The ELCA publicly repented for raising a white supremacist terrorist.

Evidence

Since 2015, Reverend Eaton has led the denominational leadership into this uncomfortable space. The 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly took a number of actions aimed at recognizing and dismantling “the overt and covert ways that a culture of white supremacy denies full humanity to all people.” In recognition of the quadricentennial remembrance of American slavery, the denomination passed a resolution condemning white supremacy and issued a public apology to all people of African descent. That resolution specifically committed white Lutherans to seek a “deeper understanding of slavery and its legacy, of institutional and structural racism, of white privilege, and of attitudes and foundations of white supremacy.” Second, the assembly voted to establish June 17 as “Emanuel 9 Day of Repentance,” commemorating the martyrdom of the nine African American members who were murdered by Roof, whom they explicitly identify as “a violent white supremacist… who grew up in the ELCA.” Perhaps most significantly, they have committed themselves to an ongoing relationship of fellowship and accountability with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the home denomination of Mother Emanuel Church, “to develop new models that move us from dialogue to diapraxis, or dialogue in action, for the sake of our witness to our unity in Christ in these divisive and deadly times.” — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long, 416

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces ‘diapraxis’ — dialogue in action rather than mere talk — as the stated remedy for the perpetual hand-wringing loop.