"Lutherans in Black History,” a windowsill display focusing on historically significant African American leaders in much of the Lutheran tradition, launched Saturday and will be on display in the church sanctuary through the weekend of March 9.
The display features chapters including the history of Black History Month and Trinity’s "Justice through Music” initiative, which benefits the Trenton, NJ, Children’s Chorus.
Featured are short profiles and photographs or images of 19 key Black leaders who have contributed to the church and society since the early 1800s to the present, including Gloria Echols, who was a community leader and tireless advocate for low-income housing in Lansdale for many years.
Nine of the 19 leaders have regional ties, including the Rev. Jehu Jones, the first Black Lutheran to be ordained in North America; the Rev. Louisa Groce, originally of Philadelphia, who was ordained into service at age 81; Gorham Black with Philadelphia ties and who became the first Secretary of Aging in Pennsylvania, and the Rev. Dr. Patricia Davenport, Bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of Trinity’s parent denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the first African American woman to hold such a synodical post in the ELCA.
The congregation’s Racial Justice Ministry Team has developed the display. The team was formed several years ago in the aftermath of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The team was inspired by Trinity’s parents who were seeking advice on resources to use with their children to educate them about racism. It works to educate Trinity disciples to live up to the congregation’s mission to "embrace diversity and connect all generations to God.” A second team objective is taking action.
An action example is the Justice through Music effort, which "pays it forward” by sending donations to the Trenton, NJ, Children’s Chorus. The congregation pays a composer royalty for music printed in its bulletins or via livestream. For much of the music from the Black spiritual tradition it is not possible to pay the royalty because the music was often composed by unknown or sometimes enslaved African descendants. The initiative, thus, solicits donations instead of royalties and forwards the gifts to the Children’s Chorus, a vibrant program that engages underserved, eager children from kindergarten through high school with both choral learning and academic and social development.
Background for the display came from the following: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, the Archives of the ELCA, United Lutheran Seminary, Philadelphia; Living Lutheran, the denomination’s magazine, and the Richard N. Stewart History of Black Lutherans Project, named for a late United Lutheran Seminary Professor. The project is in development.
This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit www.thereporteronline.com.
See also:
Black Reserve Bookstore and Ambler NAACP to Host Black History Month Events
Black History Month Celebration Honors Dr. Frank Boston with Recognition of Young Artists
Lansdale Historical Society to Host Program Detailing Abraham Lincoln’s Visits to Philadelphia
Montco Celebrates African Americans in Arts and Culture for its Annual Black History Program
