Acts In Common is an organization of Christian believers who seek to renew, resource and empower Lutheran congregations and ministries in African American neighborhoods in the Detroit metropolitan area. Acts In Common seeks to assist these congregations and ministries in finding creative and public ways to invite others to know God’s love through Jesus Christ. For more information, please visit www.actsincommon.org or email r.mccants@semisynod.com.
The African Descent Lutheran Association of Southeast Michigan (ADLA-SEMI) welcomes all people of African Descent, and those who support the work of the Association, to journey along with us. Our chapter began in 2023 and seeks to bring to the table all people of African Descent in our Synod. We look forward to meeting and connecting with you in the future as siblings of God’s kin-dom. As we grow to meet and receive members, feel free to contact our Vice Chair, Augusta Stephens at astephens007@gmail.com or Robin McCants, Assistant to the Bishop at r.mccants@semisynod.com
BRRICK (Building Racial Reconciliation in Christ’s Kingdom) is designed to Build Racial Inter-Dependence through Grace and Empowerment to Heal and Empower God’s Anti-racist People (Bridge The Gap).
BRRICK is chaired by Rev. Michael Johnson mvjohn823@gmail.com. The team meets regularly, and members of the synod are invited to be in conversation with us or visit https://www.semisynodjustice.com/brrick for more information
This list of Anti-Racism Resources may be useful for your edification.
The Hunger Task Force encourages and supports members and congregations throughout our synod in all efforts that address hunger. From raising funds and awareness to food pantries, soup kitchens and advocacy, members of the Southeast Michigan Synod are daily working to eradicate hunger in our local and global world. For more information contact Co Chair Rev. Anna Taylor McCants annataylormccants@gmail.com
Since 1983, the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program has been a public way for faith communities to see, name, celebrate, and advocate for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions in the Lutheran church.
In 2021, the ReconcilingWorks staff launched the newly expanded Reconciling in Christ (RIC) partner commitments: to ensure the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work; and to support the national program.
The RIC Program is made up of congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, outdoor ministries, and other Lutheran organizations.
Every ministry setting begins this journey from its own unique context and ReconcilingWorks is here to help you create an authentic welcome journey that is customized to your community. If your faith community wants to connect with ReconcilingWorks staff in regard to their RIC Journey, feel free to call ReconcilingWorks at (651) 665-0861 or email us at info@ReconcilingWorks.org
Why AMMPARO? In a holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA, as a church in the world, AMMPARO was envisioned to accompany children today and in the future who are forced to flee their communities because of complex and interrelated reasons, including chronic violence, poverty, environmental displacement and lack of opportunities in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
The Immigration and Refugee Task Force meets monthly, usually via Zoom, on the third Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:00pm. The goals of the task force include:
Our ongoing relationship with Samaritas New American Families and Refugee Foster Care Programs resulted in Samaritas representatives from multiple programs attending each meeting. In addition, ABISA (African Bureau of Immigration and Social Affairs) staff regularly attend meetings, and ELCA staff members from Chicago, Texas, and Washington DC periodically attend meetings as well.
The Immigration and Refugee Task Force oversees two subcommittees:
Task force members have developed relationships with and provide updates from a broad spectrum of faith-based and secular entities including: Guardian Angels and AMMPARO, Strangers No Longer, Freedom House, World Refugee Day and Advocacy Week Opportunities, Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services), Church World Service, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Michigan United, Immigration Law and Justice Michigan, Border Servant Corp, American Immigration Council, Samaritas, Zaman International, Office of Global Michigan, National Partnership for New Americans, Immigration Justice Campaign, Jubilee Detroit, ELCA Advocacy, ABISA, SEMI ELCA Synod Justice Committees and Task Forces, as well as state and national legislative updates from a variety of sources.
Projects and Special Events over the past 12 months include:
If interested in participating in or learning more about the Immigration and Refugee Task Force, please contact Chair, Jessica Beamer, at djbeamer@sbcglobal.net.
Women of the ELCA (W/ELCA) is an organization committed to mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. At the congregational, synodical and Churchwide levels, women are affirmed and supported as they engage in group and individual ministries that seek to promote healing and wholeness in the church, their communities and the world. More information may be obtained at the following web sites: www.womenoftheelca.org and www.semi-welca.org.
Hearts, Hands and Voices is a summer camp program led Dr. Michael Burkhardt. It is a unique opportunity for churches of Southeast Michigan to invite young people of all faith and music backgrounds to come together in a safe and welcoming environment to grow spiritually and musically. Through hands-on experiences hearts, hands and voices endeavors to provide children with lifelong tools for creating, appreciating and sharing music, participating in worship, and leading productive lives in society. Click this link to go to the Hearts, Hands, and Voices Home page for more information.
The ELCJHL Task Force supports the companion relationship that the Southeast Michigan Synod
shares with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).
Educate (Speakers, programs, & gatherings to raise awareness in Synod & ELCA)
Accompany (Companion congregations, sustained relationships, connecting with
“Living STONES” on visits to the Holy Land)
Advocate (Churchwide Assembly, Advocacy Days, communication with legislators &
elected officials)
Respond (to harassment, discrimination, persecution of minority groups)
Support (ELCJHL, Palestinian-made goods, local events & gatherings, SUMUD,
Churches for Middle East Peace)
Promote (trips to the Holy Land, visits to the US for Palestinian youth, local events)
Pray (for our siblings in the Holy Land, for an end to violence, for a just and lasting
peace)
ELCA Advocacy
https://www.elca.org/our-work/publicly-engaged-church/crisis-holy-land
https://www.elca.org/our-work/publicly-engaged-church/sumud
Churches for Middle East Peace
https://cmep.org/
For more information, connect to Pastor Amy Cooley Higgs – Task Force Chair
pastoramy@hopeon12.com
