Justice and advocacy are a rich part of ULCH’s history and there are a variety of ways to get involved with diverse local and global justice and advocacy programs. Through our Nigeria Partnership, we continue our relationship with St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Jos, Nigeria. We also partner with Every Meal to provide food for those in need.
The Vision and Governance Board passed a Resolution to Support “The Conflict-Free Initiative” and to stop financing genocide. Click on this link ULCH Resolution on Conflict-Free Initiative.
Statement Against Violence Toward Asian American/Pacific Islanders
On May 18, 2021, the Vision and Governance Board approved the following Statement Against Violence Toward Asian American/Pacific Islanders. The statement will also be sent to the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod:
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic more than one year ago, acts of vandalism, harassment, shunning, refusal of service, verbal abuse and physical attack against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our state and country have increased substantially. This collective trauma erodes Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ rightful sense of belonging in the U.S.
People of Asian and Pacific Island descent are our family members, congregation members, neighbors, and co-workers – who like every ethnic and cultural group in our country, contribute greatly to our common welfare. We recognize, celebrate and honor Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, their cultures, and their many contributions to our world.
The Racial Equity Statement adopted by our Congregation begins: “As people of faith, we acknowledge that ALL people are beloved of God. . . .” In our baptism we are called to work towards a world that reflects God’s love and justice. Our faith in a God of love calls us to unequivocally condemn hate and discrimination. We stand in solidarity with and express our unwavering commitment to combat this hate and violence and to support our Asian American and Pacific Island family members, neighbors, co-workers and congregation members.
Sanctuary and Immigration
Because the Gospel calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, ULCH declares our partnership with immigrants and others to resist unjust immigration policies and to offer our building as a holy sanctuary. ULCH joins dozens of other local churches, in partnership with ISAIAH, who vow to create or support sacred spaces of refuge for immigrant individuals and/or families that are in immediate danger of deportation, and to be a community of love, hospitality, and fellowship for those in our care.
As part of this effort we have also partnered with other communities of faith near the University of Minnesota to form the University Area Sanctuary Coalition. Together these congregations vow to welcome the stranger, honor all people as children of God, and to offer our buildings as safe spaces. Follow the University Area Sanctuary Coalition on Facebook for updates about advocacy opportunities and events.
Racial Justice
Once a month ULCH hosts Racial Justice Meetups where participants discuss congregational efforts to advocate for racial justice, and to educate themselves about issues related to racism, white supremacy, and the structures that continue to oppress people of color. Check out the calendar for upcoming meetups.
Click on the button below for a list of incredible advocacy and education resources related to Racial Justice in our community!
If you are interested in participating in any of these justice and advocacy programs, please contact us here at ulch@ulch.org or 612-331-5988.
Orphan Sponsorship International – Pune
In 2019 ULCH’s Trust Board funded a grant to the Orphan Sponsorship International in Pune India and ULCH members Lynette Lamb and Grace Gerloff visited the site in the same year. Below is a video of the girls on a field trip to an amusement park and a thank you from OSI:
On Sunday last, our girls enjoyed the usual January pre-exam excursion, this time to Orchard Resorts, a funky mini-amusement/water park about an hour and a half from Pune. Funky doesn’t matter to our girls, who had a grand time as always. This year we have a large number of new little girls whom we wanted to include as well, which required two buses (well, a big bus and a little bus). This made it costlier as well, but we are grateful (yet again) to Lynette Lamb for obtaining a grant from University Lutheran Church of Hope (Minneapolis, USA), as well as providing funds herself, and to Grace Gerloff for a substantial contribution as well. Grace and Lynette were with us on last year’s trip of which the girls have fond recollections, so they were proud to know that Grace and Lynette provided this year’s trip as well.
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