by LCMS Pastor, Benjamin Squires I August 21, 2022

They've taught me so much through their podcast, PASS THE MIC, and the work of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective.

Thank you, my brothers in Christ.

You deserve the honor of being the 1st card in this series.

Subscribe to Jemar's blog.

They've taught me so much through their podcast, PASS THE MIC, and the work of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective.

Thank you, my brothers in Christ.

You deserve the honor of being the 1st card in this series.

Subscribe to Jemar's blog.

Janine Bolling and Gerard Bolling are exceptional leaders in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and they are leading the way on conversations about how to handle the complex issues related to race in America with passion, winsomeness, and the grace of Jesus. 

Janine is a Deaconness and Executive Director Our Saviour Lutheran Church & School - The Bronx, NY. Gerard is pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Assistant Professor, Leadership & Theology (and Teaching & Learning Equity Officer) at Concordia University Texas. 

They have taught me so much through their work in the Synod, but also through their Lutheran Hour Ministries podcast, "The (Im)partial Church". Check out Season 1. We're hopeful we'll see Season 2 in the near future.

Bradly Mason (Also A Carpenter) is a cabinetmaker, follower of Jesus, husband, and father. But he's also dedicated himself to understanding Critical Race Theory from a Christian perspective.

This summer, I had the privilege to learn from Bradly and many other scholars in a Christian track during The African American Policy Forum's "CRT Summer School 2022." Bradly guided these sessions each day to help us see CRT as a prism and a practice which--when in line with God's justice--can help us identify where there is injustice that needs to be unearthed and eradicated.

As Bradly said: "Christians can begin to see CRT and related race scholarship as a helpful tool for doing kingdom work, and not in an oppositional manner."

Dominique Gilliard is Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice (LMDJ) initiative of the The Evangelical Covenant Church Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). He is the author of "Subversive Witness: Scripture's Call to Leverage Privilege" (Zondervan Reflective) and "Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice that Restores" (IVP). 

Last fall, I had the opportunity to do an online workshop with Dominique, and I learned, grew, and was challenged a ton. In his book "Subversive Witness" he reframes stories in Scripture to help us realize just how dangerous, politically charged, and faithful many leaders were as they used their privilege for the sake of the oppressed and the mission of God (Esther, Pharaoh's daughter, etc.).

I appreciate that the ECC has initiatives around justice and a dedicated role like Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation. That, to me, shows a daring approach to living out a Christian witness in the Church and the world.

The Rev. Andrew Schulze (1896-1982), Pastor in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and one of the founders and leaders of the Lutheran Human Relations Association of America (eventually headquartered at Valparaiso University). 

Schulze worked in African American congregations and supported the work of integration, autonomy of black congregations, and the Civil Rights Movement. From the LCMS' 175th Anniversary sketch: "Schulze spent his career working in Lutheran churches and communities calling for a recognition and realization of human dignity, equality and unity according to the Christian teaching of creation."

Thank you to Dr. Kathryn Galchutt (Concordia University Irvine) for her masterful work about this leader's life: "The Career of Andrew Schulze, 1924–1968: Lutherans and Race in the Civil Rights Era".

Justin Giboney and Christopher Butler, co-founders of the And Campaign and hosts of the "Church Politics Podcast."

Justin is an attorney, political strategist, and a man of God who urges us to "get out your Bibles and think, not like a Republican, not like a Democrat, but like a Christian" as we engage in the public square and public theology. Chris is pastor of Chicago Embassy Church Network in South Holland, IL (Chicago's South suburbs), who ran for U.S. House in the Illinois 1st District this year. While he did not win, I believe his presence in the campaign changed the conversations.

Justin and Chris, along with Michael Wear, wrote a tremendous book in 2020 called "Compassion & Conviction: The AND Campaign's Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement." Walking through some key issues in our nation's current political conversations, the book guides us through the lens of Scripture to see that usually the Way of Jesus isn't completely in the right or the left.

Walter Brueggemann is a professor, biblical scholar, writer, preacher, and prophet...

"The Prophetic Imagination" is a key text in conversations about God's justice, seeking to have an imagination for how God would have His will be done on Earth. I have learned so much from Dr. Brueggemann, who continually challenges us to see beyond the world as it exists, seeing that Jesus ushers in a new Kingdom of hope.

So thankful for this couple and their dedicated work in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for many years. Yes, John has had many positions and platforms -- President of Lutheran World Relief and President of Concordia University - New York. He now is a fellow at The Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy.

BUT having seen them speak at an event together, Monique definitely steals the show with her beautiful singing and speaking!!!

I appreciate how John has been speaking out publicly to encourage Lutherans to engage in the ongoing conversations about racism, always doing this from a thoroughly biblical, Lutheran perspective. She has the verve of someone who is empowered by the joy of the Gospel and redemption.

Read John's article from the Spring 2013 edition of Concordia Journal: "Does Contributive Justice Have a Future?"

I'll be honest. I didn't know anything about the Holy Post or Phil's post-Veggie Tales work until June 2020 when Phil, in the wake of George Floyd's murder, posted an incredibly helpful video on race and racism in America. This video, which got a huge reaction--good and bad--led me to the podcast where I heard these evangelical leaders/thinkers engaging with racial justice in a biblically faithful way. 

Suddenly, I didn't feel so alone as I grappled with how long I had ignored this problem in America and in the Church. The Holy Post's podcasts, videos, and articles have helped give me the courage to lean into this conversation and has continued to help me grow as a Christian who wants to enact the Way of Jesus in our world today.