February is Black History Month! Here are some ideas and resources to help your congregation celebrate Black history and culture, this month and beyond…

• Follow ELCA African Descent Ministries on Facebook. New episodes of the Talks at the Desk Black History Month video series will be posted there every Wednesday in February at 7:30pm CT.
• Learn about Black history in the ELCA by checking out articles and videos like the ones linked below.
  • ELCA Coaching Webinar Recordings: “The Untold Story: Black Lutheran History” (Part 1 and Part 2)
  • “The Rev. Earlean Miller” – the first African-American woman to be ordained as a Lutheran pastor
  • Living Lutheran: “Standing on the shoulders of the saints” by Rev. Kenneth Wheeler
  • Living Lutheran: “African American Lutheran giants”
  • Living Lutheran: “The ‘mother of Black Lutheranism in America'” by Rev. Mark Granquist
• Read books by Black Lutheran faith leaders, like “US: The Resurrection of American Terror” by Rev. Kenneth Wheeler, and “God’s Holy Darkness,” illustrated by Rev. Nicolette Marie Peñaranda.
• Plan a congregational visit to America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
• Support local Black-owned businesses and vendors. The MKE Black directory is a helpful place to start!