See Them, Champion Them: On the Election of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry and Secretary Lucille “CeCee” Mills
Photo by Janine Truppay from the ELCA
Rejoice with me! I recently served as a voting member from the Minneapolis Area Synod at Churchwide Assembly 2025. Had God told me before arrival that I would witness the election of an African-American Presiding Bishop and Secretary, I would have prayed, “Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief!”
I am overjoyed that our denomination has called Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry and Secretary-Elect Mills. In both cases, when I heard the words, “There is an election!,” I covered my face and wept tears of jubilation. I cannot tell you what it means to see myself reflected at the highest echelons of our church’s leadership structure. I have long observed the ministries of these Holy Spirit-filled individuals and I know that the ELCA will be better having received the precious gift of their leadership.
I also confess that in addition to feeling ecstatic, I am concerned.
I have lived long enough in a female, Black, and queer body to know what we will soon be hearing, “Why are both positions held by Black folks?” Was this question asked when it was two white leaders holding the same positions?
Or how about this one, “Why do we need to continue anti-racism initiatives in the church? We’re obviously not racist anymore!” If electing a Black leader solved the issues of racism, Obama’s presidency should have eradicated racism from our country, but it did not.
Finally, I am anticipating this hurtful comment: “This is going to divide the church; we are going to lose membership. This is just another DEI hire.” How shameful that anyone would think this about our highly qualified, experienced, and called leadership!
When you hear this type of racist and disparaging commentary, I challenge you to interrupt it immediately. Do not simply stand by and allow this to happen. Even if your voice shakes, find the courage to say something like, “I do not agree with you. I choose to love and support our leadership and pray for their ministries amongst us. You will not talk this way in my presence!”
Beloveds, this could be a life or death issue. If Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry has not received death threats yet, he very likely will in the near future. None of us who does such public work escapes this. Even as a young college student leading anti-racism efforts in my college town, I got death threats and I wasn’t even on a national stage. Your voice matters. Stan Mitchell, an LGBT+ activist, once said, “If you claim to be someone’s ally, but you aren’t getting hit by the stones thrown at them, you aren’t standing close enough!”
Christian siblings, we have the opportunity to show the world how to be an actively anti-racist church! We won’t get everything right, but when we fail, let us try, try again!
So how can we stand “close enough” to Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry and Secretary-Elect Mills? What is our call as ELCA Lutheran Christians to love, support, and protect our newly called leaders?
I am the author of See Me, Believe Me: A Guide to Deepen Allyship with Congregational Leaders of Color. I wrote this book to prepare well-meaning white folks to be faithful allies to BIPOC leaders of color in the ELCA and elsewhere. In it, I offer 75+ concrete suggestions about how white folks can be good allies to leaders of color in the church. Please read the book immediately. (You can order it from our ELCA publisher Augsburg Fortress, support local bookstores by buying from Bookshop.org, or search WorldCat to find a copy in nearby libraries.)
Don’t you dare say, “No one told me how I could help.” I did tell you. Read my book now. Do not wait until we have done unfathomable spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical violence to these beloved children of God. They deserve better; we all deserve better!
While you are waiting for your book to arrive, please consider implementing one or more of these suggestions for your allyship:
Covenant to pray for our new leadership daily. Only God can grant them the wisdom, power, and protection that they will need to rightly lead us in the days ahead.
When, not if, Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry or Secretary-Elect Mills shares a story regarding a racist incident, say, “I see you; I believe you.” Lean in, listen intently, validate their feelings, and offer concrete support.
When someone speaks ill of them, interrupt immediately and share a counter-opinion. Often bullies like to imagine that their opinions are shared by all. Speak up, and speak often, to confront the sin of racism in your spheres of influence.
Speak publicly in person—and on social media—about your excitement regarding the advent of their leadership.
Study their biographies and spirit-filled leadership and qualifications so you can share with others.
Begin, or continue, to educate yourself by reading books, listening to podcasts, and attending continuing educational events.
Start, or join, a book discussion at your church to prepare to be good allies to our new leaders. [I hear See Me, Believe Me is a great read!]
Christian siblings, we have the opportunity to show the world how to be an actively anti-racist church! We won’t get everything right, but when we fail, let us try, try again! Jesus told us that the greatest commandments are to love God and neighbor as ourselves. How we treat Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry and Secretary-Elect Mills has everything to do with how we will treat other BIPOC pastors, deacons, lay leaders, and members in our churches. It will inform whether our BIPOC neighbors see the ELCA as a safe(r), more welcoming church, to baptize their children and grow in their faith. Most importantly, how we treat our new leaders matters to God! GOD, through us, called these leaders for such a time as this!
I know that they have the specific gifts, talents, temperaments, and qualifications to lead the ELCA in this time of transition and change for our denomination. Both have proven on more than one occasion that they have a unique vision for sharing and translating the gospel in such a way that the neighborhood is transformed and Jesus is praised! Let it be our honor to love, support, pray, and defend them – in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
