are to treat all persons as neighbor (Luke 10:29–37); and

WHEREAS, Paul exhorts us to show the love of Christ as we “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2); and

WHEREAS, Martin Luther extolls us to show that love as we care for our neighbors as we support them in their needs, well-being, income, and property in his explanations of the Fifth and Seventh Commandments; and

WHEREAS, In order for the Atlantic District to better engage acts of reconciliation and equality it should be informed of its history within communities of color to understand its successes and its failures; therefore be it

Resolved, That the district president commission a task force to study the district’s history of mission, ministry, and education within communities of color,seeking regional input to be completed prior to the next regular district convention, so that we might better recognize and give thanks to God for our successes and make confession of any failures; and be it further

Resolved, That the results of this task force’s study would also provide us with tangible ways to move forward in our present and future outreach efforts within communities of color; and be it further

Resolved, That the study be shared through various means including in person forums as feasible; and be it finally

Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the Synod in convention to call on the faculty of our seminaries, universities, and Concordia Historical Institute to do a similar study of our national mission, ministry, and education efforts to be completed within 24 months after district proceedings and made available on the Synod website.