2011 Race, Church, and Change Award Honoree
Pastor Jane Buckley-Farlee
In honor of her ongoing ministry at Trinity Lutheran Congregation—the only Christian congregation in the most culturally diverse neighborhood in Minneapolis—Pastor Jane Buckley-Farlee will receive the Race, Church and Change award at Luther Seminary on Sept. 28, 2011.
The Race, Church and Change Award recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted society through multicultural ministry, race relations and reconciliation. Luther Seminary presents the award to a person who has heroically served in his or her community with the hope that such recognition will inspire others to participate in similar ministries or improve the world around them.
For more than 15 years Buckley-Farlee has provided invaluable leadership to Trinity Lutheran Congregation, a community whose members' cultural origins come from America, Europe, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Kenya. Trinity worships in three different languages.
In addition to helping embody a ministry of diversity every Sunday, Buckley-Farlee also guides Trinity Lutheran Congregation in its mission to "help break down the walls of racism, sexuality, ethnic origin, economic status and religion" in the Cedar-Riverside community and beyond. From after school tutoring to weekly evening meals to neighborhood interfaith collaboration, Buckley-Farlee continues to help lead a ministry of accompaniment and presence within the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.
"Pastor Jane Buckley-Farlee lives out leadership and invites others to do the same to advocate for systemic change in institutional racism," her nomination read. "She, and her colleague in ministry, Pastor Alemeged Asmelash, journey together—across language, culture, doctrine and ideology—in shaping a ministry to and among the city's new immigrants from East Africa."
With a ministry defined by active listening, persistence, and presence, Buckley-Farlee leads with quiet strength a church that is at the forefront of ministry for the 21st century.
For more information about the award contact:
Kate Sterner
Contextual Learning
ksterner@luthersem.edu
NW 320
651-651-3474
