National Council of Churches Christian Unity Gathering

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Peter Severson, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado, recently attended the National Council of Churches Christian Unity Gathering as one of the ELCA representatives. I commend his reflection to the people of the Rocky Mountain Synod.

Bishop Jim



In mid-October, leaders, delegates, seminarians and supporters from across a wide variety of Christian denominations met in College Park, Maryland, for the Christian Unity Gathering. The event is an annual gathering hosted by the National Council of Churches (NCC). This year, the theme of the gathering was ACT Now to End Racism: Hard Truths in Beloved Community. The acronym ACT stands for Awaken, Confront, and Transform. This theme intentionally builds upon the work of the ACT Now to End Racism Rally, hosted by the NCC in Washington, D.C., on April 4 of this year.


ELCA representatives at the Christian Unity Gathering, from left: Rev. Brenda Smith, Prof. Michael Trice, Rev. Russell Meyer, Peter Severson, Joel & Aimée Pakan (ULS seminarians), and Kathryn Lohre







The National Council of Churches has reorganized in recent years into a set of “convening tables,” which just means committees with a specific purpose and representation from across the member denominations. There are four NCC tables: interreligious relations, faith and order, Christian education & faith formation, and joint action & advocacy. The convening tables spent all day Monday in meeting and conversation, followed by a joint worship service. On Tuesday, participants gathered for a series of interactive lectures on anti-racism work, which concluded with the NCC Awards Banquet. Honorees included Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Ambassador David Saperstein, and Rev. Leslie Copeland Tune.

As the director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado, I was intrigued to learn about the advocacy work that the NCC is doing. Last year, I was appointed by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to serve as the ELCA representative to the Joint Action & Advocacy table. I found myself spending a lot of time listening during both days and learning about the NCC’s long history and their current reality. There are two main advocacy priorities for the NCC: criminal justice reform and international peace-making. This year’s focus on the realities of systemic racism was significant for both areas, and all the attendees will be taking conversations about it back to our respective denominations and organizations. We heard bold and prophetic preaching from our colleagues in historic black church denominations. None of us will soon forget the power of these calls to action in Christian solidarity.

I have hopes for the NCC to continue to be a bold witness for peace and criminal justice reform in the public square. It will require commitments from all of us to be transformative catalysts within our denominations. This is not quick work, nor easy: a single two-day meeting will not end systemic racism within the church or society. Nor will one rally in April. But, in the words of Rev. Sharon Watkins, we might “think of it as an ignition” for our efforts in our own communities. May we see this holy work as an offering to God, a sacrifice of thanks and praise, to work to end racism at all levels for the sake of God’s beloved children. I pray that all the member churches of the NCC, including our own denomination, will continue to take up this call, in all its challenge and complexity.

To learn more about the National Council of Churches, visit https://nationalcouncilofchurches.us.

Peter Severson
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, Colorado

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