Community 4:12

My Reaction to Kony 2012

As the Director of the Compassion and Justice ministry at Community Christian Church, a few of our staff have asked me what I think of the viral explosion of the Kony 2012 movement.  (In case you haven't heard of it, you can watch the video here:  http://vimeo.com/37119711).

In response to that explosion, there has also been an explosion of criticism lobbied against International Children and the Kony initiative.  (You can read one such criticism--that is well presented and makes some excellent points that I agree with---here:  http://liferemixed.net/2012/03/08/reflections-on-kony-2012/).

And then, in response to those criticisms, International Children has issued this response:  http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html.

Not that I feel our staff needs my opinion to decide whether or not to support Kony 2012 or not, I love and appreciate that there is a desire to think about this critically and to look at things through a "When Helping Hurts" lens.  So, I shared the following response with them to read IF they were interested.  And I'll share it here for anyone interested in my opinion . . . and it is only that, my opinion.  I don't claim it as the typical "community development" position or as the "right" or "best" opinion.  It is simply my opinion as someone who deeply desires to see long and lasting restoration come to our world, as someone who deeply desires to see people move from apathy to engagement when it comes to issues of poverty and justice, and as a parent of teenagers hungry to make a difference in our world. 

I applaud the intention, the initiative, the call to action, and the inspiration of Kony 2012.  I believe that apathy and ignorance are two of the worst evils and biggest obstacles to overcoming poverty and injustice.  Kony 2012 is trying to blow both of those to smithereens.  Is Kony 2012, if successful, going to end injustice or really impact the horrible situation in Africa?  Even if it is, is it the most effective and helpful way to do so?  I would say possibly, and maybe even probably, not to both of those questions.  Does that mean we shouldn't get involved?  I would say no to that, too.  What I would hope, though, and what I am encouraging my own family to do, is not so much rally around the poster plastering on April 20th, as to use this as an opportunity to enter a passionate debate and dialogue and rally with others around the bigger issue of poverty and injustice and what our role and responsibility as human beings and as Christ followers is in these situations.  So, if people are organizing and planning "poster plastering" rallies and events, I would hope they will also include a time of discussion and reflection and a follow-up "debriefing/what do we do from here?" conversation.

The biggest tragedy to me in all of this will be if millions of people are mobilized and excited about Kony 2012 and April 20th, but then life goes back to "normal" by April 25th.  And the reality is that will probably happen for many if not most people who get involved.  But, if a few dozen or a few hundred or maybe even a few thousand people are inspired to move from apathy to long-term, thoughtful, smart engagement and involvement in poverty and justice issues, I will say it was a job well done.

 

My Convenience = Their Oppression

I recently read this book that chronicles the experiences of five Latina immigrant mothers in Oakland, California as they become informed and engaged advocates for their children's education.  It has generated a lot of thought and reflection, but one statement in particular has really stuck with me:  "whites . . . have become so used to speaking for the 'Other' that they are not aware of how their speech silences those who most need to be heard. [There is] deep paternalism underlying many progressive change efforts initiated by whites, where people of color are spoken about, rather than invited to speak as experts of their own experience."

I know and believe in the value and importance of speaking "with" and not just "to" or "for" a community, but if I am really honest, I know this statement is true of me at times.  Not all the time, but there are times when it is easier and more convenient to "speak on their behalf" rather than coordinating challenging work schedules and getting translators when I am involved in meetings and discussions about programs and activities we are doing, or want to do, in the community.

This was a potent reminder that avoiding inconvenience fosters the exact kind of oppression we are working to alleviate.

Choosing a Justice Cause

It has been so long since I've posted . . . hopefully I'll do better in 2012.  In the meantime, this post on Dave Ferguson's blog is too good not to share!

Immigration--the Civil Rights Issue of Today

 
Four years ago my family moved from an upper-middle class, mostly Anglo neighborhood to a low-income, predominantly Hispanic community.  Four years ago, “illegal immigration” was a nameless, faceless issue.   Today, undocumented immigrants are neighbors, friends, and students in the third grade class my husband teaches at a local elementary school.  Enelda, Raul, Jose, and Rosa have made it impossible for me to think of immigration as simply a political and social issue anymore. (Names have been changed)

Enelda is part of a parent mentoring program I lead.  She has lived in America, undocumented, for almost 15 years.  Her children were born and raised here, and she and her husband have worked hard to help them get on a path out of poverty.  She was recently pulled over for driving with a burned out tail-light.  She was arrested on the spot for not having a driver’s license.  She sat in jail for three days and was then released with a court date to come back in three months, at which time she has been told she will most likely be deported back to Mexico.  Enelda & her husband have 3 months to decide whether they will all go back to Mexico, or whether Enelda will leave her children behind to pursue that “better life” for which they have worked so hard.

Raul is a sophomore at our local community college.  A talented artist, musician, and student, he was accepted at several excellent universities.   But, without papers, he is not eligible for financial aid.  So, he lives at home and is working his way through community college.  We all prayed recently that the Dream Act would pass so that Raul could have the opportunity to transfer to a university when he completes his AA this semester.  When Congress killed the Dream Act a few weeks ago, they killed Raul’s dreams of going to college and graduate school.

