Grace and peace to you.
On behalf of our ecumenical strategy team, I am inviting you and your synod to consider Sacred Ground, a faith-based dialogue program of the Episcopal Church designed to help communities engage honestly with the history of race and racism in the United States, and to discern faithful responses grounded in Scripture, theology, and lived experience. Currently our strategy team is focusing on getting the word out to denominational judicatories and also working toward making Sacred Ground content more ecumenical.
What is Sacred Ground?
Sacred Ground is a small-group learning and dialogue series that combines:
Short documentary films and readings on U.S. racial history
Guided discussion rooted in Christian faith and practice
A covenantal, relationship-centered approach that prioritizes listening, humility, and spiritual formation
The program is designed to move participants beyond information alone toward transformation, helping congregations and leaders develop shared language, deeper understanding, and faithful practices for racial healing and justice.
Why it may be useful in your synod
Many Lutheran synods are already engaged in anti-racism, racial justice, and beloved-community work. Sacred Ground can serve as:
A structured entry point for congregations beginning this work
A common formation experience for leaders, councils, or synod teams
A complementary resource alongside existing ELCA anti-racism commitments
The program is flexible and can be adapted for synod-wide offerings, conference groups, or individual congregations.
Next steps
(no obligation) I am simply inviting conversation and exploration. If there is interest, we could:
Share a brief overview conversation
Connect you with facilitators and implementation resources
Discern whether Sacred Ground aligns with your synod’s current racial-justice priorities
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/
Thank you for your leadership and faithfulness in this important work which is needed now more than ever. I look forward to the possibility of learning and growing together.
In Christ,
Pastor Larry Hand