Community 4:12

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.

Poverty to Opportunity Campaign

I had the privilege of attending a community forum in Aurora last night entitled, "Moving From Poverty to Opportunity."  It was sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Community Services and the Heartland Alliance.  I learned a lot about poverty statistics in Illinois and Kane County (which includes East Aurora).  For example, Kane County has seen a 24% increase in extreme poverty (defined as a family of 4 earning $10,325/year).  And almost 30% of children in Kane County live in poverty (defined as a family of 4 earning $20,650/year).  And the reality is that many, many more families and children, while not living at the federally defined poverty level, are not making ends meet.  Completely not acceptable.  And these organizations are treating this as a human rights issue and are mobilizing average citizens across the state to help end poverty.  There were youth, adults, seniors, Blacks and Whites (unfortunately no Latinos) all sitting around the table brainstorming problems and solutions.  Very cool and I look forward to seeing what more develops.  If you are interested in learning more about the campaign or signing on as an endorser, contact dschenkelberg@heartlandalliance.org. 

A+ Illinois

Despite the failed local referendum a few weeks ago, there is still hope for the East Aurora schools . . .and for all of the schools in Illinois.  And that hope lies in reforming state funding for education.  As I have been learning more about the movement to reform educational funding in Illinois, I have learned some shocking statistics:  Illinois ranks 47th in the amount of funding that the state provides for education, and 50th (dead last) in the size of the gap in per-pupil education spending between the state's highest and lowest poverty districts--and the gap has been widening each year.  There are three weeks left in this legislative session, so there is a huge push to encourage our state legislators to vote YES for funding reform.  You can learn more about A+ Illinois by clicking here.   And click here to learn how YOU can take action to urge your state legislators not to leave Springfield without a comprehensive school funding plan for quality education for ALL students--not just those in districts whose property values and taxes can fund excellent education.

This past weekend at an A+ rally, an East Aurora High School student gave a powerful and passionate speech about how her siblings and cousins are not going to have the incredible opportunities she has had to develop as a leader because of her role in extra-curricular activities.  Because all of those programs will be cut since the referendum failed.  If state reform happens THIS YEAR, there will be immediate hope for East Aurora (and Chicago and many other low-income districts).  If this is not a community development/justice issue, I don't know what is.  Inequity in educational opportunities is simply not acceptable.  Join me in letting our state lawmakers know that we will not tolerate that injustice.  Click here and call now!

We Lost, But Somehow God Will Win

Today, the people of Aurora spoke (or at least a small percentage who came out to vote).  They said "no" to the schools, the kids, the health of the community.  The referendum did not pass - - -preliminary results show we lost about 37% to 63%.  Not even close.  A big group of us crowded into the District 131 Service Center tonight hopeful and praying that the community would vote for a positive future.  We left with tears in our eyes, but more determined than ever to not let the 13,000 children in East Aurora down.  It is impossible to imagine how the district will survive without the funds the referendum would have brought in.  But I am holding tight to Hebrews 11:6:  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.”  I have to believe that God has a plan for the city of East Aurora that we just do not understand.  I know He loves those children no less than the children of Naperville, yet they seem to be up against incredible odds.  Lord, what role do you have for us to play in your beautiful plan?  We are eager and ready to fight the battle you lay before us.  Just guide our every step, because without you, it does seem hopeless.

Praying for a YES!

Today the fate of the East Aurora schools will be determined.  It is referendum day.  A group of teachers, staff, parents, and community volunteers have been working for the past few weeks to educate the community about the need for this referendum to pass and the devastating consequences that will result if it doesn't.  The district hasn't passed a referendum in 13 years.  And in the fall, it failed miserably.  But we are having faith that it WILL PASS today.  I am spending the day working at "command central" calling voters and doing my part to help get people to the polls to vote YES.  Scott participated in a teacher/administrator march around downtown Aurora last night.  There was a positive article on the front page of the Beacon News this morning, and Scott was quoted about our upcoming move to Aurora.  Click here if you want to read the article.  I have been invested in the Aurora schools for the last 4 years through our work at Brady, but this referendum takes on a whole new meaning now, because now the results of it will impact my own children.  That is why relocation is so important---investment in community development and fighting for "social justice" soars to new levels when you are talking about your own community, rather than just a "poor community" in the next town.  This referendum is just the first of many things our family, and Community 4:12, will be supporting to help bring hope to East Aurora.  If you live in East Aurora, get to the polls today and VOTE YES!  If you don't, join our prayer warriors who are praying that despite all predictions that it will not pass, that we will have a YES at the end of the day!

Are you Justice-fied?

