God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. ... 2 Cor. 5:19

As we face the Martin Luther King, Jr. observance once again, it is fitting and proper to do some historical probing to uncover overlooked persons and stories that were connected with the Civil Rights Movement's ministry of reconciliation. Lutheran Christians have been hesitant to tell the story of those within our church who have "walked the talk" of racial reconciliation. Part of the hesitancy is our good Lutheran sense of how we understand good works (i.e. they follow grace through faith). Part of the hesitancy is that we as a church have not always been at the forefront of courageous racial healing.

Nevertheless, let me introduce to you Pastor Robert S. Graetz (1928- ). He was the only white pastor to serve on the Montgomery Improvement Association, one of the first major efforts to desegregate the bus transportation system. Contemporary historians credit the presence of Pastor Graetz, a white pastor, as a key reason for Dr. King's reconciliatory approach to racial and economic justice.

Robert Graetz was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and educated in Columbus, Ohio, graduated from Capital University (1950) and received his seminary degree from Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (1955). Graetz was called to serve Trinity Lutheran Church in Montgomery, Alabama from 1955-1958. He and his family were ostracized by other whites for his involvement in the Montgomery Improvement Association, and, on August 25, 1956, while the family was out of town, three dynamite sticks exploded in their front yard. In the face of the destruction, Mayor Gayle accused Pastor Graetz of bombing his own home in order to stimulate out-of-state contributions to the MIA. Later Graetz's car tires were slashed and sugar was placed in his gasoline tank. The harassment continued, and Graetz finally left Montgomery to become pastor of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.

Right after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregated busing laws unconstitutional, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had these kind words to say about Robert Graetz: "Rev. Robert Graetz, a young Lutheran minister, has been a constant reminder to us in these trying months that white people as well as colored people are trying to expand their horizons and work out the day-to-day applications of Christianity." (cited from The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume III: Birth of a New Age-- December 1955-December 1956, p. 446).

We give thanks to God today for Pastor Robert S. Graetz, member of the retired clergy roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, for his courageous witness to the gospel of reconciliation!

Let us pray. . . Lord, we commend ourselves and our daily work for racial reconciliation to your tenacious goodness and faithfulness. Amen

Contributed by Pastor Dan
Published Sunday January 16, 2005
Week 8 of Liturgical Year A