by Matt Booher of St. Paul’s, Jerome
Okay, maybe the headline is a little embellished. Nevertheless, a small group of people did meet virtually one evening, shared some stories, and walked away with a better understanding of what life is like for people on both sides of the racial divide. It began with a simple phone call when I reached out to Pastor Harry Griffith to see if he would be willing to discuss race relations with a group from Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Jerome, where I am a member. Harry serves as pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach. For those who don’t know Harry; he is black, speaks six languages, is a 30+ year veteran of the Navy, and is a great storyteller. For those who don’t know Jerome, it is a tiny rural town in a county that is 93% white—which for me means that I have little context for understanding the complex race-related discussions taking place these days. Graciously, Pastor Griffith agreed to share some of his experiences, and to try to answer any questions we might have about race relations. I’d like to share—in no particular order—some of the perspectives I gained from the discussion, in the hope that it might be helpful to you as well.
  • This conversation reinforced to me the importance of education, and not just education about racism and current events. A good education provides people with a deeper understanding of other cultures, offers a more complete view of our history (how we got to where we are), and creates opportunities to get to know people different from ourselves. We should continue to support our teachers, parents, historians, journalists, and other educators who do this important work day-in and day-out. Want some resources for education you can do from home? Explore the Virginia Synod’s Tapestry site for links to books and movies that bring a new perspective.
  • Let’s not beat ourselves up for the things that are outside of our control. A question was raised about the whiteness of the Lutheran church and how to become more diverse. The roots of the Lutheran Church are such that we are to this day primarily white, and that is something that won’t change overnight. We need to welcome diversity, but that may initially be through building relationships with non-Lutheran churches that represent other races and ethnicities. At a personal level, it may mean building a relationship with someone in your daily life that you’ve kept at arm’s length simply because they have a different background.
  • For those who are not directly affected by it, the legacy of racism in our country can be hard to see. I know people who don’t have a biased bone in their body, yet who still find it difficult to hear cries for justice. I think it’s important to remember that even if you are not directly involved in racism—even if racism was only a thing of the past—we have all inherited a society built out of that past. What can we do as Lutherans do to help the situation? Are we able to be a voice for the oppressed? Can we use whatever power and influence we possess to help demand change? Can we learn and talk about the unconscious biases we may have inherited?
  • As well-intentioned as it may be, saying “I don’t see color” can have the unintended effect of obscuring how people of color often experience life differently. Likewise, a commonly heard response to the “black lives matter” movement is that “all lives matter”. While this response may be intended to highlight the need for universal compassion, it overlooks the particular lives of those who experience discrimination and violence.
  • Sometimes we find ourselves in discussions about current events and social justice. How can we bring a new perspective to these conversations in a way that invites understanding? Pastor Griffith encourages us to ask questions without bringing judgment. For example, if the person you are talking with is passionate about keeping confederate statues and school names, find out why keeping that history is important to them. It may provide the opportunity to follow with a different viewpoint. If the person you are talking with is passionate about removing statues and school names, seek to understand why.
  • Reconciliation in race relations is not about raising one group of people up and shifting another down, and it not about guilt. God wants to move us to a way of living where no person or group is subordinate to any other. Reconciliation begins with shared stories of grace, and with our desire to be ambassadors for Christ.

Race relations can be complex and daunting. On the other hand, it comes down to simply getting to know other people as people. Take opportunities to build relationships and hear each other’s stories. There are members from many backgrounds throughout your synod, who are willing to speak, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask if they have experiences they would be willing to share. They may say yes, or they may say no. By the way, just talking about the subject doesn’t make it political. Don’t fear having what might be an uncomfortable discussion, and allow some humor in the process as we learn about each other. Most importantly, don’t feel like you have to try and solve anything. As Pastor Griffith pointed out to us, we’re not going to fix 300 years of racism with a single Zoom meeting! But the process does begin with trust and honesty and in asking the right questions.