This past Sunday, July 17, a delegation constituted of Latiné representatives of the ELCA Churchwide Office and representatives of the Latino Ministries Association’s Executive Council, joined The Rev. Claire Burkat, Interim Bishop of Sierra Pacific Synod, during a visit to the community of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina (a former ELCA Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community known as Misión Latina Luterana). This visit represented the first official visit of The Rev. Burkat as Bishop to any congregation in the Sierra Pacific Synod.

During her visit, Bishop Burkat shared an apology to the community of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Sierra Pacific Synod; and, in an effort to offer more than just an apology, Bishop Burkat shared the following statement — including four commitments— to the community and its Pastor, The Rev. Nelson Rabell-González. 

“

Dear Siblings in Christ,

It has only been seven days since I arrived on the territory of the Sierra Pacific Synod to serve as the appointed interim bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod.

Of the 160 congregations, Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina is the first church I am visiting because I want you to know how deeply I care about your heartbreak and the pain and distress you experienced as a worshipping community last year, on December 12, during the Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, when you realized your pastor was not in attendance with you, and together — as one people — you left the building.

Today I come to bring my prayers, deep sorrow for the pain you have suffered, and intentions for repentance, healing, and hope for reconciliation.   

+ I promise you there will be an investigation of the circumstances regarding the removal from the roster of the ELCA, of The Rev. Nelson Rabell-Gonzalez. I believe this sudden removal of your pastor on December 12, 2021, denial of appeal, and denial of “on leave from call” status, was an unjust action that needs to be thoroughly examined and reviewed. Therefore, this will include a chance for Pastor Rabell- Gonzalez to offer his interpretation of the events leading up to his removal and subsequent difficulties. Furthermore, Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez will have the opportunity he has been requesting for over a year: to address the complaints against him publicly. The members of the Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria Peregrina — formerly Misión Latina Luterana, Stockton  — also will be allowed to participate in this investigation. I was distressed to learn this ELCA worshipping community was not included in the interviews or conversations that led to their pastor’s removal.  

+ Based on the investigation results, there will be a careful and prayerful evaluation of the proper next steps to address Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez’s roster status. I was grieved to learn of the radical way he was dismissed before Sunday worship on a High Holy Feast. In normal circumstances, when a Bishop finds it necessary to ask a pastor to resign from their ministry, the bishop calls a meeting of the church council or mission steering committee to inform the leaders of any allegations or evidence that has been discovered. After an opportunity for the key leaders to question the actions and decisions and discuss what led to the removal — usually that very same week but not Sunday at worship — a special congregational meeting is called for the bishop to make disclosure of the allegations and charges against the pastor to the whole congregation. Then arrangements are made for pastoral care and a bridge or supply minister to attend to the pastoral care and worship of the congregation. I am so very sorry nothing of this process was shared with you, the beloved people of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina. 

+ Lastly, I have already begun conversations with the synod’s Witness and Discipleship Team, and Churchwide Mission Start leaders, toward renewing financial support for this Lutheran mission, pending mutual agreements.

Let me share with you some words of hope in times of deep distress from the Apostle Paul to the Saints at Rome:

Romans 8:24-28

For in this hope we were saved.

But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

And God who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to God’s purpose.

Thank you and bless you for welcoming me to share worship and eucharist with you as one body in Christ.

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of us all, who is above all, and through all and in all.

In Christ,

Interim Bishop Claire Burkat

After sharing these words with them, the community had an opportunity to share thoughts, concerns and requests to the interim bishop. After the unjust and dishonorable actions on December 12, 2021, this community was seriously harmed financially, emotionally and spiritually. However, they remained hopeful to be part of the ELCA asking that the following requests be met in an effort to offer justice to the community, and as a way to make the ELCA accountable for its actions rooted in systemic racism:

+ A Public Apology. As a first step in a potential process of healing and reconciliation, the community is requesting a public apology to Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina and its Pastor, from the Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton on behalf of the ELCA, prior and during the 2022 Churchwide Assembly. They also advise Presiding Bishop Eaton to follow the courageous steps of Interim Bishop Claire Burkart and offer not just an apology, but an additional affirmation of the commitments included in this list and the ones offered by Bishop Burkat, above, that are not immediately related to Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez’s case. However, the community asks the Presiding Bishop to support the requests from Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez (included in the next section of this document) depending on the results of the just investigation requested by Bishop Burkat.

+ A worship space. The Feast of the Virgen of Guadalupe represents the biggest evangelism opportunity for any Mexican American Lutheran community in the United States. This opportunity was lost when the community left the building to avoid being preys to further racist actions.

+ Justice for Our Pastor. Several members of the community expressed that an injustice has happened under the leadership of the former bishop Megan Rohrer. Because Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, delayed the requests from the Latiné community to intervene, this inaction has allowed the continuing of this injustice. Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez deserves a just investigation process, just like the one announced by Interim Bishop Claire Burkat.

