Luther Seminary condemns in the strongest terms any forms of racially discriminating behavior, exclusion and mistreatment of fellow human beings because of their skin color. We condemn the behavior of the officers of the Minneapolis Police Department and other police departments who engage in racist practices and treat members of our community who are people of color, disrespectfully. We call for justice and strongly call for the officers to be held accountable for the murder of George Floyd.

We commit to root out any forms of policy and other institutional arrangements that prevent certain communities from, advertently and inadvertently having access to learning, engagement, opportunity for growth and full participation in our community. We commit to work for peace, justice and antiracism on our campus, in our community and churches.

As believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who calls us to love our neighbor, we grieve this tragic loss with the family of George Floyd and people around the world for those lives that have been taken because of racism in our society and institutions. We also remember Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castille, Jamar Clark, Breonna Taylor and countless others.

As a learning community, Luther Seminary believes unconditionally in the promise of God’s love for all people and that all of us are neighbors one to another. We seek to dynamically welcome each other irrespective of our differences such as race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic circumstance, dis/ability, political perspectives, ecclesial tradition and theological commitments. We therefore seek to be a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where all with whom we interact, will feel a sense of belonging and dignity.

The killing of George Floyd is but one incident in a long history of mistreatment of our African American brothers and sisters in this country and continues to traumatize communities of color across the country and in our Twin Cities. Luther Seminary joins our neighbors in crying out for justice for George Floyd.

Robin J. Steinke
President