A Note from Melanie Varin
UNITY Council, President
July 2020

Journey With Us?

Kind of sounds like the parable of the sower, doesn’t it?

The Council met in late June to explore our response to this situation. We agreed we needed to learn more and do more. We decided to try some new avenues for creating dialog and building relationships with our brothers and sisters at Cross Lutheran and Hephatha Lutheran, our urban Milwaukee partners. We also agreed to share insightful resources as we found them. In addition, we may consider some forums or book clubs that focus on topics that will help us learn about and recognize injustices so we can become better advocates for equality.

We don’t have all the answers. This is a journey. It will be awkward. It may be uncomfortable at times. It will be eye-opening. It may spark debate. It will not give us the chance to walk in the shoes of our Black peers, but it will likely increase our appreciation for their experience. And like any significant journey, we know it will change us.

If you have ideas and energy to be part of a group working to develop deeper relationships with our partners, please let one of the pastors or a member of Council know. We will all benefit from your energy and a range of perspectives. If you have access to great resources, let us know. We’ll start sharing them.

As I read these words, I have to admit I need to think more critically about the biases I hold, so that I can more proactively work toward being anti-racist. As I look to Jesus as my ultimate example, I am reminded of a song I learned as a child:

[Below] is an example to get us started. It’s a wonderful, short (approx. 12 minute) video between Emmanuel Acho, former linebacker from the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, and Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey. They share a brief dialog in a YouTube video called “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man – Episode 2.” Watch and be enlightened!

Perhaps, in light of the fact that we are really on a skin color spectrumcof ivory to dark brown, we should change the lyrics to:

Stay tuned for more opportunities to learn and make a difference. Let’s embrace this journey together! We are in it for the long haul!

Click here for more thoughts by Melanie Varin on Anti-Racism resources.