+ Emotional and Pastoral Support. “We were treated like criminals, like rapists, like ‘bad hombres’; we did not deserve that and that has caused a lot of pain in our hearts”. The community requested pastoral and counseling services to help them heal from the traumatic events on December 12, 2021, and its aftermath.

+ Revision of the ELCA Policies and Procedures. The outdated and obsolete policies and procedures of the ELCA have continued to harm communities of color. The Sierra Pacific Synod case represents a constant reminder of the inability of this church’s processes and procedures to effectively function in modern times, while disproportionately affecting people of color.   

+ Removal of Names of Alleged Accusers in Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez’s Case. According to information provided by staff of the Sierra Pacific Synod to members of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, names of said members were included in the list of accusers in the internal investigation of Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez’s case. As mentioned by Bishop Burkat, people from the community were not included in the investigation. Furthermore, according to a Sierra Pacific staff source, there seems to be a list of accusers that include individuals from the community, who are asking to be removed from said list immediately, as they did not bring allegations against the Pastor and want to know who — and under what process or procedure — included their names as accusers.

After the community received this opportunity to be heard by Bishop Burkat, The Rev. Rabell-Gonzalez shared the harm and pain that the inactions of the Churchwide Office, has created for him and his entire family. Following the steps of the congregation, Pastor Rabell-Gonzalez also shared the following document as an effort to begin a process of healing and reconciliation with the denomination:

“

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Interim Bishop Claire Burkat

Sierra Pacific Synod Council

Dear Siblings in Christ,

May the Peace of Christ be upon you.

I have been asked to provide my “asks.” Here they are:

+ My reinstatement to the ELCA roster after a thorough and just investigation has been completed.

+ A public apology at the 2022 Churchwide Assembly to my faith community of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, to my family, and to myself.

+ Financial reparation for the emotional, economic, and spiritual damages caused by the defamation of my character at two Sierra Pacific Synod assemblies, on the Sierra Pacific Synod website, on the Sierra Pacific Synod's social media pages, and on social media postings by Former Bishop Rohrer, and in formal, albeit "confidential" disclosures to Sierra Pacific Synod pastors during "executive sessions"  as part of conference meetings, among other forums.

+ Therapy sessions for all members of my family, given the trauma suffered during this time, sponsored by the Sierra Pacific Synod.

+ A worshiping building — sponsored by the Sierra PAcific Synod and the ELCA Churchwide Office — for the members of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, in a strategic location between Stockton and Lodi, CA.  The Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina's Church Council should be invited to the conversations regarding this point.

+ Ongoing financial support for Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina that can provide the means for the congregation to survive and thrive in the future.

Respectfully submitted by The Rev. Nelson H. Rabell-González, M. Div., STM, and BSME

In addition to this opportunity for public conversation, Roberto Lara, President of the Latino Ministries Association of the ELCA, presented to the congregation council a document written by representatives of the Latiné community in the ELCA, that was presented to the ELCA Church Council during their last meeting on June 27, 2022. This group included representatives from the Latinx Lutheran Leadership (L3), Estrategia Latina Committee of the ELCA, Latiné DEMs and Churchwide staff members, board members of the Latino Ministries Association of the ELCA, and members of the Conference of Bishops.

The document presented to the Church Council included the following three action items for their consideration:

+ Reaffirm, support, and/or implement, without delay, the recommendations offered by the Listening Team appointed by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, particularly following through in bringing disciplinary charges against The Rev. Megan Rohrer under Chapter 20 (20.22.01.b; 20.22.02.c).

+ Coordinate a public apology to the community of Misión Latina Luterana (now Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina) and anti-racism commitment during the 2022 Churchwide Assembly.

+ In addition to the Listening Team’s recommendation related to the creation of a diverse ELCA Crisis Management Advisory Team — in the form of identity and areas of expertise — we recommend the exploration of [a fully independent] Racial Justice Ombudsman Office, in collaboration with the ELCA Director of Racial Justice, tasked with the investigation of complaints from people of color against maladministration in governing entities at synodical and churchwide levels. The need for such an office is clear in the failure of due process in the case of former ELCA Pastor Nelson Rabell-Gonzalez, as stated in the report of the Listening Team.

Lack of transparency is one of the roots that has allowed the growth of unjust processes and procedures in our Church. This is why we offer this document not only to the Latiné community of the ELCA, but to all our siblings in Christ serving in this church.

Finally — and continuing to follow the courageous example of the community of faith Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina — we also exhort Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to support the commitments made by Interim Bishop Claire Burkat, and to support the requests from the community and from The Rev. Rabell-Gonzalez, knowing that some of them would need to be considered after the results of a fair and just investigation are revealed and made public, taking all the necessary steps to protect all parties involved.

The ELCA has the goal of gaining 1 million new and diverse members by the end of this decade. In a single day, the trust of an entire community of faithful Latiné Lutherans was lost. These are only our first steps in this fight together for the recognition of the wrongs done to our communities of color in the form of accountability toward racial justice in our denomination, and for a healing process with the Latiné community, to avoid any further pain in our church — particularly with our siblings of color.

At this time, we continue to cry out an ancient prayer . . .

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.