Message from Transitional Synod Leader: Honoring Indigenous Heritage: A Reflection on Eloheh and Our Call to Humanity

This month, we celebrate Indigenous Heritage, recognizing the rich cultures, wisdom, and contributions of our Native siblings. As the Synod deepens its relationship with Indigenous communities, I find myself yearning to learn more about their enduring traditions and the values that have sustained them over centuries. Two quotes have been especially powerful in guiding my reflection this week.

In the Cherokee language, there is a concept of well-being called Eloheh (pronounced ay-luh-HAY). Randy and Edith Woodley, authors of Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being, describe it this way:

“The Cherokee meaning of well-being is deep and resonant, and it is hard to capture in English. Eloheh means well-being, but it signifies so much more. Eloheh—what some traditions call the Harmony Way—describes a state of being when all is as it should be, or as it was created to be. Eloheh means that people are at peace, not at war; that the Earth is being cared for and producing in abundance, so no one goes hungry. Eloheh means people are treating each other fairly and that no one is a stranger for very long.”
(Randy and Edith Woodley, introduction to Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being, Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf, 2024, 5–6)

This understanding of well-being resonates deeply with the essence of peace, harmony, and care for creation.

Similarly, the Indigenous caucus at the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches shared the ecological wisdom embedded in their traditions:

“We as Indigenous Peoples believe that the Creator is in Creation. God revealed Himself/Herself as Creator and Sustainer in the act of creation. The triune God, along with the land, co-parents all life. The mystery in John chapter 1 unfolds how the Creator abides in creation. The incarnation of God in Christ becomes totality in God’s creation… Through God all things were made, without God nothing was or is made. In God there is life, and in God is the light of all Creation. The presence of God made the world and therefore it is sacred. The work of creation in God is the unity of diversity, where all lives coexist in a harmonious balance because they are all from God. Each seed that sprouts begins creation anew, and not one seed can grow unless the Creator enables it. We believe that doing justice to God’s creation is the basis of liberation and the human search for selfhood.”
(Indigenous Peoples Pre-Assembly Statement, World Council of Churches 10th Assembly, Busan, 2013. Quoted in The Land Is Not Empty, 195)

These profound insights remind us of the interconnectedness of life and the sanctity of all creation.

Recently, Rev. HollyHaile Thompson, a member of the Shinnecock Nation, offered a perspective that further deepened my understanding. She said, “In Native theology, we believe in confessing our humanity, not confessing sin.” As I reflected on her words alongside the earlier quotes, I was struck by a central theme: a focus on humanity, our Imago Dei—our divine image. It calls us to consider how the Divine sees us and how we are to see and value others.

Could this be the Church’s mission today—to find greater ways to honor and uplift the humanity of others? This type of theology aligns seamlessly with who Jesus was. As He walked through villages, entered homes, and spoke truth to power, He sought to right the wrongs of oppressive societal systems. For Jesus, setting the captive free was about restoring life to those whose lives had been taken from them.

This call to restoration does not negate personal responsibility. Our actions have consequences, and we do reap what we sow. However, many suffer under systems of injustice that thrive on otherness and seek to oppress those less empowered. No matter the reasons for our current circumstances, the Gospel’s mission remains clear: to restore life, not just for a fortunate few, but for all. This is the essence of Eloheh—harmony, peace, and a shared flourishing.

As we reflect on Eloheh, let’s ask ourselves: How can we bring this kind of harmony into our own lives and communities? What steps can we take to honor and learn from the Indigenous cultures around us? Perhaps it’s as simple as showing up, listening, and beginning to see the world through a different lens.

Let us walk this path of harmony, guided by the wisdom of our Native siblings, and commit to building a world where justice, compassion, and well-being are shared by all. This includes taking action in our daily lives and fulfilling our civic duty to vote, ensuring that our choices reflect a commitment to equity, environmental stewardship, and the dignity of every person. Together, we can make this vision a reality, one thoughtful act at a time.