At the request and ultimate approval of the Church Council, a twelve month Equity Task Force was commissioned to support SOTV’s desire to be a diverse and equitable congregation. By examining our leadership, staffing, and programmatic structures and practices, this task force hopes to identify ways we can better follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbor and the biblical call to seek justice for all people.
Thirteen members have been meeting twice-monthly since early February to share and discuss a variety of equity-related resources. Starting in April, the team will form small sub-teams to examine ministry areas of the church, looking both within our church and seeking feedback from outside our church. Our work is in alignment with the ELCA’s shared goals of becoming:
- A thriving church spreading the gospel and deepening faith for all people
- A church equipping people for their baptismal vocations in the world and this church
- An inviting and welcoming church that reflects and embraces the diversity in our communities and the gifts and opportunities that diversity brings
- A visible church deeply committed to working ecumenically and with other people of faith for justice, peace, and reconciliation in our communities and around the world
- A well-governed, connected, and sustainable church
We’re grateful to the team members who have agreed to this important and intensive commitment, including: Pastor Randy Brandt, Emily Feld, Dan Ferber, Randal Hemmerlin, Fernando Hernandez, Ken Loher, Erin Morris, Marc Raymond, Zach Rider, Kari Slotten, Sofia Troutman, Rachel Wermerskirchen, and Anna Zimmermann.
If you have questions, please contact Kari Slotten at kari.slotten@sotv.org.
