- Is committed to reducing poverty
- Advocates social and political change to improve human welfare
- Believes faith demands global concern
- Believes the church belong in the public sphere
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
While all of us are equally loved in God’s eyes, we are not equally loved by each other – each of us experiences life in differing ways. We recognize that there are systems that promote the welfare of some and not others; there are laws applied inconsistently; there are places where education, health care, jobs and affordable housing are hopes rather than real possibilities.
On our journey of faith we realize that we are called by God to battle the injustices and inequalities experienced by our fellow humans. We begin to understand that the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves includes our neighbors throughout the world. We believe that a separation of church and state does not mean that those who attend church cannot and should not express their faith in the public sphere. Only by standing up for those who cannot defend themselves against their oppressors – whether a government, cultural expectations or natural disasters — do we truly follow in the steps of Jesus Christ.
- Which of the things that you do every day make an impact on people in other parts of the world?
- Think about headlines in today’s news that deal with inequality, injustice, or oppression. What actions can you take to make a difference—even a small difference—in the lives of the victims and others like them?
- In what ways does our church proclaim the Gospel outside of our walls?
