NC Lutherans Work for Diversity

The St. John’s (Salisbury)Lutheran Church African Descent Strategy Team is studying strategies to become more open and welcoming of people of different races and cultures. St. John’s is piloting the work of the N.C. Synod’s African Descent Strategy Team at the congregational level. Synod Vice President Diana Haywood and Synod team member and LTSS professor Dr. Julius Carroll are working with a task force of St. John’s members on strategies, diversity training, and developing diversity resources.

I've been a member of the Synod team since its inception and am a member at St. John's. It's a great opportunity to influence diversity on a larger scale. LSA has been very involved in diversity efforts for many years through staff training programs, priority of recruiting a diverse Board of Trustees, and the purchase of of a large nursing home in Winston-Salem whose residents are predominantly African American and overwhelmingly indigent.

At its third task force meeting, Dr. Carroll shared a story by Saunders Redding about a young boy named Conway who learns about racism from a white friend and his bigoted father. Every person of African Descent has a Conway story. The task force viewed a video entitled, “Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible.” The powerful video focuses on white people coming to terms with racism and white privilege, and demonstrates that there are many people who have come to understand the issues and are working for healing and growth.

(the accompanying photo shows Dr. Julius Carroll, St. John’s member Karen Puckett, and Synod Vice President Diana Haywood at the June 19, 2010 St. John’s (Salisbury) African Descent Strategy Team meeting)