A few weeks ago I became embroiled in a red-faced debate about how, and even more to the point, whether the church should become involved in commenting on and advocating for particular social issues.
I had been asked by the folks at the First Congregational Church of New Haven (NY) on the 2005 Resolution passed at General Synod regarding equal cival rights for same gender marriages. One young man took great umbrage at the thought that the church should be advocating any position that rightly belonged in the hands of legislatures or law courts.
I pointed out that beginning with Jesus the church has sought to be faithful to God's call to engage the world in order to promote justice, righteousness and peace. Such Church luminaries as Pope Gregory the Great in his treatise on the "Two Sword" Theory, and John Calvin in his view that the church was to be Reformed in its own theology while also seeking to reform society to more closely reflect God's reign in heaven were certainly in concert with Jesus' teachings here. But, no matter what I said, he remained unconvinced.
While many of our members probably share this young man's opinion, many believe otherwise. The folks at Plymouth Congregational Church, Syracuse expect their church and their pastor to be involved in promoting justice. Pastor Craig Schaub has been actively involved in promoting the increase of the minimum wage in New York State.
There are many approaches to our engagement with the world. Mark Lawson, pastor of UCC Bayberry (Liverpool), became involved in local politics when the Liverpool School District closed down a neighborhood school. In his advocacy to try to keep the school opened he noticed how contentious and unhealthy the decisionmaking procedures seemed to be. So, he ran for and was elected to the School Board. He soon became Vice Chairperson, and is now Chairperson of the Board. Mark is also an adjunct Professor of Religion at LeMoyne College, and Dean of the New York School of Ministry.
John Miller, pastor of the Evangelical Protestant Church in Albany, considers himself a "street priest" in the economically deprived neighborhood in which the church is located. John spends more time in court than in his office. He has become an advocate for alternatives to incarceration. He takes his advocacy personally. He stands up for those in the neighborhoods who are charged with crimes and encourages the court to reduce or suspend jail time. He even provides placement for community service (which includes mandatory worship attendance at Evangelical Protestant). John is also Executive Director of the Capital Area Council of Churches.
An old formula that described the Christian life stated that we were to be in the world but not of the world. Jesus himself pointed out that we needed to care for the real needs of people in order to be faithful. We must to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, heal the sick.
How do we live out our faith? How does the creed which we state agree with the creed by which we live? What is God calling us to do in the face of rampant violence, callous disregard for individual rights, atrocities that are committed against the poor whether in Darfur, Jakarta, New Orleans, or in the Southwest side of Syracuse, war?
I have to admit that while I disagree with those who say that being right with God has nothing to do with trying to right the injustice in society, I all too often live with little regard for God's call to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.
So, how do you do it? What are your thoughts about how God is calling us to live our faith? What is your church, or what are you personally doing to minister to the needs of your neighborhood or the world? Help me to let others know.
Blessings to you in your ministry,
Rick
The New York Conference UCC
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
In the World but not of It
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7 comments:
Hi Rick,
Love the Blog! I have been working with a new group called Mpowerment which is based out of Binghamton. They are funded through the Southern Tier Aids Program. They reach out to GLBTQ people who are dealing with safe sex issues, HIV/AIDS, and STD issues. It has been very interesting to see the stigma that is attached with HIV/AIDS from not only the community at large, but also from the GLBTQ community in itself. I think the church needs to play a very active role in reaching out to these folks. They certainly are "the very least of these". Most of the people I have come into contact with through this program have a very distorted view of church and faith (most rightly so), and for us as UCCers we have the great chance to change that. I hope we all can find an area beyond the walls of church to be involved in that helps us to put our faith into action.
Peace
Dave Heckman
Thanks for your comments, Dave, and for your work with Mpowerment. Tell us more about the issues and how UCCers might engage more. Rick
I believe we are called to be ready to live out our faith whenever, and wherever the situation presents itself to do so. It may be in our church, on the street, across the state, another country, on the job, at a volunteer site, or just writing to our representatives. If we don't respond we are short changing ourselves, others, and most importantly our God. Jesus didn't pick and choose where or with whom he lived out his faith. Whether it was someone with a disease, a taxcollector, a child, a woman, or a temple elder it mattered not. He set the example and we need to follow it.
Here in the Binghamton area different churches take turns cooking supper once a week for the local Aids Support Group. Mostly these are folks living with HIV/AIDS. We cook the meal, pray together, then join together at the table to partake of the meal. Friendships have been formed, and without a doubt the Holy Spirit is present in that space.
We are a called people and we need to respond to wherever that call leads us.
Susan
"We are a called people and we need to respond to wherever that call leads us."
Amen to that, Susan, and to the rest of your comment. And, blessings in the ministry of the various churches in the Binghamton area in their ministry of hospitality in concert with the AIDS Support Group.
Rick
Rick,
I look upon the church's social/political ministry as an extension of its pastoral ministry. We see people hurting. Our faith calls us to do whatever is possible to help. The Civil Rights movement was led by African American pastors deeply moved by the humiliations and dangers of their community. Oscar Romero was a conservative bishop until his priests started getting killed. For us in the UCC, political action began with opposition to Cherokee Removal (see pagesd 89-90 of my book). Our ABCFM missionaries were working with the Cherokee; the tribal leaders asked for our help in negotiating with the federal government. We acted out of an identification with the needs and aspirations of those among whom our missionaries worked. After that effort ended in failure, many persons who became politically active out of religious conviction directed their attention to the abolition of slavery.
As a local church pastor for about 25 years, I have become aware of the long lasting injuries to persons' psyches caused by war. I have strong convictions to work for peace because of the faces and voices of real people I had been called by God to serve. Our churche's concern about homosexuality comes out of an awareness of the suffering of persons in our midst.
The church's social/political ministry is an extension of its pastoral ministry. Because we care about people, we will do whatever we can to alleviate suffering and injustice.
Chuck Maxfield
Hi Rick- Very impressed with your new blog! One way I live out my faith and beliefs in this techonolical age is through the internet. I have discover many friends to IM with, some quite different from me. One such person is gay and a Wicca. We chat almost everyday and while I don't understand her beliefs we respect each other's right to exprees their beliefs in any wasy that is best for the. She feels she and her partner have been alientated by the church. They live in the south. After several weeks of talking about scripture she wrote, that I have restored her faith in Christianity, There is a great big world out there to get in touch with. I have "spoken" with others from Australia, Great Britain, and Africa. Each has been able to share theri stories with me about what is going on in their lives The internet has turned out to be a great source for sharing our beliefs and helping others in their journey.
Deb
This is always a struggle for me. Not because of the engagement, rather because of the distraction it may cause to the church that I serve. Social Justice along with other important issues need to be attended to but must never distract us from our call.
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