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RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY

We see racism as one of the most urgent issues throughout history and today. Our commitment to this issue is rooted in the belief that all God’s children are valued in furthering our vocation and call to live into beloved community. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, we strive to live as “repairers of the breach.”

Westwood's Racial Justice Statement

God's View and Our Call

As followers of Christ, the Westwood community is called to dismantle racism by promoting a continual process of repentance, healing, and reconciliation. Westwood acknowledges that race shapes social structures, produces racialized disparities, and perpetuates inequitable outcomes.  

Our History

Westwood has served St Louis Park since 1944. We acknowledge that as a historically white church we operate within and benefit from a system of privilege. As a result, we have knowingly and unwittingly participated in marginalization.  We know that to more effectively live into God’s call we need to work to dismantle these systems of privilege so we can see and value all of our neighbors both racially and culturally.

Our Commitment

We acknowledge that any entrenched, self-perpetuating system of oppression requires an equally tenacious commitment—a long-term personal and collective dedication to the journey, including our time and resources.  In particular:

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  • Westwood commits to a process of learning, naming hard truths, and engaging in meaningful internal, interpersonal, and communal conversations around race. 

  • Westwood seeks to recognize how historical and contemporary racism has affected ourselves, our relationships, our church, and our community.

  • Westwood’s leadership is intentionally building a racial equity lens into our congregation’s planning, policies, and priorities.

  • Westwood is empowering lay leaders and a racial equity team to facilitate racial healing and provide tools in support of congregation-wide change.

  • Westwood strives to be a catalyst for engagement, understanding, and action, creating a world aligned with God’s vision for us.

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God desires wholeness for all people. Following Christ’s example, we seek repentance and reconciliation by investing ourselves, our time, and our resources into racial healing and systemic change.

Our Promise

As we seek change, we hope to also be changed. As we learn and grow along our journey, we will continually return to this statement ensuring our work and our words remain aligned with God’s vision of justice.

Written by the Westwood Racial Equity Team, and approved by the Westwood Lutheran Church Council spring 2020. For more information about the team, contact Pastor Jason at j.vanhunnik@westwood.church.

Series at westwood

As one part of our commitment to racial equity work, we spent Lent 2019, Lent 2020, and Lent 2021 deepening our conversations about race and racism at Westwood. Below are links to sermons and talks during those series.

RESOURCES

Articles

Financial Literacy in the Black Community. Rachel Christian, Annunity.org, September  30, 2021.

 

A Point of View: 5 Things Black People Don’t Owe While Coping with Being Black in America. Brittany J. Harris, The Inclusion Solution, May 28, 2020.

Books

  • "Between the World" and Me by Ta-Nehesi Coates

  • "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi

  • "Me and White Supremacy" by Layla F. Saad

  • "Racial Healing Handbook" by Anneliese A. Singh PhD LPC 

    • ​read by Westwood Staff and the Racial Equity Team​

  • "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo

    • read by Westwood Staff and the Racial Equity Team​​

Documentaries and Films

  • 13th - Netflix

  • Jim Crow of the North - TPT Original

  • White Savior: Racism in the American Church - Amazon Prime

  • Emanuel

  • Just Mercy

    • Discussion questions.​

Documents

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  • Confession, Forgiveness, and Call To Action

    • This piece of liturgy was written by the youth at Westwood and was used in our worship services during Lent 2019 and Lent 2020. You are welcome to use it in your worship services with credit to the youth at Westwood Lutheran Church.​​

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  • Our Call as Christians by Dr. Darrell Jodock

    • This summary of our calling was distributed by Dr. Darrell Jodock during his April 14 concluding presentation in the Lent 2019 speaker series "Who is My Neighbor? Conversations About Race." The summary was revised slightly on April 6, 2020, after the Lent 2020 speaker series.  ​

Podcasts

Racial Equity Team

Formed in 2019, the Westwood Racial Equity Team consists of 9 lay members, a pastor, a staff liaison, and an advisor. Team members:​

  • ​Mary I. Anderson

  • Jenelle Bullen

  • Trevor Bullen

  • Lara Cleveland

  • Emma Coen-Pesch

  • Jen Mohr, Staff

  • Sonja Muus

  • Amy Janecek

  • Shelby Strauss

  • Todd Western IV

  • Pastor Jason Van Hunnik

  • Richard Webb, Advisor​

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