Session 3b Social Justice

Theological Foundations, Spiritual Formation and Psychotherapy : 

Theological Foundations, Spiritual Formation and Psychotherapy The Social Justice Tradition Session 3b

Foster's Objectives : 

Foster's Objectives Broaden our view of the church Familiarize us with church history Build an appreciation of diversity Reveal idiosyncratic strengths & weaknesses

Slide 3: 

Justice and shalom in all human relationships and social structures The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice The willingness to extend oneself for another Inner resources and virtues that extend outward

Slide 4: 

Constantly calling us to a right ordering of society Promotes harmony in relationships Provides a bridge between personal ethics and social ethics Gives relevance to the language of Christian love Gives us a foundation for ecological concerns The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Slide 5: 

Social change becomes an end in itself Caring for social needs only Legalism Faith and the political agenda The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Key biblical figures: Deacons : 

Key biblical figures: Deacons The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Slide 7: 

Vincent de Paul Susan B. Anthony Florence Nightingale Martin Luther King Jr The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) : 

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) Social reformer who worked to abolish the slave trade. "So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the [slave] trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition." Promoted morality Book: Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians (From http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/131christians/wilberforce.html) The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

William & Catherine Booth : 

William & Catherine Booth Founders of the Salvation Army 1829-1912 (W) and 1829-1890 (C) Devoted their lives to serving the industrial urban poor of London In Darkest England (William’s book) was a social reconstruction plan, prescribing rescue homes for prostitutes, a farm colony, suburban villages, etc. Catherine was a powerful preacher and feminist. “While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; While little children go hungry, I’ll fight; While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, I’ll fight; While there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl on the streets, where there remains one dark soul without the light of God – I’ll fight! I’ll fight to the very end!” - William Booth, Methodist Minister (From http://forerunner.com/forerunner/X0533_Bios-_William__Cathe.html) The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Dorothy Day : 

Dorothy Day (1897-1980), founded the Catholic Worker Movement "Your love for God is only as great as the love you have for the person you love the least..” "Don't call me a saint. I don't want to be dismissed so easily." Established communities committed to nonviolence (From http://www.catholicworker.org/) The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Mother Teresa (1910-1977) : 

Mother Teresa (1910-1977) Background "I choose the poverty of our poor people. But I am grateful to receive (the Nobel) in the name of the hungry, the naked, the homeless, of the crippled, of the blind, of the lepers, of all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared-for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." Books: A Simple Path The Joy in Loving: A Daily Guide to Living My Life for the Poor: Mother Teresa of Calcutta From http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95aug/motherteresa.html The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Rosa Parks (1913-2005) : 

Rosa Parks (1913-2005) Pioneer of Civil Rights, refused to give up her bus seat to a white man on December 1, 1955. Member of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church "From my upbringing and the Bible I learned people should stand up for rights…just as the children of Israel stood up to the Pharaoh." Book: Quiet Strength From http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/b/brinkley-parks.html and http://www.leaderu.com/critical/colson-parks.html The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Desmond Tutu : 

Desmond Tutu Advocated peaceful methods against apartheid “We have a God who doesn’t say ‘Ah…Got you!! No. God says, ‘Get up.’ And God dusts us off and God says ‘Try again.’” Writings: Crying in the Wilderness Hope and Suffering: Sermons and Speeches The Rainbow People of God No Future without Forgiveness (From http://www.speaktruth.org/defend/profiles/profile_11.asp) The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Slide 14: 

Sunday School Movement Suffrage Movement Salvation Army American Civil Rights Movement The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Social Justice in 3 Arenas : 

Social Justice in 3 Arenas Personal Social Institutional The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Working With Clients : 

Working With Clients Self-awareness Cultural awareness Beliefs Perspective Attitudes Priorities The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice Focus Actions Feelings Things Ideas

Slide 17: 

Be open to involvement Be informed Become an advocate Support relief agencies Political involvement Writing Pray for justice The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice

Theological Orientation Informs: : 

Theological Orientation Informs: View of God View of Self View of others View of world Role/purpose Human responsibility The Tradition Focus Strengths Weaknesses Figures Movements Practice Social Justice