Economic Justice Churches
The United Church of Christ passed a resolution at its most recent General Synod that encourages churches to engage in a discernment process of study, witness and action to decide whether to become an economic justice church. To help facilitate that consideration, the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries has created a task force to develop an Economic Justice Church Covenant Program. According to a UCC release dated July 15, the Task Force recently held its first meeting to begin work on creating a program that “includes Bible study, education, prayer and engaging the community around economic justice issues.”
So What?
What does economic justice mean to you as a person of faith?
What kinds of study, education and prayer on the theme economic justice have taken place in your congregation over the last few years? What is being planned for the upcoming year?
If your denomination provided a quality resource, would you be inclined to utilize it? Why or why not?
What would it mean for your congregation to be an Economic Justice Church? What is your initial response to the sample Economic Justice Covenant below, which is written by The United Church of Chapel Hill?
God blesses the world with abundance, yet so many continue to live in poverty and suffering. We confess that we are participants in this injustice, whether through our actions, or through our complacency. We ask God’s forgiveness for our negligence and self-centeredness.
As witnesses to the grace of God in all of creation, we strive to answer Jesus’ call to work for a world where both mercy and justice prevail, and all share in God’s abundance.
Therefore, we, the congregation (Ministry, Conference, Association) of ________________, covenant with God and with one another to:
- Provide service and care for brothers and sisters in need;
- Educate ourselves on the root causes of poverty;
- Seek long-term ways of empowering the powerless in our community;
- Stand against injustices that cause and perpetuate need;
- Strive for economic justice in all policies and activities associated with our church(Ministry, Conference, Association);
- Encourage and support one another in our own stewardship of God’s earth and its bounty;
- Unite with other organizations to address poverty and injustice in the world.
Recognizing that without God’s help we are inadequate to these tasks, we pray for strength, courage, humility, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the work ahead.