justice ministries Overview

RACIAL JUSTICE

We believe that Christ’s church is for all people. God calls and claims each of us by name, and it is not our job to sort, divide, categorize or exclude. When questioned by lawyers about a faithful life Jesus reminded them that we are to love God with our whole selves and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The ELCA social statement “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture” states that “We are one in Christ. As the body of Christ, we are free to live out our connectedness with each other. Promises are kept when vision is communicated in word and deed, and members are captured by it. For this to happen, we need the leadership of all who have been given responsibility and authority: members of congregations and their pastors; boards and staff of institutions and agencies of the church; synodical bishops; and the bishop of this church.” Therefore, grounded in the words of Jesus and the witnesses of Scripture and the guidance of our whole church, the Upstate New York Synod is committed to the work of racial justice, dismantling systemic racism and white privilege.

HUNGER JUSTICE

The Upstate NY Synod World Hunger Team works to (1) raise awareness of the problem of hunger and poverty in our communities and around the world, (2) serve as a resource for congregations interested in ending hunger, (3) encourage congregations to respond by generously giving to ELCA World Hunger/Disaster Relief, and (4) publicize information about ELCA World Hunger-funded Domestic Hunger Grants for eligible congregations/agencies needing financial assistance for programs helping low-income people in high-poverty communities.

GENDER JUSTICE

The Gender Justice Task Force is comprised of lay and rostered leaders of the UNYS. The task force seeks to promote equity for people of all genders and sexual identities.

The task force will engage in education, advocacy, and neighbor justice in the church and in the world.