In an effort to listen and learn at this important time, we at Grace Lutheran are posting the voices and reflections of people and leaders of color in our devotions. Today we hear the voice of Rev. Kwame Pitts. Her biography is listed below. i am thankful for Rev. Pitts lament on how much hasn’t changed and also her hope for where we might be in 5 years.– Pastor Joanna Mitchell

The Rev. Kwame Pitts has found herself immersed in justice movements surrounding transformative and revolutionary change. Her name is a dedication to a collective ancestor, Kwame NKrumah, first president of Ghana. It is also a reminder to her of the responsibility and the accountability she has towards her Ancestors which she holds in high stead, and to the call before her of pastoral ministry.

She was called to Crossroads Lutheran Church, in June 2019 as a part of a partnership between her church and St. Paul’s Lutheran church called Main Street Ministries in Amherst/Buffalo, New York. Rev. Pitts began her service as Lead Pastor at Crossroads and Co-Pastor at MSM in September 2019; she is also Campus Pastor for the Western New York area for LuMin. Pastor Kwame and her family are getting used to Buffalo life, living above a Tim Horton’s and navigating new spaces. Pastor Kwame originally was a native Chicagoan, serving faithfully in many aspects of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA, from student to seminarian when she was accepted to the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago graduating in 2015 with her M.Div and ordained that same year. She also continued her academic and theological journey at the Chicago Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Sacred Theology focused on Ritual Indigenous practices and Trauma justice, set to receive her degree of the STM in Spring 2020.

During her time in Chicago, her focus was also not only on pastoral care and worship life but she was and continues to be a social justice activist, living out her call of faith towards action. She began this journey by co-founding a student social justice organization in 2011, alongside her colleague and friend Rev. Drew Rhineflesch, called Seminarians for Justice at LSTC, which has evolved and continues to be a positive force towards change within the Seminary and throughout the Chicagoland area. In 2013, when the Voting Rights Act was dismantled, Pastor Kwame took to the floor of the 2013 Churchwide Assembly and authored a social policy resolution regarding voting rights for all citizens. Additionally, partnering with the ELCA Racial Justice office under Judith Roberts, she co-partnered to form #ELCAVotes during 2014-2016. She has also been one of the voices that got the resolution surrounding the Emmanuel 9 passed this summer during the 2019 Churchwide Assembly for a Day of Repentance and Healing, creating worship and liturgical resources for congregations throughout the ELCA. Her work continues; she was active in Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL), as well as a part of the Emmaus Collective and is navigating where she is able to continue serving in a social justice capacity in the Buffalo metropolitan area.