For our readers information, below are four contributions on defining race and racism from: Alicia Garza, Black Lives Matter; Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia; The Aspen Institute on Community Change; and Dr. Maulana Karenga's Introduction to Black Studies, Fourth Edition, 2010. The contributions serve as ADLA-Chicago food for thought in the process of moving the 2015 Baltimore ADLA Assembly resolution, dubbed: "African Descent Lutheran Lives Matter," to this summer's MCS/ELCA 2016 Assembly floor.
"In an alternative press video interview...(Alicia) Garza, a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter (organization), discussed how 'changing Black Lives Matter to All Lives Matter is a demonstration of how we don't understand structural racism (our emphasis) in this country.' She went on to discuss how other lives are valued more than Black lives...and to take Blackness out of the equation is inappropriate." -Wikipedia on the Black Lives Matter Meme (like team) and organization-
"Societal racism...has been called structural racism, because society is structured in such a way that excludes substantial numbers of people from minority backgrounds from taking part in social institutions."
"According to Dr. Walter R. Allen, racism can be categorized into five types:
1. Overt racism, for example, when an individual says something racist;
2. Covert racism, which is also an individual phenomenon;
3. Institutional racism, which is when institutions treat people differently;
4. Societal racism; and
5. Civilizational racism." -Wikipedia/on societal and institutional racism-
"Structural Racism. A system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various, often reinforcing ways to perpetuate racial group iniquity. It identifies dimensions in our history and culture that have allowed privileges associated with 'whiteness' and disadvantages associated with 'color' to endure and adapt over time. Structural racism is not something that a few people or institutions choose to practice. Instead it has been a feature of the social, economic and political systems in which we all exist." -The Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change-
"Racism is essentially a system of denial and deformation of a people's history, humanity, and right to freedom based exclusively or primarily on the specious concept of race (Karenga, 1981, 1985). Stripped of all its cultural and pseudo-scientific mystification, race is a socio-biological category designed to assign human worth and social status, using Whites as the paradigm. Racism, then, which begins with the mystification of race, is social thought and practice that expresses itself in three basic ways, i.e., as:
"1) imposition, i.e., conquest and oppression of a people, and interruption, destruction and appropriation of a people's history and productive capacity in racial terms;
"2) ideology, i.e., an elaborate system of pseudo-intellectual categories, assumptions and contentions negative to peoples of color and serving as justification of the imposition and reinforcement of the institutional arrangement; and
"3) institutional arrangement, i.e., a system of political, economic, and social structures which insure White power and privilege over peoples of color.
"Racism, thus, becomes a continuing problem, not only for social inquiry, but also for the equality of social life and the ongoing quest for human freedom and human flourishing. And it is a problem that tends to appear at every level and in every area of social life (Seltzer and Johnson, 2009)" -Dr. Maulana Karenga, Introduction to Black Studies, Fourth Edition, 2010, Sankore Press-
Respectfully submitted: Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Lead Pastor of Reformation Church-Chicago ("Young Barck Obama's sanctuary for community organizing") and Secretary Pro tem of ADLA-Chicago, 4-20-16.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Reviving ADLA-Chicago Chapter, ELCA/MCS 2016 Assembly, & the Baltimore "Black Lutheran Lives Matter" Resolution-Part 1
1. As heaven and history would have it, effective Dr. Carter G. Woodson's Black History Month-I (General Focus) February 2016 just past, the ADLA-Chicago reorganizing committee reached and exceeded the critical mass of 10 registered and annual dues paying members needed to be officially recognized as a Chapter in good standing-albeit still reorganizing-(according to both the National ADLA Constitution and Executive Board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church America's (ELCA'S) ethnic specific multicultural ministries apostolate-denomination wide).
2. The ELCA'S Metro Chicago Synod Assembly is the collective governance body of the Synod and, according to its website, "is the highest legislative authority in the Synod and meets annually." MCS ostensibly understands its role as one of urban and suburban Chicago "support, facilitation, and partnership" both among the 190-200 ELCA congregations and worship communities of the City on the one hand and on the other a partner of the 65 Synods as well as the denominational head quarters that together constitutes the national structure of what has become the largest and most liberal national body (at 3.8 million members) of the Lutheran traditions within U. S. society.
3. Officially unfolding since February 15, 2016, this year's MCS assembly is being held June 10-11 at Tinley Park Convention Center. As heaven and history would have it, the MCS 2016 theme is "TRANSFORMED & TRANSFORMING (Metropolitan Chicago Synod-ELCA 29th Annual Synod Assembly)." More, its scripture reference is from the Apostle Paul's Book of Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God..." that was, incidentally, also a favorite passage of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
4. The Baltimore resolution-dubbed "African Descent Lutheran Lives Matter-" that ADLA-Chicago has been asked to shepherd to the floor of this year's MCS Assembly, does not fall from the sky. Rather, it is a part of the new ADLA national executive group's strategy to put the burning issue of African American/African descent equitable inclusion on the front burner of the ELCA agenda. It is a part of a strategy to systematically intervene in the denomination's network of synod assemblies that serve as the penultimate structure leading to the highest church-wide legislative body-the ELCA
church-wide assembly.
