On June 20, ministers gathered for a workshop with Rev. Meg A. Riley, who directs the Washington Office for Faith in Action. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss how to make congregations more effective in social justice work. Rev. Riley used quotes from prophetic men and women to guide the ministers through the issues.
…We shrink from touching
our power, we shrink away, we starve ourselves
and each other, we're scared shitless
of what it could be to take and use our love,
hose it on a city, on a world,
to wield and guide its spray, destroying
poisons, parasites, rats, viruses—
like the terrible mothers we long and dread to be.
--Adrienne Rich, "Hunger" in The Dream of a Common Language
"Have you touched that power in your congregation? Or are you left thinking: What power?" Imagine a continuum from left to right, poses Rev. Riley…Using a "Continuum" exercise she asks the ministers who represent congregations "empowered" to address social justice issues to stand on the left. Those with congregations "struggling" to address social justice issues stand on the right. There is a lot of chatter as they place themselves along this figurative continuum.
If this room were a boat, it would have tipped over. Most of the ministers crowded into the right side of the room. One lone minister, Jane Dwinell, from the First Universalist Parish in Derby Line Vermont is the only one on the left. First Universalist, Derby Line was thrust into a major initiative to fight for Vermont legislation in support of same-sex unions.
There is a lot of space between her and the rest of the group. She shouts across the room to her fellow ministers. Reassuring people that improvement is possible. "A year ago I would have been over there with you. In fact, I probably would have been out of the door!"
So how can our congregations be more empowered to work on social justice issues? Rev. Riley asks the ministers to lists the obstacles to congregational effectiveness. She feels it is critical to identify the obstacles, and understand the type of the obstacle in order to move beyond them. Rev. Riley used a quote from Ghandi to help illuminate the different types of obstacles that can obstruct our fight for justice.
"…Everyday when I wake up, I have three enemies: The British people—the first and most obvious enemy. In a way, they are the easiest to deal with. The second enemy is my own people, and that is much more complicated. And the third enemy is Mohandas K. Gandhi and with him, I have no influence whatsoever."
The ministers were asked to look at their own list of obstacles. Is the obstacle outside of the congregation? Is the obstacle sometimes within the congregation? Or might we be our own greatest obstacle?
The session closed with Rev. Dwinell from Derby Line sharing the congregation's story of organizing to help pass legislation in support of same-sex unions in Vermont. Several factors contributed to the successful effort. 1) They focused on one issue. 2) The issue personally touched members of the congregation. 3) There was deadline to the legislative session gave them a sense of urgency. Working together on this issue was an empowering experience for many members of the congregation.
Handouts
- Prophetic Voice and Vision: Gathered Points of View
- "Being Prophetic" (Personal reflections on a social action and a pastoral journey)
For more information: The Faith in Action web site has useful information for congregations. Of particular interest regarding social justice work is the Social Justice Empowerment Program which contains a useful Information Guide and Handbook.