A friend pointed me to David Fitch's blog today.  I'd never heard of Fitch, but I think this is a blog I'm going to have to start following.  He had a four part post on HOW NOT TO MAKE JUSTICE INTO A PROGRAM AT YOUR LOCAL CHURCH.   Here is an excerpt from Part 4:  "Final question - CAN MEGA CHURCHES DO THE WORK OF CHRIST'S JUSTICE?  I think the kind of churches that will have the hardest time with a MORE ORGANIC, LOCAL and EMBODIED JUSTICE are the mega churches. Because if justice is relational, mutual and sharing of all things, this is just plain harder the bigger you get. I would argue that the mega churches with the most resourses often do the poorest job of social justice per capita. Don't get me wrong they are doing plenty of mercy projects. SOME VERY HIGH PROFILE but is it justice? Or is it a large relief and mercy program, which again is important, but from post #1, I suggest it is not justice. Then again, I know at least 2 larger churches (2500+) that are doing awesome work for Christ's justice."  This is exactly the kind of thing I am always thinking about, because the vision behind Community 4:12 has always been more about justice than about mercy.  But, because of the size of CCC, I am quite sure C412 is seen as a "mercy" ministry and not a "justice" ministry.  Not that it should be an either/or---it must be a both/and.  But, I constantly struggle with how to get the justice message out to the masses.  Mercy is easy to communicate and publicize.  Justice is much more complicated.  I'd love to hear other's thoughts on this, so please comment!

Lord's Prayer for Justice

Thanks to Josh Jackaway for sharing this with me today.  I don't know the author and have shortened it slightly, but it is powerful!

"Our Father who always stands with the weak, the powerless, the poor, the abandoned, the sick, the aged . . . Who art in heaven where everything will be reversed, where the first will be last and the last will be first . . .Hallowed be thy name may the reverence we give your name pull us out of the selfishness that prevents us from seeing the pain of our neighbor . . .Your kingdom come help us to create a world where we will do justice, love tenderly, and walk humbly with you and each other . . .Your will be done may the complete mutuality that characterizes your life flow through our veins so we may radiate equal love for all and your special love for the poor . . .On earth as it is in heaven so that the joy, graciousness, tenderness, and justice of heaven will show forth within all of our structures on earth . .. Give help us realize that we must give to the poor, not because they need it, but because our own health depends upon our giving to them . . .Us the truly plural us, including those who are very different than the narrow us . . .This day not tomorrow.  Do not let us push things off into some indefinite future so that we can continue to live justified lives in the face of injustice because we make good excuses for our inactivity . . .Our daily bread so that each person in the world may have enough.  Teach us to give from our sustenance and not just from our surplus . . . And forgive us our trespasses our blindness toward our neighbor, our self-preoccupation, our racism, our sexism, and our incurable propensity to worry only about ourselves and our own . . . As we forgive those who trespass against us those who victimize us, our imperfect parets and systems that wounded, cursed, and ignored us . . .And do not put us to the test do not judge us only by whether we have fed the hungry, given clothing to the naked, visited the sick, or tried to mend the systems that victimized the poor.  Spare us this test for none of us can stand before your gospel scrutiny.  Give us, instead, more days to mend our ways, our selfishness, and our systems . . .But deliver us from evil that is, from the blindness that lets us continue to participate in anonymous systems within which we need not see who gets less as we get more.  Amen."

Passion for Justice

Someone asked me today why I am so passionate about fighting for justice.  There are a few different ways I could answer that question--from an intellectual, spiritual, or emotional perspective.  All of those drive me in the work I do.  But, it is probably emotional experiences that fueled and continue to feed the passion. 

When Scott and I were living in Baltimore, Maryland, I worked with a lot of inner city African American kids.  One day I overheard one of them say to a White kid, "God must love you more, because he made you white."  That was like a punch in my gut that forced me to ask the question, "Why DID God place me in a white, middle class, American, educated family?  Why wasn't I born Black or into poverty?"  The cliche, "I am blessed to be a blessing to others" took on a whole new meaning for me in that moment. 

I had the same experience when I was in Rwanda this summer.  In my journal, I wrote, "I don't know if I can handle the responsibility of being White and privileged.  I know God did not bless me as He has so that I can have an 'easier' life than the people here."  That is what drives me.  It is like the Parable of the Talents, and I have to ask the question of how I am going to invest the power and status and priviledge I have been entrusted with (even though it doesn't feel like I have that much of any of those things, I know that relative to much of the world, I do).  All are born equal in God's eyes.  All are not equal in the world's eyes.  For me, fighting for the poor and the oppressed is about restoring that equality.