5. Finally, the Baltimore ADLA resolution we have been asked to shepherd (despite its obvious limits) dramatically raises in sharp relief the issue of institutional racism within the ELCA. More, it also advances three key suggestions on how to begin addressing said structural racism and move objectively to what this writer has learned to call an "Ethics of Sharing" resource (using the language and logic of the Kawaida Afrocentricity philosophical approach, founded and advanced by Seba (Moral Teacher) Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor & Chair of Africana Studies at CAL State U, Long Beach, that fully informs the writer's ministry and is referenced consistently throughout this blog).
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Lead Pastor of Reformation Church-Chicago ("Young Barack Obama's sanctuary for community organizing") and Secretary Pro tem of ADLA-Chicago Chapter, 4-16-16.
2. The ELCA'S Metro Chicago Synod Assembly is the collective governance body of the Synod and, according to its website, "is the highest legislative authority in the Synod and meets annually." MCS ostensibly understands its role as one of urban and suburban Chicago "support, facilitation, and partnership" both among the 190-200 ELCA congregations and worship communities of the City on the one hand and on the other a partner of the 65 Synods as well as the denominational head quarters that together constitutes the national structure of what has become the largest and most liberal national body (at 3.8 million members) of the Lutheran traditions within U. S. society.
3. Officially unfolding since February 15, 2016, this year's MCS assembly is being held June 10-11 at Tinley Park Convention Center. As heaven and history would have it, the MCS 2016 theme is "TRANSFORMED & TRANSFORMING (Metropolitan Chicago Synod-ELCA 29th Annual Synod Assembly)." More, its scripture reference is from the Apostle Paul's Book of Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God..." that was, incidentally, also a favorite passage of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
4. The Baltimore resolution-dubbed "African Descent Lutheran Lives Matter-" that ADLA-Chicago has been asked to shepherd to the floor of this year's MCS Assembly, does not fall from the sky. Rather, it is a part of the new ADLA national executive group's strategy to put the burning issue of African American/African descent equitable inclusion on the front burner of the ELCA agenda. It is a part of a strategy to systematically intervene in the denomination's network of synod assemblies that serve as the penultimate structure leading to the highest church-wide legislative body-the ELCA
church-wide assembly.
5. Finally, the Baltimore ADLA resolution we have been asked to shepherd (despite its obvious limits) dramatically raises in sharp relief the issue of institutional racism within the ELCA. More, it also advances three key suggestions on how to begin addressing said structural racism and move objectively to what this writer has learned to call an "Ethics of Sharing" resource (using the language and logic of the Kawaida Afrocentricity philosophical approach, founded and advanced by Seba (Moral Teacher) Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor & Chair of Africana Studies at CAL State U, Long Beach, that fully informs the writer's ministry and is referenced consistently throughout this blog).
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Lead Pastor of Reformation Church-Chicago ("Young Barack Obama's sanctuary for community organizing") and Secretary Pro tem of ADLA-Chicago Chapter, 4-16-16.
Friday, April 8, 2016
ADLA-Chicago Meeting Notes of April 2, 2016 at Salem Lutheran Church
What follows are our notes from the ADLA-Chicago general membership business meeting of April 2, 2016, 2-4:30 PM, at Salem Lutheran Lutheran Church, S. 74th & Calumet.
1. Treasurers Report. Treasurer Pro tem Fred Gittens reported that the promotional steering committee that organized the Black History Month special event of February 6, 2016, under the heading "Sankofa Gathering," started with $750 seed money (from the Metro Chicago Synod African American Strategy Team?).
1.1. Hospitality expenses (including "religious entertainment") totaled $905.00.
1.2. National and Metro-Chicago ADLA dues totaled $605.00 for 19 registered members (half of which went to National ADLA as required for official Chapter recognition).
1.3. Current ADLA-Chicago balance then totaled, after all disbursements, $450.00.
2. President Pro tem's Report. Pastor Maxine Washington gave an outline of the schedule of meetings (dating from the 2015 Metro Chicago Synod Assembly) that have culminated in the reorganization of the ADLA-Chicago Chapter.
3. Secretary Pro tem's Report. Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) reported that, according to ADLA Midwest Regional Organizer, Pastor Lester White as well as the report of Treasurer Pro tem Fred Gittens, the February 6 special event recruited 19 registered members (9 over the critical mass of 10 needed to be recognized as an officially reorganized chapter in good standing-according to National ADLA).
