What is the work of the Roseville Lutheran
Our Neighbors and Me (ONAM) team?

God commands us to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.”  (Micah 6:8)  The work of ONAM is about justice.  As people of faith we will enter the transformative process of taking a stand against racism and embarking upon the life giving journey of reconciliation— we begin right here, in our neighborhood.  

Request a Yard Sign

Many of you have seen and appreciated the signs around our Roseville Lutheran Church property. Some have inquired about a sign to put in your own yard as a call for justice. Click here to request a yard sign. 

Why is this work of being Christ in our community important? 

(What place does the church have in civil matters?)

The radical message of the Christian narrative of God’s love for the whole world and God’s coming into the world in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation, the source, the paradigm for our response to suffering and injustice in our community and in the world. 

As one is shaped and formed by this truth, this way, and this life, one is drawn into becoming a follower (a disciple) of Jesus Christ. This creates a new heart open to listen to this story and how this story intersects with our human condition which transforms our lens to an ever deepening relationship to God and inspiring compassion for others, especially for the least, the lost and the less. 

This new heart and mind feels and hears other people’s suffering and joins God’s actions through the Spirit, ordering ones priorities to work individually and with others to open lines of communication and build bridges of understanding, respect and care with neighbors living in difficult situations.

This work is a Calling to Ministry for every member of RLC to be alert and attentive to “the point of entry” they have in relating to others using ones life to be the incarnate presence of God’s love to the neighbor and to the world.

This is not our own work - it is God’s work.

The Spirit calls us to humbly and with

courage to be God’s channel of

compassionate love for our neighbor.

This work gives meaning and purpose

and zeal to our life as long as we live.

Thanks be to God!

Where to Start?

Where to start:  At Roseville Lutheran we know that when we enter the waters of justice, mission work, and service to our neighbor, we all enter from a different place and perspective.  Some people are brand new to thinking about justice and advocacy on behalf of a hurting neighbor.  Others have spent years working on and thinking about racial justice.  You enter in the place that makes the most sense for you.  The key is the courage to enter at all.  

Ankle Deep

Ankle Deep - The language of white privilege and systemic racism may be brand new to you. Perhaps you’re wondering how real or how big the problem actually is. Start with this ankle deep step of educating yourself on some of the lessons that were never taught in most of our high school classrooms. Digging into these articles and videos will help you to learn about some of the historical events and decisions that have led to systemic racism in America.

• A Time for Burning • A 1966 American documentary film which explores the attempts of the minister of Augustana Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, to persuade his all-white congregation to reach out to “negro” Lutherans in the city’s north side. **We're discussing this movie in August!** Click here to sign up and join the conversation!
• Systemic Racism Explained • Systemic racism affects every area of life in the US. From incarceration rates to predatory loans, and trying to solve these problems requires changes in major parts of our system. Here’s a closer look at what systemic racism is, and how we can solve it.
• Just Mercy • A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time.  Read the book, or watch the 2019 documentary. 
• Waking Up White • A book written by Debbie Irving about her experience of waking up to systems of racial injustice in America.  Irving’s retelling of the story of how her life was shaped is honest and accessible and has helped many white readers to consider the roots of their own perspectives in new ways.
• Request a Yard Sign • Many of you have seen and appreciated the signs around our Roseville Lutheran Church property. Some have inquired about purchasing a sign to put in your own front yard as a call for justice. We think this is a great idea.

Knee Deep

Knee Deep - If you’re ready to go a little deeper, you’re knee deep.  What is happening in our neighborhood, across the Twin Cities, and the state of Minnesota?  How has “Minnesota Nice” contributed to segregated neighborhoods, churches and one of the highest achievement gaps in the country?  The resources listed here will help us to understand our city and church more deeply and what others are doing to advocate for cultural changes that will include those who have long been excluded.

• Smaller and Smaller and Smaller • Macalester Professor Marlon James responds to the 2016 killling of Philando Castile by describing his experience as a black man in Minnesota.
• An Inadequate Response from One Minnesotan • Chris Gherz, Bethel University Professor and Roseville LUtheran Member, reflects on the history of race in America in response to George Floyd’s murder.
• Mapping Prejudice • Learn about the hidden histories of race and privilege in the Twin Cities urban landscape.
• Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man • In a series of YouTube episodes, Emmanuel Acho sits down to have an “uncomfortable conversation” with white America, in order to educate and inform on racism, system racism, social injustice, rioting & the hurt African Americans are feeling today.
• The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture • This article presents a list of characteristics of white supremacy culture which show up in our organizations. Also in this article are antidotes to help us move our organizations toward culture change.  

Heart Deep

Heart Deep - When its time to take a look at yourself, your own biases and fragility, you’re heart deep. You might be asking yourself, how can I advocate for my vulnerable neighbors, how can I be an advocate and an ally, what can I do to be a part of a solution rather than complacent and ignorant of these issues? This a time for self assessment and the vulnerability to confront one’s own biases. This isn’t about guilt or shame, its about honest personal growth and discovering a new way to live into God’s call to act with justice.

• Take an Implicit Bias inventory • This inventory will help us to understand when we have attitudes towards people or associate stereotypes with them without our conscious knowledge.
• Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin DiAngelo • A 20 minute video with the author of White Fragility. All of us must seek the light of God, the light of truth in recognizing oppression. We begin to do so in this session, which focuses on the oppressive behavior that is born out of white privilege.
• What White People can Do for Racial Justice • This article is continually updated to ensure each item is accurate and needed today.  Achieving racial justice is a marathon, not a sprint. Our work to fix what we broke and left broken isn’t done until Black folks tell us it’s done.