Kimberly High School Students & Administration are Anti-Racist

Christ the King stands with you Kimberly High School students and administration who immediately reported an Instagram message of racism.  On the first day of Black History month, someone falsely used the KHS logo to promote “KHS White Club.”  This is not a real club.  See the KHS Special Announcement –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igcny-RczY&feature=youtu.be
 
Racism is real.  It is intended to hurt and keep others from being equal.  Individually and collectively, we have work to do to understand and to combat attitudes, language, and institutional/systemic racism.  As part of our seminary learning both Pastor Dara and I were required to take anti-racism classes.  Both of us embrace and take seriously our call to serve you and the expectations entrusted to us by the ELCA:

• We expect our leadership to name the sin of racism and lead us in our repentance of it.
• We expect our leadership to persevere in their challenge to us to be in mission and ministry in a multicultural society.

 
Much like keeping up on boundary training, we have anti-racism training too.  Recently, we attended a 6 hour anti-racism workshop.  I was reminded of this quote from an anti-racism class I attended two years ago that spoke to me: “It has taken great effort to bring about racism in this country and it will take great effort and energy to reverse and eliminate the work of racism.”  How will I use my energy? 
 
At CtK, our energy is around our core values that were worked on by the congregation.  The first value reflects an anti-racist value as we welcome people:
“Being Welcoming and Inclusive – we fearlessly extend Christ’s love and radical welcome all people and affirm their worth and dignity regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, gender, identity, ability or class.”
This is where we start at CtK, and we continue to expand beyond this as the Spirit guides and directs.  As you heard at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, we are working on setting up book studies and conversations around anti-racism after Easter and/or summertime.  In the meantime, we are open to questions you may have for dialog.
 
In the Church catholic (small “c” for catholic meaning - universal) already has diversity of cultures.  It is important to remember we are church together and we are one in Christ. As the body of Christ, we are free to live out our connectedness with each other. Although racism affects each one of us differently, we must take responsibility for our participation, acknowledge our complicity, repent of our sin, and pray God will bring us to reconciliation. Racism, both blatant and subtle (and I would add even neutral or silent), continues to deny the reconciling work of the cross. God’s forgiveness frees us from the bonds of racism. For some, this may mean giving up power or privilege; for others, it may mean giving up anger or prejudice. May we know and share the energy of this reconciliation in our lives with others!  Thank you, Kimberly High School students and administration for being anti-racist.  We stand with you!
 
Christ’s Blessings & Peace,
Pastor Nate