On Saturday, Bright Stars of Bethlehem’s Executive Director, Tracie Ortman participated in the ELCA Minneapolis Synod Assembly, hosting a table and sharing information about Bright Stars of Bethlehem with the nearly 400 attendees. Donna Goodlaxson, a prominent member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis and chair of the Racial Justice Committee, took center stage and gave a speech preceding a resolution regarding Palestine that would later be put to a vote. The resolution passed overwhelmingly, a testament to the community's commitment to advocating for the Palestinian people.

In her presentation, Goodlaxson posed a critical question to the faith community: “What actions have we taken to alleviate, or better yet, halt the destruction of the Palestinian people?” Drawing from her experiences on the Palestine-Israel Committee, active since 2018, she highlighted the urgent need for faith-driven advocacy in light of ongoing violence against Palestinian communities.

“This resolution reinforces and builds a strong platform for all of us as a church,” Goodlaxson asserted. “It is an actionable step we can take. So let’s work on answering that vital question.”