Social Justice
We care because Jesus cares
Social Justice Task Force at Work:
Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, granted mercy to sinners, cared for the oppressed, and commanded that we love our neighbors. We are united in purpose as baptized Christians:
“You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:
to live among God’s faithful people,
to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper,
to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
Each person responds:
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
--from ELW Affirmation of Baptism Service
Guided by our Lutheran heritage that proclaims that “Jesus is Lord” and “Everyone is welcome,” we choose to lay the groundwork and set our path towards:
Nurturing a welcoming, inclusive mindset as a congregation
Promoting justice to protect the dignity and human rights of all people
Challenging unearned privilege and power that seeks to deny marginalized people equity and equal opportunities
This mission means that “we are open to new ways and willing to take risks to discover God’s plan for this church.”
--from ELCA Mission and Values
Social Justice Task Force at Work:
Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, granted mercy to sinners, cared for the oppressed, and commanded that we love our neighbors. We are united in purpose as baptized Christians:
“You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:
to live among God’s faithful people,
to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper,
to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
Each person responds:
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
--from ELW Affirmation of Baptism Service
Guided by our Lutheran heritage that proclaims that “Jesus is Lord” and “Everyone is welcome,” we choose to lay the groundwork and set our path towards:
Nurturing a welcoming, inclusive mindset as a congregation
Promoting justice to protect the dignity and human rights of all people
Challenging unearned privilege and power that seeks to deny marginalized people equity and equal opportunities
This mission means that “we are open to new ways and willing to take risks to discover God’s plan for this church.”
--from ELCA Mission and Values
How can I get involved?
There are many resources below. If you would like more information on the Task Force itself, please contact Karen Wang.
How can I get involved?
There are many resources below. If you would like more information on the Task Force itself, please contact Karen Wang.
"Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, granted mercy to sinners, cared for the oppressed and commanded that we love our neighbors."
So begins the document Joanne Gabel has so beautifully written to outline the spirit-led work being done by our Social Justice Task Force. We have felt called as a group in many directions, but with one central purpose—living into
Atonement's guiding principles, especially "Everyone is welcome."
This has led us to begin discerning if Atonement is ready to live into a Reconciling in Christ designation, where we publicly affirm and welcome the LGBTQIA community into our congregation. It has led us to sign on to the ELCA antiracist pledge and collect antiracism resources into a shareable list. It has led us to encourage and support our youth as they strive for justice and educate themselves and us on these issues. It has led us to sponsor a speaker event originally scheduled for Monday November 23, but will be rescheduled soon, open to our congregation and surrounding community to hear PSU Berks professors, Dr. Justin Desenso and Dr. Jessica Shockley, discuss Critical Race Theory 101. It has led us to reach out to Pastor Mary Wolfe at Hope Lutheran Church to find out how we might partner in outreach work in Reading through their various ministries.
Social Justice Links:
As a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA for short), we are mindful that we are the whitest Christian denomination in the USA, and know there is work to be done to reflect God's love of humanity both in our congregation and in the community around us. Some of the work has been done on the national level:
This 2019 document includes our denomination's apology for the Lutheran tradition's complicity in systemic racism. It also summarizes our commitment to become an anti-racist church in concrete ways.
This 1993 document serves as the theological foundation for the Church's anti-racism work.
Sign the ELCA's Antiracism pledge here!
Further resources, from books to movies to websites, can be found on this PDF.
A faith founded on good news.
Lutherans are:
Evangelical (meaning gospel-centered)
catholic (meaning a part of the whole Christian church across time and space)
Reforming (always being made new, seeking where God is calling us to reorient)
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