Bringing race discussions to the church

One local pastor guiding his parish

It's been 5 years since a white supremacist killed nine black worshippers at a church in charleston.

Years later... the death of george floyd is generating conversations and calls to end systemic racism in not only police departments but also in churches.

Kimt news 3's isabella basco is finding out how one pastor is calling on his parishioners to take an active role in the black lives matter movement.

Here ?

"* at good shepard lutheran church ?

"* pastor carl eric gentes is making it his mission for his parishioners to take a stand with the black lives matter movement.

He writes devotional letters to his congregation... holds book studies and dedicated all of the last lent season to talking about racism and understanding what white privilege means... how it impacts us and the way we understand god and our neighbor.

"as a christian, if i call jesus my lord and savior, then i am binding myself to all of the crucified people of the world.

That why it's the christian thing to do because jesus draws us into relationship with those people."

Pastor gentes tells me dylann roof ?

"* the white supremacist who killed the nine worshippers in charleston was a member of gentes' denomination ?

"* the evangelicl lutheran church in america.

After the shooting ?

"* he had o come to terms with the fact that racism and hatred was active in the church.

That's why he wants to get parishioners involved in the fight against racism.

Live in rochester ib kimt news 3.

Thanks isabella.

Good shepard lutheran church streams their services.

To find a link to them... visit kimt dot com.