The Rev. Dr. Albert Starr, Jr., who is a son of Church of the Abiding Savior, Lutheran, in Durham, and has had a long and faithful ministry to church, family, and community—including serving many years as a pastor in Los Angeles and as ELCA Director of African Descent Ministries—was celebrated at a special event on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

In his work with the ELCA churchwide organization, Pastor Starr has had the great privilege of seeing firsthand the intersectionality of race, culture, economics, faith, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served as co-convener and staff support for the Authentic Diversity Task Force and the development of the report and strategy adopted at the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Friends from across the synod—and across this church—were joined by family members and special guests in attendance at the festivities. Bishop Tim Smith offered remarks, as did Bishop Yehiel Curry of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, the Rev. William “Ham” Hamilton of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, the Rev. Timothy Poston, pastor of St. Philip, Raleigh. Several attendees joined the celebration via Zoom.

The NC Synod African Descent Strategy Team, in their inaugural effort to live into their commitment of celebrating elders, hosted this special celebration at Forest Hall at Chatham Mills in Pittsboro on Saturday, May 6. From the celebration’s program: The NC Synod African Descent Strategy Team pauses in this moment to express the joy of the Black Lutheran community upon the vast contributions to the Church and to the world through the presence and ministry of Pastor Starr. On this day, we make time apart to celebrate with all kindred near and far so that he might know on this side of glory that we are because he is—Ubuntu.