The Southeastern Synod is made up of 160 congregations and new starts across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. As one of 65 synods in the ELCA, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the communities that we serve. Together we extend our ministry and our reach around the country and around the world.
A synod is not just the synod office and its staff which is co-located with St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA. The Southeastern Synod is everyone in all of our congregations. We embrace what ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has said about who we are: We are church. We are Lutheran. We are church together. We are church for the sake of the world.
Why Is it So Hard to Ask?
By Devin Strong, Pastor of Spirit of Peace, Richmond Hill, GA
Chair, Diversity and Justice Taskforce
One of the crucial things to remember about the people that we strive to honor and advocate for on the synod’s Diversity and Justice Task Force (people of color, LBGTQ+ folks, women, and people with disabilities) is that we are ALL different, both from folks in the general population AND from each other. We have different politics, skills, experiences, and personalities. On the one hand, it can be helpful for folks on the margins to band together for resources and support. On the other hand, being a part of such groups can tend to make your life all about one thing, and we are all about many things. As a pastor who serves from a wheelchair, I am one of the very few like me in the whole ELCA. I am both disappointed and relieved that there is no such thing as a “Disabled Clergy Group” in our synod.
As human beings, we are naturally nervous around people who look or act differently than we do. One of the greatest sources of isolation and misunderstanding is our difficulty in asking our questions out loud. When it comes to people with disabilities, I gladly make myself available as a resource for pastors and congregations, but in a nutshell, my advice is ASK!
Ask before jumping in to help somebody with a task. Sometimes disabled people greatly appreciate your help pushing a wheelchair, opening a door, etc. But other times we prefer to do the job ourselves, even if it is harder or takes us a little longer. And sometimes your jumping into help us throws us off balance and makes the job harder than if you never showed up. Over the years, I have learned to receive help graciously (mostly), but sometimes letting someone else help us is the hardest thing ever!
Ask people about their stories. This is good advice for any new person you meet. Almost everybody likes to talk about themselves, especially to a sincere and caring audience. Don’t whisper and point. Just ask me straight up, and I will tell you. Kids are great models for this. They have not learned to be afraid like most of us adults. They put their questions right out there. I would much rather that people ask me than be afraid of me. At the same time, if you ask me to share myself, please be willing to share yourself as well. It’s called friendship. To read more CLICK HERE.
Diversity & Justice….God's People to ACT
Aspiring through the Holy Spirit, imagining what the community of God looks like, a vision for a racially just and inclusive church.
Comprehending and Challenging our privileges and biases to break down barriers that exclude anyone; so that we can live and act into the fullness of who God has called us to be.
Transforming our beliefs, values, policies, and actions to be a more racially just, inclusive of all people, and equitable Church.