Welcome to Do Justice, a bi-monthly newsletter of the Virginia Synod, lifting up God’s call and command that we, God’s people, do justice. You will find helpful info about justice ministries in congregations, around Virginia, and through the ELCA. If you have stories of justice to share from your congregation, please share those with me atbayerderrick@vasynod.org so I can share them with others in the synod!
The Rev. Kelly Bayer Derrick
Assistant to the Bishop

ENOUGH: National School Walkout

Women’s March Youth EMPOWER is calling for students, teachers, school administrators, parents, and allies to take part in a #NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes at 10 AM across every time zone on March 14, 2018 to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.

We lift up in prayers all those students, faculty, and staff who will join in the National School Walkout tomorrow morning.
For more information on the National School Walkout, visit www.womensmarch.com/empower

March for Our Lives

On  March 24 , the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today. March with us in Washington DC or march in your own community. On March 24, the collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard.

There are 519 planned events worldwide that will all be happening on March 24. The primary march is happening in Washington DC. This is a march that is led by Students, for the sake of students, but all are welcome to join in the marching and stand in solidarity. If you are planning to go to Washington DC march, please email Pastor Alex Zuber at pastorzuber@gmail.com in order to connect members of the Virginia Synod who will be travelling. This will allow us to witness together and potentially coordinate travel.
Within the Virginia Synod, there are also planned regional marches in the following locations:

Act Now: Unite to End Racism

Brothers and Sisters,
I invite you to join me and others from the Virginia Synod and ELCA in responding to Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s call to gather for the National Council of Churches’ rally in Washington DC at the National Mall  on April 4 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM,  ACT NOW: Unite to End Racism.
Honestly facing our own prejudices, confessing our sinfulness and complicity in perpetuating injustice against so many throughout history is an urgent and ongoing need. We must ACT NOW to build bridges to a more just and inclusive future. One way we can continue this quest is to gather in Washington D.C. with thousands of others.
Below are some specifics shared by Bishop Eaton that may assist you in your planning. Attached you will find the rally Vision Statement and recent Event Details memo from the National Council of Churches’ (NCC) planning team.
I hope to see you on April 4th.
Peace!
Bishop Bob Humphrey
NCC Vision Statement
Event Details
Register
Please register for the rally at  www.rally2endracism.org  The process is very quick and you can sign up to receive regular updates. New details are regularly added to the website.
Housing
If you plan to stay overnight, you will need to make your own arrangements. The National Council of Churches has posted a list of reduced-rate lodging options, most of which are in Virginia with easy access to the Metro. More options will soon be posted.
ELCA Presence  
The Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill will be open from 7-10 AM as a place for people to rest. Please note that the church is on the opposite end of the National Mall as the rally.
We are asking all ELCA folks to wear their “God’s Work. Our Hands” (or bright yellow) t-shirts, and to bring along synod and congregational banners and other ways of highlighting our presence at the rally.
Meeting up as ELCA, except as we are able to find each other, will be challenging given the anticipated numbers of people, and the early start to the rally at 7 AM. As more information becomes available we will continue to assess the options.
Food & Rest Facilities
There will be food trucks lining the rally site on the national mall, as well as café options in the Smithsonian Museums. Portable toilet facilities will also be available. Additionally, Lutheran Church of the Reformation will be available as an open rest space for participants – though please note that this is at the opposite end of the mall as the rally site.
Other Events
On Tuesday evening there will be a service of worship in the Orthodox Tradition at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral  at 6:30 PM.
On Thursday, the NCC is organizing a day of action in the Nation’s Capital. Details have yet to be released; updates will be posted to the event website as they are available.
Partners
Check the website  www.rally2endracism.org  for the full list of partners, which is regularly updated. Partners include: The National Council of Churches, the National African American Clergy Network, the Conference of National Black Churches, the Franciscan Action Network, Sojourners, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Churches Uniting in Christ, the Mennonite Central Committee, and most recently, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Poor Peoples’ Campaign. Conversations with additional partners are ongoing.
Other Ways to Participate
Here are a few ideas for other ways to participate in the rally for those who cannot make it to Washington DC. Feel free to adapt and share these ideas as you see fit, and to share your ideas.
Pray as individuals, congregations, and with ecumenical and inter-religious partners.
In Times Like These…A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement, an ecumenical collection developed by Bread for the World on the occasion of the 50 th anniversary of the martyrdom of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Poor People’s Campaign.   www.bread.org/blog/times-these-call-unity-and-freedom