Jose recently had a friend drive him across the country to one of a couple of states in the nation that allows undocumented immigrants to get a drivers license, because he hated not being able to drive legally and get insurance.  He came to America as a child, and has lived a “secret” life ever since.  As a Christ-follower, he lives with the constant guilt of knowing he is breaking the law by being here.  But, to return to Mexico would be giving up everything and everyone he knows.  So, he prays for a pathway to legal residency while enduring the guilt and shame of knowing he is a “criminal” in the eyes of many.

Rosa was a third grader in my husband’s class last year.  Part way through the year, she started having trouble concentrating and was often teary-eyed.  When Scott approached her, she shared that she was afraid to go home each day because she might find out that her mother had been sent back to Mexico.  Reading and math became irrelevant to her . . . all she could think about was loosing her mom.

I know there are countless Eneldas, Rauls, Joses, and Rosas in my community and around this country.  To many, they are simply illegal immigrants . . . and criminals.  But I just can’t believe that that is how Jesus sees them, or how he wants me to see them. Every day when I look around my neighborhood, I am more convinced that our immigration policies are broken.  Daily I must watch God’s children suffer the consequences for our lack of urgency in addressing this broken system, and I can’t help but think we are not loving our neighbors as Jesus would.

To learn more about the plight of undocumented immigrants, go to http://UnDocumented.tv

Justice for All--Is it worth it?

It was bound to happen.  Questioning whether we made the right decision to move our family from one of the best performing school districts in the state to one of the worst.  In three and ½ years, I have pondered, but not seriously questioned our decision.  This week, I have questioned.  Not regretted, but definitely questioned.

We are blessed that neither of our kids struggles to learn.  In Naperville, they both tested as “gifted.”  There is no “gifted” program in East Aurora, but we hoped the general education would be sufficient if we supplemented with some work at home.  And through elementary school, that was the case.  But now, with a 6^th and 7^th grader, it’s not that simple.  Between the schedule of after-school sports, music, and church activities and the growing desire for cyber and in-person connection with friends, there is little time for much academic “supplementing.”  And after 7 hours at school and the bit of homework they have, it is understandable that they would have little tolerance for extra work that isn’t impacting a grade.

But, in those 7 hours at school they seem to be missing something Scott and I believe is core and essential to a solid liberal arts education---analytical reading and writing.  There is no reading of the classics, no essays, book reports, or critical analysis about what they read.  We believe that critical thinking and learning to formulate thoughts and ideas, both verbally and in writing, is an essential skill.  We have become increasingly concerned that they are not learning that skill at school.  After doing a little digging into what middle school kids in Naperville are doing and having some discussions with the boys’ current teachers, we are now sure they are not getting that . . .at least to the point we believe is necessary.  And that really concerns me.  Concern is Satan’s playground, so he is having a jolly time with me. . . causing worry, questioning, doubt.

We knew we would face challenges when we moved.  And going into this, we believed strongly that we couldn’t just think about our own kids’ education.  We were moving in part to fight for a more just and equitable educational system in general.  But now that our kids are being directly impacted in a noticeable way, the success driven, “upwardly mobile” American mentality is fighting its way back into my thinking.   I find myself questioning whether fighting for “justice for all,” is really worth the risk to my own children's success. 

But what if everyone let the concern for their own children dictate the risks they were willing to take for all of God's children?  I don't think there would be any hope for justice.  And THAT really concerns me.  I'm pretty sure Jesus would say that there are more important lessons for our kids to learn than how to write a critical essay.  I'm not going to be satisfied with the status quo.  Scott and I definitely have some work to do in addressing this concern--for our boys, and for all of the kids here in East Aurora who dream of going to college and being competitive in our American society. But, I guess it is time to really practice what I preach.

"Love your neighbor as you love yourself."  I think that means I need to love my neighbors' children as much as I love my own.  I know working for "justice for all," is the right thing . . .even when it means my kids aren't getting the best.  That doesn't feel good.  But, I guess dying on the cross didn't feel very good either.

 

Opportunity or Distraction?

I have a big decision I need to make in the next week or so.  I've been wrestling with it for the past two weeks, and am still waiting for God to give me that neon sign telling me what to do.  The group pictured here is the current District 131 Board of Education.  One of the members recently resigned, and so the Board needs to appoint a replacement.  I have been asked by several members of the administration to consider applying for the position.  This opportunity has been presented to me before, and I always felt that it was not the right thing for me to do.  But, for whatever reason, this time, I don't feel at peace about turning away so quickly.  So, I have spent the past couple of weeks praying, talking to principals, district staff, the retiring Board member, community members, and my team trying to discern whether this is an opportunity God is putting before me "at such at time as this," or if it is a tempting distraction that could hinder/impede the work we are doing in the community.  I have come up with a long list of reasons why I should not pursue it, and an equally long list of reasons why I should.  I haven't struggled with a decision this much since we grappled through the whole "do we relocate to East Aurora or not" dilemma.  In the end, God did give me great peace about moving.  But, I didn't have a deadline I was up against, so I had the time to wait for God's direction.  This time, I do have a deadline.  I am praying that God will give me peace about one direction or the other before the deadline.  But, if He doesn't, should the default be to take the risk or not?  I'm going to choose to believe that He will make it clear . . .but I must seek Him and wait.  Neither of which is easy for me to do!  

