Peace with Justice
May 28, 2010
A well known television personality has recently stirred people of faith to action–but not exactly as he intended. His charge that the term “social justice” as used in churches was a code for, well, a variety of “isms” sparked tens of thousands of the faithful to contact him in order to “turn themselves in.” It was of course a tongue in cheek way to answer the charge– and to have a little fun doing so. Leadership from his own faith community roundly distanced themselves from his position, even as others have invited him to reasonable dialogue. I’d say “stay tuned,” but then I reckon I’d have to watch his program.
A term like “social justice” certainly does elicit a range of responses, including questions like, who gets to decide what is just and unjust? We at least attempt to let the Scriptures set the standard for justice, and so far the Scriptures have convinced us to address hunger, mental health reform, education, the environment, and more.
Our ancestor in the faith, John Wesley, certainly set the standard in his vocal opposition to slavery, which he regarded as the vilest institution ever imagined, let alone carried out. We might say now that Wesley had the “chops” to pull that off–to gain respect in the public arena. I think that was a function of his integrity, his balanced life between personal piety and what he called “social holiness.” For him, one was not faithful with merely one side or the other. One could not be pious without living out the faith.
Each year denomination wide, our United Methodist Church receives six special offerings. As you can see on the bulletin insert, today’s is “Peace With Justice.” You may or may not wonder what becomes of such offerings! A recent Newscope gave a report about the 2009 offering, and it’s several destinations:
$50,000 IN PEACE WITH JUSTICE GRANTS GO TO 15 MINISTRIES
“The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has awarded grants totaling $50,000 to 15 Peace with Justice ministries. The grants are awarded in conjunction with Peace with Justice Sunday, which witnesses to God’s demand for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world.
“Peace with Justice Sunday, May 30 this year, is one of the six denomination-wide Special Sundays with offering. Established by the 1988 General Conference, Peace with Justice Sunday supports programs that advocate peace and justice at home and around the world. Half of the Special Sunday offering is retained in the annual conference to fund local peace with justice programs. Half is remitted to GBCS to help fund U.S. and global work in social action, public-policy education and advocacy.
“Forty-six ministries requested funding for 2010. At its spring meeting, GBCS’s board of directors selected 15 to receive grants. Recipients comprise six Central Conference projects and nine in four U.S. jurisdictions. Three recipients are in the South Central Jurisdiction, three in the Southeast, one in the North Central and two in the Northeast. The Central Conference awards went to three projects in the Philippines and one each in Kenya, Liberia and Nigeria.”–GBCS
So that’s some of what “Peace with Justice” means to United Methodists.
Pastor Steve
Seasons
May 28, 2010
At the risk of calling attention to it, I can’t resist merely mentioning this twenty years at Fairmont. Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, at the conclusion of annual conference. I’ll be back for another. Remember, I serve under appointment by our bishop, and am appointed year by year. Twenty years is two decades. It spans five leap years, 1040 Sundays, give or take. As of this writing, 888 of them have included Sunday Night LIVE! Who’d a thunk?
But there’s another significant moment that I cannot let pass unheralded. Many of you have heard that Heather Wong will soon be Pastor Heather at Wesley Memorial United Methodist, Raleigh. Having served as our director of children and youth ministries these past four years, Heather is continuing in her pastoral calling, as she did at Englewood (Rocky Mount) and Banks (Durham District) United Methodist churches.
What newer members of the church may not know is that Heather was here before I got here. I think it was 1984 when she moved here with her family–or should I say “back” here, as she was born here while daddy Chuck was working with the Raleigh Wesley Foundation. I first knew her as a rising ninth grader, and clearly among the young people here. From UMYF to sacred dance to sharing her lovely voice, she gave of herself in this place.
After college (and Appalachian State Wesley Foundation) and her sojourn in the working world, her calling to ministry took shape, and she went to seminary. During that period, she came “back” here again, working while a divinity school student. By some marvelous grace, and a leave of absence in 2006, when we needed Heather, she was able to come back–again! Who’d a thunk that?
I join you all in thanksgiving for these several seasons sojourning among us. ‘Tis a rare moment in the life of any church to have a person exhibit and exercise leadership and service spanning childhood, youth, college, seminary, and young adult (I’ll stop there!) years. Throw in marriage to Phil and the advents of Samantha and Matthew, and we’ve shared a lot.
She has touched the whole community of children and youth, from the youngest among us through college students, now serving as chair of the board for the Wesley Foundation. That is wonderful service.
I’m sure this is where as the elder brother I am to insert remarkable and sage advice to my younger (ok, much younger) colleague. But experience tells me this is where I would do well to listen to her instead.
Take note that on June 6th, Heather will preach and lead us in our service of holy communion. June 20th will be her last Sunday in worship. May all that be a time of celebrating Heather’s wonderful service to God at Fairmont. Heather, we thank God for you! Go with God’s blessing and our love.
Pastor Steve