The Goal for this Session
Discover HOW the Church can contribute to societal flourishing through Social Justice and Civic Engagement!
Grounding text: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” – Luke 4:18
How do I arrive at this work
Social Location/Family of Origin
Cultural Background – deeply African worldview formed in the segregated South
Theology – I preach & teach the Social Justice of Christ to contribute to the flourishing and building of community power
What is Justice??
Micah 6:8 – “..And what does the Lord require of you but to ‘Do Justly,’ To Love Mercy, and To Walk Humbly with your God?’…”
“DOING JUSTICE” - looks like empowering people, organizing people, training people so that they have a sense of what to do, how to do it and where to do it.
A “JUST” system is one where everyone flourishes, not just the few!
Social Framing
Social Framing constructs a frame for how we see one another and how we see the world around us.
Social Framing is often “un”- just
Social Framing often “clouds” justice
Social policies (POLITICS) are often enacted to support ”un-just” social framing
A Most Common Deception
The idea that righteous individuals (persons) can tolerate and thrive in an unjust society without addressing the evil in the system or attempting in anyway to change the system.
Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the Welfare of your City.. “…seek the welfare of the city where I have caused you to be carried away into exile.” – Jeremiah 29:7 (NKJV)
Historical Glimpse
The Church sustained and empowered our ancestors to build families and survive under the nightmare of enslavement.
It was the Black Church and Civic Engagement that empowered them with “hope against hope.”
Black Church REALLY took up the fight for Justice in the face of Jim Crow laws.
According to Henry McNeil Turner (1915), the radical edge of the Black church came to an end early in the twentieth century, and in essence, the Black Church became “de-radicalized”. Damaged by war and depression, Black churches tended to turn inward and address spiritual issues. Economically stable churches concentrated on becoming “mainstream” while distancing themselves from the problems ravaging the neighborhood of less-well-off Black Americans. The socio-political maintenance of Black people, in large measure was left to secular organizations such as the NAACP.
What is Civics?
Civics is anything of or relating to a citizen, a city, citizenship, or community affairs.
What is Civic Engagement?
Civic engagement describes how individuals become involved in their community to make a positive difference in the lives of fellow citizens.
What are Civic Engagement Activities?
Activities of civic engagement seek to address issues in the major aspects of society including family life, the economy, education, health, the environment, and politics.
Statements for a Theory of Change
Our CITY needs ‘well’ people doing ‘well’ and working to create ‘well’ systems!
Our CITY needs “chaplains” to the social movements to bring spiritual care into the secular spaces!
Social Justice
Social Justice only occurs when righteous individuals (persons) work and advocate for justice!
Explore issues of Social Justice
What justice issues are people concerned with in your area, and how are faith communities part of the concern?
How might faith communities be part of the solutions?
Probe #1 for Successful Engagement
What is one creative way that you have offered or could offer support to justice advocates in your area?
Probe #2 for Successful Engagement
How can you build relationships and foster trust with secular activists and advocates?
Probe #3 for Successful Engagement
**How are you present in the day-to-day activities of your community beyond the church walls
Excerpt from Dr. M L King
On the betrayal of America’s own founding principles:
“[W]e’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all… would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds”… And so we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now… It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.”