Christ the King’s Racial Justice Team arose out of the anguish of George Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020. During that summer, Pastors Peter, John and Intern Pepe convened a zoom group for conversation and learning. If you remember, this was during the Covid pandemic and everything was shut down. We were saddened, heartbroken, outraged and wondered, “What should be a faithful response to what has happened?”

We held conversations, convened book studies, and wondered what actions we could/should take as the entire country (and even the world) grappled with George Floyd’s death, white supremacy, institutional racism and so much more.

Eventually Christ the King was able to return to in person worship and gatherings. We continued brainstorming how we could respond. One of the responses was to connect with our own congregation. In the summer of 2021, CtK was holding outdoor Wednesday evening worship services and the Racial Justice Working Group (for we had a name by then) created 3 worship services, focusing on Micah 6:8, “Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God”.

As we moved into the fall of 2021, both of our pastors accepted new calls and Christ the King went into a time of transition. Since the pastors had been the primary leaders of the group, congregational members needed to (and did) step up into leadership. 

And from 2021 through May, 2026, the Racial Justice Team created and led numerous opportunities to raise awareness of justice, equality, the dangers of oppression and suppression, institutional racism and so much more. Here are a few of the projects that the Team has undertaken:

  • Led October Wednesday evening studies: “Now Is the Time”-a study of the ELCA’s apology to People of African-American Descent” and a book by ELCA pastor the Rev Kenneth Wheeler.
  • Led numerous SALT sessions: Faith and Civic Engagement, Land Acknowledgement, the trauma of Indian Boarding Schools and the ELCA’s part in that, diversity (and lack of diversity) in children’s literature, Martin Luther King, Jr at the University of Minnesota in 1967, foot soldiers in the struggle for voting rights in the Civil Rights era and so many more.
  • Led two Intergenerational events, one focusing on Black History and the other on a Peace and Justice March to the Silver Lake Overpass bridge.
  • Maintained a monthly bulletin board, lifting up a variety of justice issues, dates and events.
  • Led worship, including preaching, on the Sunday closest to Martin Luther King, Jr Day.
  • Sponsored many field trips around the area: Sacred Sites Tour, local Vietnamese restaurant in honor of Pacific Island-Asian Month, the MN textile center to view civil rights quilts, the Minnesota History Center for a Jim Crow exhibit and a trip to MIA for an art exhibit featuring Native American art.

After the Peace and Justice March on March 7, 2026 (the 61st anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, AL) the Racial Justice Team began to discern that the team needed to make a shift in focus. We had been focused on “racial justice” specifically and this was because our work arose from the tragedy of George Floyd’s murder.

But now with Christ the King’s increasing connection with Reconciling in Christ, with the ELCA’s new social statement on “Faith and Civic Life” and with the social changes we see happening in our communities, we see that the Racial Justice Team, as it currently exists needs to evolve and change. We believe that the past 5 years has been focused (and rightly so) on racial issues specifically. Now we believe that the work needs to broaden. We need to move from “Phase 1” to “Phase 2” in our justice work and ministry.

We have come to this decision carefully and deliberately, through prayer and conversation among ourselves and with Pastors Sonja and Sarah. 

What will this look like? What does it mean for justice work at Christ the King?

The answer is that we don’t know…yet.

We believe that we need a time of more deliberation and discernment. We need new voices who have a passion for the work of justice but in an even broader context. We believe that the work will have a greater emphasis on faith and civic engagement, advocacy and community. We believe that this summer’s theme of “Know My Neighbor” with the anticipated planned actions will greatly help to inform “Phase 2” of justice work here at CtK.

Some of us who have been on the Racial Justice Team for the past 5 years may continue. Some are stepping away. We give thanks for all who have been a part of the first Racial Justice Working Group and then the Racial Justice Team, most recently, Nathan Lemke, Karen Peterson, Chris Floss, Gary Floss, Don Zatroch and Kisten Thompson.  We will have a new look, a new vision, a new set of goals, a new mission. And we will need new voices, new ideas, and new energy.

We celebrated Pentecost on May 24, the coming of the Holy Spirit to stir God’s people to new and exciting ventures. This shift and change in justice work here at Christ the King can be seen as the gift of the Holy Spirit, moving and shaping us for the future work that God is calling us into. We celebrate and give thanks for the work that has been done on behalf of racial justice and for the new work that will be accomplished in the days and years to come. Look for the stirrings this summer and into the fall. Consider if the Lord is calling you to participate in this new venture. Let’s see where “Phase 2” and the Holy Spirit leads us.

In gratitude, Kisten Thompson, on behalf of the Racial Justice Team, 2021-2026