Rev. Ellwanger is the recipient of the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award, 2008
Recognizes individuals for their service to civil and human rights causes around the world. It is the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. |
“We consider it a shocking injustice that there are still counties in Alabama where there are no Negroes registered to vote and where Negroes have reason to fear hostility and harassment by public officials when they do try to register”
Reverend Joseph Ellwanger, Selma, Alabama, 1965 |
Joseph W. Ellwanger is a retired Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor. He served nine years as pastor of an African American congregation, St. Paul Lutheran, 1958-67, in Birmingham, Alabama. From 1967 through 2001, he was pastor of Cross Lutheran, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the central-city African American community, leading the congregation from 95 percent white in 1967 to 75 percent black by 2001.
The author’s deep hope is that this book will feed the faith and stoke the fire of courage for that righteous struggle, which never ends while we are on this earth.
See Pastor Ellwanger accepting the Library Award at St. Paul Lutheran Church