Request for Proposal Regarding Racial Equity Assessment & Healing

The Synod Council of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the ELCA seeks a consultant to engage with synod leaders to (i) review internal systems for bias and inequitable outcomes, (ii) propose changes that are more likely to yield equitable results, and (iii) identify barriers to achieving equity, including instances in which our polity makes change more difficult. 

This work arises out of an October 7, 2020 letter from the Synod Council that expressed lament for the sins of racial injustice and white supremacy and recommitted to building a more just and equitable society.  The Synod Council acknowledged the complicity of our church and our contribution to racism and white supremacy while also expressing hope in the ways our church and society at-large is making progress towards racial justice and greater racial consciousness.  The Synod Council recognized that the scope of our work to dismantle white supremacy and end racism requires sustained commitment and long-term investment to provide opportunity for meaningful amends and progress to be realized. 

To that end, the Synod Council wishes to examine institutional processes within the synod and identify how we can update processes for the sake of equity and to remove anti-Black and racist biases.

The full Request for Proposal document can be viewed at the button below.

Questions and proposals should be submitted to Katharyn Wheeler, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, at KWheeler@metrodcelca.org.

Proposal deadline / anticipated selection schedule:

Questions about this RFP should be received by August 31, 2021.

If needed, Synod leaders will host a Zoom call in September 2021 to respond to questions.  Zoom information will be posted on the synod website and the call will be recorded.   

Synod leaders will provide additional responses to questions, if needed, by September 30, 2021.

Proposals should be received no later than October 15, 2021.

Synod leaders will review proposals and select top bidders and notify unsuccessful bidders no later than October 30, 2021. 

Negotiations with top bidders will begin no later than November 1, 2021.

Contract will be awarded and unsuccessful bidders will be notified no later than November 30, 2021.

Consultant will begin work in the fourth quarter of 2021 or first quarter of 2022.  We are, however, open to negotiations regarding scheduling for the right candidate.