4. Nominations Committee Report. Pastor Lawrence Clark reported that to date the business of the Nominations Committee (Pro tem?) has not gotten underway therefore no nominations for permanent ADLA officers have been received.
5. Organizational timeline decisions. It was decided that:
A) The Chapter Pro tem officer structure would stay in place for at least the next 60 days ('till either the scheduled June 4th meeting or 'till the June MCS Assembly).
B) That because the process of nominating permanent officers is contingent upon an established Chapter constitution, that said document is needed ASAP to advance the Chapter reorganization process.
C) Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) volunteered to do a first ADLA-Chicago constitution draft, based on existing ADLA models, for further development by the the local re-grouping meeting process-due at the next scheduled meeting.
D) The next ADLA general membership meeting was scheduled on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 at Bethel West Lutheran Church, 2 PM.
E) Pastor Booker Vance joined Pastor Maxine Washington as Co-Convener Pro tem of the Chapter.
F. An agreed upon goal was set to get each of the 21 identified Black Lutheran congregations of Metro Chicago to register a minimum of 10 ADLA members that would bring the ADLA-Chicago general membership strength to 210 active partners in African descent ministries.
6. New Membership registrations. Seven (7) additional membership registrations, with appropriate dues payments, (added to the 19 reported above) were reportedly submitted to Pastor White (membership registrar) and Mr. Gittens, Treaurer Pro tem.
7. Oral Attendance Report. About 30 African Descent Lutherans were estimated to be in attendance (Pastor Maxine is cobbling together the official list).
After announcements and Good & Welfare, meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) of Historic Reformation Church-Chicago ("Young Barack Obama's sanctuary for community organizing") and Secretary Pro tem of ADLA-Chicago Chapter, 4-13-16.
1. Treasurers Report. Treasurer Pro tem Fred Gittens reported that the promotional steering committee that organized the Black History Month special event of February 6, 2016, under the heading "Sankofa Gathering," started with $750 seed money (from the Metro Chicago Synod African American Strategy Team?).
1.1. Hospitality expenses (including "religious entertainment") totaled $905.00.
1.2. National and Metro-Chicago ADLA dues totaled $605.00 for 19 registered members (half of which went to National ADLA as required for official Chapter recognition).
1.3. Current ADLA-Chicago balance then totaled, after all disbursements, $450.00.
2. President Pro tem's Report. Pastor Maxine Washington gave an outline of the schedule of meetings (dating from the 2015 Metro Chicago Synod Assembly) that have culminated in the reorganization of the ADLA-Chicago Chapter.
3. Secretary Pro tem's Report. Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) reported that, according to ADLA Midwest Regional Organizer, Pastor Lester White as well as the report of Treasurer Pro tem Fred Gittens, the February 6 special event recruited 19 registered members (9 over the critical mass of 10 needed to be recognized as an officially reorganized chapter in good standing-according to National ADLA).
4. Nominations Committee Report. Pastor Lawrence Clark reported that to date the business of the Nominations Committee (Pro tem?) has not gotten underway therefore no nominations for permanent ADLA officers have been received.
5. Organizational timeline decisions. It was decided that:
A) The Chapter Pro tem officer structure would stay in place for at least the next 60 days ('till either the scheduled June 4th meeting or 'till the June MCS Assembly).
B) That because the process of nominating permanent officers is contingent upon an established Chapter constitution, that said document is needed ASAP to advance the Chapter reorganization process.
C) Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) volunteered to do a first ADLA-Chicago constitution draft, based on existing ADLA models, for further development by the the local re-grouping meeting process-due at the next scheduled meeting.
D) The next ADLA general membership meeting was scheduled on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 at Bethel West Lutheran Church, 2 PM.
E) Pastor Booker Vance joined Pastor Maxine Washington as Co-Convener Pro tem of the Chapter.
F. An agreed upon goal was set to get each of the 21 identified Black Lutheran congregations of Metro Chicago to register a minimum of 10 ADLA members that would bring the ADLA-Chicago general membership strength to 210 active partners in African descent ministries.
6. New Membership registrations. Seven (7) additional membership registrations, with appropriate dues payments, (added to the 19 reported above) were reportedly submitted to Pastor White (membership registrar) and Mr. Gittens, Treaurer Pro tem.
7. Oral Attendance Report. About 30 African Descent Lutherans were estimated to be in attendance (Pastor Maxine is cobbling together the official list).
After announcements and Good & Welfare, meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) of Historic Reformation Church-Chicago ("Young Barack Obama's sanctuary for community organizing") and Secretary Pro tem of ADLA-Chicago Chapter, 4-13-16.
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