When I was in elementary school we were taught stories about our country - George Washington chopping down a cherry tree, the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, Abe Lincoln building his family's log cabin - that were not true. The biggest lie that probably has done more harm is the myth of "manifest destiny."
Manifest destiny was the belief that white Europeans had an obvious and certain right to expand westward and claim land for themselves. Many a clergy person in white churches promoted this belief in biblical terms, claiming that to move west was to bring the Christian faith to "those savages on the plains." The harm this belief system has reeked on our country is almost unmeasurable. Entire nations were wiped out or severely reduced by violence and disease. The peoples who were here before the Europeans arrived were made to give up their freedoms for the sake of "expansion and prosperity" of the United States.
Paired with the Catholic Church's Doctrine of Discovery, these ideas have poisoned our faith because much of this was done in our name. As we live today, this is not something that is of the past. These same themes are being articulated by our politicians and many a clergyman. These ideas lead to outrages things being said about our neighbors, that people who have immigrated from Somalia are committing fraud and violence, that Muslims are plotting against you, that everybody seeking asylum are really terrorists. All of these people want to do harm to "This Christian Nation."
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is working at repenting for our part in this abuse. The
ELCA has produced "A Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to American Indian and Alaska Native People." In this publication this statement is made:
We commit to better understanding the Doctrine of Discovery, identifying the ways in which it is still used to oppress Indigenous people, and how best to realize our church’s repudiation of such a sinful ideology. Therefore, we commit to partnership with Native nations and with Native organizations that educate, support, and interpret the rights of Indigenous people, including the National Congress of American Indians and the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. We commit to national and international advocacy through our ELCA Washington Office, the Lutheran Office for World Community at the United Nations, as well as in state and local legislative bodies. We commit to learning about treaties, and to engage our members in advocacy for treaty rights as they affect current issues of justice.
I encourage you to take time to study and understand these issues and to deepen your faith. Take time to read about how treaties have been abused, how children where taken from their homes and placed in residential schools "to make them conform to society." And pray. Pray for wisdom and understanding that leads to help make changes that lead to true justice and peace.
1 comment:
That document is very powerful- I keep coming back to how does it apply locally ... how can we embody the lofty words and humble ourselves to the past transgressions of our ancestors- I have not met any "Indigenous " members at first Lutheran - at least I don't think so- - makes sense- since Lutheranism was not their "cup of tea" the upcoming Heritage Fair seems to be a bit tone deaf this Lenten Season - celebrating all the Europeans that came here onto native Salish lands without so much as a by your leave. - I don't think there is a room dedicated to the Coast Salish Peoples- Sammamish, Suquamish... on whose land the first church was built- don't want to be a complete downer- but it might be good to take a moment of Silence amid the celebration to Memorialize the souls upon whose sacred ground the church was built. Ancestral heritage is a powerful trope- going to ruffle feathers- but maybe the job of this church and all churches, religions is to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" ( Finley Peter Dunne- 1867-1936)
maybe for the 150th year celebration we can invite members of the local tribes to give us an insight as to what was happening in "Bothell" in 1886. Births deaths, schools, learning - life styles-
In March 1886, seven pioneer families organized a church in a log cabin. Reflecting on their immigrant backgrounds, the new church was named ‘Norwegian Danish Evangelical Lutheran Molde Congregation of King County, Washington Territory.
Add in some celebrating of who was already on the land -
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We should mention the cultures that were already present, not just the interlopers- no need to self flagellate, but recognition might be good.
The description in the weekly newsletter---
In the 140 years since the beginning with Norwegian-Dannish immigrants until now, First Lutheran Church has grown into a multicultural congregation family with roots in over 40 countries. We want to celebrate that!
On Sunday March 8th at 4pm, we’ll gather to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of our collective cultural heritages.
From the fair
Every room downstairs will represent a part of the world that our ancestors called home. We’ll honor each culture by displaying artifacts, artwork and historical items from the region. Guests will be able to learn about the countries, taste food from that region and hear traditional music. Native costumes are highly encouraged!
Que sera sera ---
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