The Racial Justice Team

Messiah has a very active Racial Justice Team which is involved in MOSES (Madison Organizing in Strength, Equality and Solidarity) whose mission is to promote criminal justice reform.


The group is also involved in the South-Central Synod of the ELCA Racial Equity programs.


They offer book studies on racial justice topics and offer a lending library of racial justice books so members can read about issues of systemic racism.

Messiah Racial Justice Facebook Page

Current Initiatives

In that we can right now have: Call to Action on Addressing Gun Violence


Gun violence affects our whole country. In that sense, this call to action does not belong exclusively on the Racial Justice Team’s webpage. However, studies show that people of color are impacted disproportionately due to the effects of generations of systemic racism, discriminatory policies, and patterns of police violence. See Impact of Gun Violence on Historically Marginalized Communities to learn more. These facts, combined with the leaders of the Racial Justice team taking the lead on educating the Messiah community, is why this information has landed here. 


Steps to address gun violence:

  • Attend the Safe Gun Disposal Event Visit –please include that info that is currently on the webpage.
  • Make your voice heard. Here is a google slideshow that specifically addresses how  to speak up about gun violence, but these strategies can be used to express your opinion about any issues that are important to you. 
  • Learn about the Wisconsin gun laws and how those compare with other states:
  • Gun Laws in Wisconsin
  • Which states have the ideal laws to prevent gun violence? 
  • Learn about the racial implications of the 2nd Amendment by reading The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America by Carol Anderson unpacks what was going on historically when the second amendment was being crafted at the Constitutional Convention.
  • Join a Presbyterian Peace Fellowship "Protecting Children from Gun Violence" Action Circle April 15- May 13, on zoom on Wednesdays for one hour.
  • The Action Circles are a way to learn practical ways that you can help protect children and youth from gun violence. They are ecumenical and free of charge.
  • Created and led by educators, parents, pastors and church leaders, the Action Circle will help you learn about the root causes of gun violence impacting children and youth. Participants will evaluate various types of effective action, with a goal to help each participant find the best action for their church setting.
  • Learn more HERE,  Register here for April 15-May 13 Action Circle HERE.


3rd section can be where we house information about contacting elected officials. Maybe call it: Make Your Voice Heard about Any Issue that is important to you!


One of the easiest methods to use is the 5Calls app/website at 5calls.org. You set your location, select an issue from the sidebar and then the names and contact information of your elected officials pops up along with a suggested script which you can use verbatim or as a starting point. You can work your way through all of them or skip and select who you want to contact. 


Calling your representative is the best way to make your voice heard before they take a public stance because congressional staffers tally phone calls right away.


Other kinds of messages take longer.

  • Emails have to be manually read and sorted.
  • Faxes have to be digitized and emailed.
  • Letters and postcards take time to arrive and get processed.


In the end, the most important thing is to make your voice heard, whichever way works the best for you.


Safe Gun Disposal - March 21 - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - St. Paul AME Church


Messiah is a partnering organization for this safe gun disposal event at St. Paul AME church.


We need donations for gift cards that are given out for every gun disposed of at the event. Gift cards are in the amounts of $100, $150 or $200. Any amount donated toward a gift card is appreciated! 


Visit Messiah’s giving page and choose “Guns to Gardens” in the drop down list.  We will also be collecting for the gift cards at the Ash Wednesday service and the first 3 Divine Yoga sessions on Feb 24, March 3 and March 10.


For more information scan the QR Code or speak with Pr. Jeff  Pr. Dan, Elizabeth Crummy, Tracy Frank or Tara Von Dollen.


Passionate About Addressing Gun Violence?


If you were unable to join the When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough book study, but you are still passionate about addressing gun violence, choose from these action steps. As we learned, thoughts and prayers are a starting point, not the end point.



Many people believe the 2nd amendment was created to preserve states rights against overreach by the federal government. The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America by Carol Anderson unpacks what was going on historically when the second amendment was being crafted at the Constitutional Convention.


In a nutshell, Haiti was beginning to overthrow its French colonial masters which meant Blacks were seizing that country for themselves. The Haitian Revolution sent an earthquake of fear throughout the United States with people like Thomas Jefferson fearing that the ideas of Black freedom would spread to the new country. The 2nd Amendment was a way to get the southern states to ratify the constitution by providing assurances that they would have access to and control over their militias to put down these anticipated uprisings.



Presbyterian Peace Fellowship


Good News for Gun Violence Prevention from Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, the organization providing the training for our Guns to Gardens event in March.


  1. The CNN Hero of the Year*** was Quinlen Blackwell of Chicago, whose "Southside Blooms" flower farm prevents gun violence by providing jobs and opportunities for at-risk youth, and by transforming a neighborhood with hope.
  2. Gun violence deaths decreased from 41,044 in 2024 to 38,739 in 2025 --- 2,305 lives saved. Suicide gun violence was about the same, with a decrease in homicides and about 100 fewer mass shootings in 2025 than 2024. While these numbers are still painfully too high, evidence-based strategies are working to save lives. Thank you to each person who helped to make this happen. Source:  Gun Violence Archive.
  3. The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship celebrates the ordination to the ministry of gun violence prevention for Rev. Mike Martin of RAWtools, our Mennonite brother and partner in Guns to Gardens.
  4. The second annual Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage trained and inspired 65 activists who are now leading congregations in gun violence prevention in 21 states and 10 denominations. See a report HERE.
  5. In spite of the chaos of 2025, Guns to Gardens continues to grow--including into Texas--- and faithful congregations continue to hear the still, small voice of God that calls us to take action, to pray and to keep going in the ministry of gun violence prevention. Congratulations to churches from Georgia to Minnesota to Missouri and many other states for your faithful action and love. You are good news.


***CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is a television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and make a difference in their communities. Honorees are introduced during the fall of each year and the audience is encouraged to vote online for the CNN Hero of the Year. Ten recipients are honored and each receive $10,000. The top recipient is chosen as the CNN Hero of the Year and receives an additional $100,000 to continue their work. 


Here is information about the opportunity from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, the group which has trained us to host our Guns to Gardens event on March 21. They usually ask for a donation and the racial justice group can make that donation if  you like.

Please contact Elizabeth if you are interested in signing up.


"Protecting Children from Gun Violence" Action Circles Feb 4- March 4, 2026 or April 15- May 13.

The sessions are held on Zoom for one hour each Wednesday at Noon


If you are troubled by gun violence as the number one killer of American children, you are not alone. The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship invites you to register for a new Action Circle to learn practical ways that you and your congregation can help protect children and youth from gun violence. The Action Circles are ecumenical and offered free of charge.


Created and led by educators, parents, pastors and church leaders, the Action Circle will help participants learn about the root causes of gun violence impacting children and youth. Together participants will evaluate various types of effective action, with a goal to help each participant find the best action for their church setting.


Learn more in this Presbyterian News story on the new Action Circles HERE.

Register for the Feb 4-March 4 Action CircleHERE or the April 15-May 13 Action CircleHERE.

For questions, suggestions or to learn Summer and Fall dates, contact gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org