We are called to be a church that embraces each person and confronts racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, age, gender, familial, sexual orientation, physical, personal and class barriers that can manifest as unjust treatment, inequalities, exclusion, and violence. The ELCA’s Region 8 is committed to equipping leaders to recognize and understand the complexities and implications of racism and racial issues and is offering training in the areas of anti-racism and racial justice for leaders in partnership with synods, congregations, associations, and social service agencies.

Region 8’s Racial Justice Training equips leaders (rostered and lay) to face the challenges of racism in a diverse, complex and changing world by providing tools and resources that foster healthy and holy conversations. Each workshop addresses these aspects of racism:

1) Talking about Race: language and vocabulary

2) History and systemic racism in the United States, and

3) How to begin conversations and actions in your ministry context.

Each training is offered on Zoom using a combination of instruction and small group conversation. Facilitators will represent the region to the extent possible, spearheaded by the Reverend Carla Christopher Wilson. Cost is $25 per person; however, if cost is a barrier, please contact Marty Shifflett at mshifflett@lss-elca.org, or 717-652-1852, ext. 115. Because we want to make this training as accessible to as many people as possible, if two people from a congregation register, additional participants (beyond 2) from that congregation may attend at no cost. Those additional participants are required to register by contacting Marty Shifflett.

Region 8 is comprised of the following eight synods: Northwest PA, Southwest PA, Allegheny, Lower Susquehanna, Upper Susquehanna, Delaware/Maryland, Metro DC, and West Virginia/Western Maryland.

Racial Justice Training Opportunities

Saturday, February 19, 2022, 9AM-2PM

Friday, May 13, 2022, 12-5PM

Thursday, August 18, 2022, 11AM-4PM

Monday, November 7, 2022, 10AM-3PM

Click here to register

Attending this training fulfills the ELCA churchwide assembly’s directive that rostered ministers participate in racial justice training every two years.