It is a good thing we have ELCA leadership (the whitest denomination in the United States, see here) around to enlighten its membership on how racists they are. The Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) posted a list on their Facebook page describing the "10 Ways You Can Actively Reject Your White Privilege." Number 10 on the list tells white people, "Recognize that you're still racist. No matter what." The Gulf Coast Synod's Facebook post received hundreds of comments, many of them were critical of the list, but they have miraculously disappeared. (see the list on the Synod's FB page here) The United Church of Christ, who also posted this list received over 2000 comments. Here are a few: - "To consider just white people as racist is in fact itself racist." - "#10, in my opinion, is designed to cause whites to be ashamed and feel guilt for who they are and what their ancestors allegedly did. Of course, no one else is asked to account for their own ancestors' misdeeds. I also don't think anyone needs to 'actively reject their white privilege', for the reasons I outline below. White Americans made a country that millions of 'POCs' have thrived in. Some groups are still behind in various areas. I don't believe that is because of 'white privilege', and the theory that it IS responsible is not helping anyone or anything. I am a so-called 'POC.' I reject this list." If you have time, you can read some more of the comments to the UCC here. Here is an article about the list/infographic that the United Church of Christ posted. If that wasn't enough, a blog affiliated with the ELCA's Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago posted a 'White Privilege' speech by the Rev. Dr. Ray Tiemann Bishop, Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Here is some of what Bishop Tiemann had to say: “I’m certainly not an expert on the complexity of white privilege, but one thing I have learned is that white privilege and racial discrimination are opposite sides of the same coin. One does not exist without the other. So, as much as I may be tempted to deny it exists, both white privilege and racial discrimination are a part of my life and yours as well.” “I am part of a system that gives me advantage because of the color of my skin.” “I have to stop being afraid and remaining silent. In wanting to avoid conflict, too often I don’t speak up when God gives me the opportunity. This sin of omission can be as great as a sin of commission, because when I don’t speak up, others assume I am agreeing with them. So, the nasty, loud voices continue unchecked. As I said earlier, learning to address my white privilege is a life-long process.” (see here)
5 Comments
7/8/2016 11:00:57 am
While the ELCA preens and postures about rejecting all manifestations of racism and striving ceaselessly for "justice" and "equity," black abortions outnumber black homicides 69 to 1.
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Sasha Kwapinski
7/8/2016 03:09:39 pm
So, it sounds like the UCC has come up with an updated, politicized version of the the Doctrine of Original Sin, applied across the board to white people. This places them in the same looney bin as those who blindly accept inherited guilt because of what happened in the Garden of Eden.
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John
7/8/2016 11:38:20 pm
Sasha,
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Sasha Kwapinski
7/9/2016 01:46:15 pm
Since we all inherit our race from our ancestors, then the UCC's concept of guilt involves the factor of inheritance as well as the factor of race. The difference, in this case, is that it is only applied to people of one race (whites) and not to anybody else.
Dean
7/12/2016 06:03:09 pm
Sometimes writers talk about original sin in a way that's confusing, as though we were all being held accountable for someone else's sin. That violates everyone's sense of justice, not to mention the Law of Moses (Det. 24:16). I think of original sin as a congenital inclination to sin, which we all have, due to the mere fact of our being human. If my comment is not helpful to the reader, set it aside. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Dan Skogen
Former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word. If you have been helped and blessed by Exposing the ELCA's ministry, please help us continue to proclaim the truth of God's Word to ELCA members who need to hear it.
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