In late August of 1619, twenty Africans were forcefully brought to Jamestown, Virginia and sold into slavery. This marked the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade, which would ultimately take some 12 million Africans away from their homes and cultures into hereditary chattel slavery.

It has been 400 years since that tragic event – four centuries of slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, and racism which persists today. The ELCA continues to grapple with its complicity in these injustices. 

On August 25th, many churches and communities will be marking this quad-centennial of “Landing Day.” The congregations of the Grand Canyon Synod are encouraged to participate in this commemoration in several ways:

• If your church has bells, ring them for one minute at noon. More information can be found here. 

• Name this anniversary in your worship on August 25th. Worship resources for August 25 can be found here.

• Donate to the African Descent Lutheran Association.

•  Provide information within your congregation about the work for racial reconciliation in the ELCA and partner organizations. Read and discuss the “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent” and its explanation, presented at this year’s Churchwide Assembly. Share the response to the declaration made by ADLA (African Descent Lutheran Association). 

•  Read and discuss the Lutheran World Federation’s “Resolution on Commemorating the 2019 Quad-centennial of the Forced Transatlantic Voyage of Enslaved African People’s to the Americans - Human Beings Not for Sale!” adopted at the LWF Council meeting in June of this year.