African American Lutherans proclaim unity

Under the theme “Sankofa: A Celebration of Umoja,” about 100 Lutherans met July 14-16 in Atlanta for the African American Lutheran Association’s 10th biennial assembly. Sankofa, a word from the Akan people of Ghana, means looking to the past to create the future. Umoja is Swahili for unity.

Association members envisioned a future in which “AALA, along with the other four ethnic associations, will play a pivotal role in moving the ELCA toward its goal of becoming increasingly multiracial and multicultural in membership,” said Julius Carroll, director for African American ministries, Commission for Multicultural Ministries.