Bishop Strickland Responds to "Confederate Heritage / History Month" Designations in TN & MS
May 05, 2023
Bishop Strickland addresses the challenges of designating "Confederate Heritage / History Month" in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Letter to TN Governor Lee - CLICK HERE
Letter to MS Governor Reeves - CLICK HERE
Or, read the content of the letters below:
TENNESSEE
Office of the Governor
1st Floor, State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243
Dear Honorable Governor Lee,
As a Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America representing the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, I am writing to express my concern and disappointment over the establishment of Confederate History Month in Tennessee. While we should always strive to remember and learn from our history, we must also recognize that celebrating the Confederacy is not only divisive but also offensive to many of our fellow citizens.
The Confederacy fought to preserve the institution of slavery, which is a stain on our nation's history and something that we must never forget. By celebrating the Confederacy, we are essentially endorsing the oppression and marginalization of entire groups of people. Instead of celebrating Confederate History Month, we should be working to promote unity, diversity, and equality for all members of our community. We cannot move forward as a state or as a country if we are still clinging to the divisive and hateful ideologies of the past. As a leader, it is your responsibility to promote inclusivity and respect for all members of our community, regardless of their background or beliefs.
I urge you to reconsider the establishment of Confederate History Month and instead focus on initiatives that bring us together as a community and promote understanding and empathy.
In Christ, + Bishop Kevin Strickland, Southeastern Synod of the ELCA
MISSISSIPPI
Office of the Governor
550 High Street
Sillers Building, 19th Floor
Jackson, MS 39201
Dear Honorable Governor Reeves,
As a Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America representing the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, I am writing to express my concern and disappointment over the establishment of Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi. While we should always strive to remember and learn from our history, we must also recognize that celebrating the Confederacy is not only divisive but also offensive to many of our fellow citizens.
The Confederacy fought to preserve the institution of slavery, which is a stain on our nation's history and something that we must never forget. By celebrating the Confederacy, we are essentially endorsing the oppression and marginalization of entire groups of people.
Instead of celebrating Confederate Heritage Month, we should be working to promote unity, diversity, and equality for all members of our community. We cannot move forward as a state or as a country if we are still clinging to the divisive and hateful ideologies of the past. As a leader, it is your responsibility to promote inclusivity and respect for all members of our community, regardless of their background or beliefs.
I urge you to reconsider the establishment of Confederate Heritage Month and instead focus on initiatives that bring us together as a community and promote understanding and empathy.
In Christ, + Bishop Kevin Strickland, Southeastern Synod of the ELCA