In today’s ELCA Lutheran practice, we welcome all to join us in our worship and church family. Does that mean that there are those in our church family that will not like this? Why, yes I am sure that there are. However, I hope and pray that hearts continue to soften, and we learn to accept that there are some that are not like me — meaning white privileged people.

Yes, indeed I am a white woman that serves two small congregations here in central to western Kansas. Yes, my congregations are white, but we are working on changing our perceptions — and indeed it is a process. The last number of weeks here in America has been very hard to be a witness to the way we see and treat others, sometimes intentionally, other times just in ignorance, and still others with intent.

We are all God’s children — red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight. Right? I learned that in Sunday school as a young child, so what has happened to us? Where did we lose the empathy for others — even those different than ourselves?

Thankfully I have a number of black and brown friends who have taught me so much. To see the depth of love that my sister shares with her black partner, and his daughter, my niece. Do I love them any less because they are black? Absolutely not. They are just like you and me, no different. Their blood is the same components as mine, they don’t sunburn as easily as I do, so why the issues?

My brother-in-law has endured being hassled by the police along with others with the white privilege that I was born with — only because of the color of his skin. But I am working on this. I’m working really hard, and I had a two year headstart on those who just realized this really is a problem.

We need to engage in helpful dialogue with each other at home and in church. We need to look inward and take a good look at who we are and how that makes up our experiences or expectations. What defines us?

Take me for example, of how I look. My race or skin color is white, very white. I am a registered nurse and a pastor of two amazing churches. I am female, born in the mid 60s and grew up in Lindsborg. It doesn’t get more white (privileged) than that.

My experiences play a large part in my perception on how I view others. Like I said, I am an ELCA Lutheran member. All these things and more play into our perception of others.

Now, imagine this: we should truly love others, no matter who they love, gender or color of their skin, what kind of music they like. (I won’t judge you for liking country music, I promise.)

Let us as fellow children of God, trust, respect, include, listen, empathize with others no matter how they look or regardless of the choices they make, or have made. Jesus did. And I have it under very good authority that Jesus was not a white man.

Let us continue to be the spark that ignites a movement, let us make all God’s children feel loved and accepted no matter where they are.

We are the answer, we are the spark, the light that shines in the darkness. All are welcome in our Church.

Pastor’s Podium

The Pastor’s Podium column

is offered each week

by a different pastor or lay

person representing

an Ellsworth County church.

The week’s columnist

is Angie Sundell, pastor

of the Excelsior Lutheran

ECLA Church, rural Wilson.