Historic Meeting

  I just came from what I think and pray was a historic meeting in the life of the American Church.  We are here in Miami at the annual Christian Community Development (CCDA) Conference, and we convened a small group of representatives from three parts of Christ's church---the Church Planting movement (NewThing & Stadia), Christian Community Development (CCDA), and Social Justice (Sojourners). The purpose was to talk about how we can bring these three historically distinct areas together to bring a holistic gospel message to our country.  I don't know that I have ever been in a room with so many influential people---Brian McClaren, Shane Claiborne, John Perkins, Wayne Gordon, Adam Taylor, Jon Ferguson, Brent Faulk, Mary Nelson, Troy Jackson.  It was incredibly encouraging to hear every one of them acknowledge the need for unity and commit to working towards that.  Obviously talk is cheap and easy.  But, that each of these people showed up at 7:00 on a Saturday morning in the midst of incredibly busy schedules demonstrates at least some level of commitment.  I really have no business being a part of such a conversation, but since CCC convened a small gathering to start this dialogue last January, I got invited to the table and so far haven't "lost my place."  Mostly my role is behind the scenes praying and helping to keep CCC/NewThing engaged in the dialogue and journey.  It is too early to say what the next steps will actually be, but some pretty bold asks and statements were thrown out, so I am excited to see what transpires.  I am sure it will take time and there will be many challenges, but there is no doubt that God's desire is that we have more new churches that are focused on community development and social justice in this country, so it is crucial that these three groups work together and inform each other's movements.  I wonder if we will look back in 10 years and remember this meeting as the beginning of a new kingdom movement.

Social Justice and Church Planting

One of the outcomes of the Urban Church Planting gathering we had last week is that a few of us Community Development folks are going to go to the biggest Church Planting conference (National New Church Conference) in April, and then some big Church Planting folks are going to come to the biggest Community Development conference (CCDA) in October.  I am excited about these opportunities for further learning and collaboration!

As part of the conference, Troy Jackson is doing a pre-conference intensive "Social Justice and New Churches."  I think it is going to be awesome.  Well, it will be if they don't cancel it.  They need several more people to register for this session in order to continue to offer it.  If you are a church planter, or know anyone who is, please consider coming to this conference (there is an amazing line-up of speakers) and being a part of this pre-conference intensive!  This topic is so important for churches to be thinking about if they want to be relevant in this society, so it is a message they need to hear!  Please help spread the word!  Here's an explanation of what will be covered . . .

When: Monday, April 21, 1pm - 5pm and Tuesday, April 22, 9am - 11am

Leader: Troy Jackson, University Christian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

Description:
Over the last decade, a passion for Social Justice has grown exponentially in our culture and our churches. Following the lead of celebrities from Bono to Oprah to Bill & Melinda Gates, and of Christian organizations like Sojourners and the Willow Creek Association, issues of race, poverty, genocide, global trade, HIV/AIDS, the environment, and peace have become pervasive. To be relevant in 2008, your new church must wrestle with these social justice concerns. Further, a close reading of Scripture makes clear that a passion for justice is not only demanded by our culture, but is also mandated by God.

This pre-conference intensive seminar will help you consider how to make social justice part of the DNA of your new congregation. We will explore ways to move beyond concern to concrete action that will excite and inspire your attendees and lead people in your community who had written off the church as unconcerned to take a new look at Jesus.

This intensive will consider these questions facing your new church:

• How prominent should social justice be for our new congregation?

• Is social justice best understood as a new and relevant apologetic or as a mode of evangelism, or should social justice have an even greater role in our new church?

• Should we engage national and local politics, or avoid politics altogether?

• How can our congregation move from awareness and concern to actually making a difference in a hurting world?

• What resources can our church use to be better engaged, informed, and involved in making a difference globally for God's Kingdom?

Hybels on Social Justice

Just read a great post on Jim Wallis' blog entitled, "Save Souls or Feed the Poor?"  He links to the Beliefnet blogalogue that this week focused on a "debate" between Billy Hybels of Willowcreek (representing evangelisim) and Paul Rausenbush (representing social justice).  It actually isn't a debate at all, but a refreshing dialogue that tries to eliminate the idea that the gospel is "either-or."  Both agree it is a "both-and."  I love the message Hybels consistently gives--in word and action--that the evangelical church can be a "both-and" kind of church!

Churches Unite

The churches of Aurora and the Fox Valley have recently united in ways I have not seen before . . . on a common mission to prevent Planned Parenthood from opening in Aurora.  Across all denominations, churches are coming together for prayer vigils, community forums, and in public statements.  I know such unity is what God desires.  I pray that the unity and passion we are seeing to protest the abortion center will continue around such life and death issues as the atrocities in Darfur, the war in Iraq, hunger, and lack of access to basic medical care.  There are so many things that break God's heart.  I dream of the day that churches everywhere are working relentlessly to rid the world of all life-destroying injustices.