Lutherans You Should Know in Black History

To honor Black History Month in the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, the Just Love Team presents “Lutherans You Should Know in Black History.” We present four outstanding African Americans who made a difference in the Lutheran Church. Their stories are not widely known, but they made significant impacts to the church. We will hear how they persevered during the following four eras in U.S. History:

• Pre-Civil War Era (Pastor Jehu Jones)

• Jim Crow Era (Dr. Rosa Young)

• Civil Rights Era (Rev. Dr. Nelson Trout)

• Contemporary (Bishop Yehiel Curry)

We ask each congregation to present the Lutherans You Should Know in Black History summary each week in February. It can be done during announcements, a bulletin insert, or wherever fits best into the service. Each week we offer songs and prayers for use during the service.

For pastors and liturgical leaders, there are several resources in Sundays and Seasons that can be emphasized during Black History Month: We suggest congregations to use This Far By Faith hymnal in February. This Far by Faith is available on SundaysAndSeasons.com.

Click here to download the full four-week set or download each week individually below.

Word Document (editable file) download available here.

• Week 1: Jehu Jones (First Black ordained Lutheran minister)
• Week 2: Rosa Young (Educator and known as the Mother of Black Lutheranism)
• Week 3: Nelson Trout (First Black Lutheran bishop)
• Week 4: Bishop Yehiel Curry (Current Chicago Metropolitan Synod Bishop and our companion synod)

Watch the video below to view our Black History Month celebration featuring Bishop Yehiel Curry of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod.