Join us Tuesday, 8/11/2020, 6:30 pm (Arizona), for an “Open Conversation about Race.” These conversations are a safe and thoughtful space where you and others in the synod can wrestle with questions and talk with each other.

Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting here: bit.ly/gcs-811. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In order to have thoughtful conversation, we will only meet with up to 60 people for this first conversation. Pastors from across the synod will facilitate the conversation, and we will take our time to create better dialogue to strengthen our congregations, our Synod, and the ELCA. Anyone in the synod is invited to participate. Additional conversations are set for September 8, October 13, and November 10, 2020, at 6:30-8:00 pm on Zoom.

With so many ways to expand our knowledge—front page news, podcasts, blogs, town halls, expert opinion, scholarly articles—we are learning so much about structural racism, white privilege, the police and the community, and so much more. 

Our heads are full of information. We want to start with conversations that engage the heart. 

As people of faith we push forward knowing that together, through conversation, we can learn. Together we can discover places where our hearts expand. Together we gain confidence in leading what can be difficult and critical conversations. We all see things differently. Now is a good time to learn from each other about how our opinions are formed through experiences and cultural messages.