* February 8 The Promotion of Social Righteousness
* 6 basic convictions that are expressed in chapter 1 of the Book of Order as the missional direction for PCUSA communities of faith These 6 overarching goals or great ends are foundational to who the church is and what it is called to do Not a lot of history on origination surfaced in late 1800 s in Pittsburgh as part of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. They are challenging to live out and uncomfortable at times, both congregationally and individually The great ends are intended to spur action not contemplation or critique
The Promotion of Social Righteousness Why is it a concern of the church? God is sovereign over all creation Jesus was concerned for the marginalized We are called to follow him What makes it challenging? Loss of church s influence in world Confronting powers/structures Controversial within church as well What does it look like?
How the General Assembly over the years has spoken to this goal 1.International Affairs foreign aid, immigration, refugees 2.War, Peace and Conscience disarmament, peacemaking, objector status 3.Created Order energy, population growth, hunger 4.Economic Issues poverty, migratory and farm workers, urban renewal 5.Race and Rights of Minorities in America civil rights, affirmation action 6.Status of Women ordination, inclusive language, reproductive rights 7.Issues in the Life of the Nation education, gun control, ethics in government 8.Sexuality and Human Values marriage and divorce, homosexuality, disabled 9.Health substance abuse, AIDS, health care Source: Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, PCUSA But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream. Amos 5:24
2014 General Assembly vote on Divestment --Since 2004, GA expressed concern with three American companies in whom PCUSA owns stock whose products were being used by Israel in ways felt not to not further the cause of peace with Palestine: Caterpillar bulldozers used in destruction of Palestinian homes and construction of separation wall Hewlett-Packard sales of scanners used at checkpoints Motorola military communication --representative of PCUSA met with each company multiple times in the past decade to express concern --July 2014, GA voted 310-303 to sell $21 million stock in those companies
Life in Hebron
Separation wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem
Some agencies supported by DPC through the 2014 operating budget --A Woman s Place (survivors of domestic violence) --Bread for the World (policies to ensure food for all people) --Discovery Service Project (building projects in the 3 rd world) --Bucks County Housing Coalition (housing for the poor) --Habitat for Humanity (home ownership for low income families) --Life Abundant (ministry to prisoners, ex-offenders and their families) --Esperanza (community health center in Philadelphia) --Missionary Support in Nicaragua and Peru --Americans for Native Americans (Zuni in the American Southwest) --Community Pantry of Gallup, NM (food for the hungry) --The Other Carpenter (needed home repairs for low-income) --Bridging the Gap (construction of foot bridges in Kenya) --Bucks County Opportunity Council (economic self-sufficiency) --Face to Face (poor of Germantown) --Tabor Children s Services (at-risk children and their families) --Code Blue (homeless shelter) --Hunting Park Christian Academy (education in inner-city Philadelphia) But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream. Amos 5:24
Reflecting Together What does promotion of social righteousness mean to you? Any surprises in what you have learned this morning? Where have you seen DPC engaged in such work? How would you like to see our church do more/less? At what point does this calling make you uncomfortable? How do we go about this work when not of one mind?
--Isaiah 58:5-7, 10-12 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.