Just words today

I have no intended message here.  Not sure why I feel the need to write today...?  For me?  For you? Whomever you are.  Life is so full of everything right now, I am not keeping up well.  That plate idea - not only do I have a side salad and a full dinner plate, but some soup, dessert, and at least 3 glasses of something.  People in different spheres ask me if there is too much, but to an extent, I like it this way.

I love the work I am doing.  The hugs I get from the children, the stories from parents, and the appreciation from others that my ideas and energy are motivating and helpful - that's what gets me through chapters and chapters of reading.

I love the babysitting I get to do.  Each one of the children I get to cart around with me are a joy (albeit - not always) and getting to know them, share in their stories, and just laugh and play keeps me sane.

I love my friends.  There are a great number of people in my life right now who are honest, authentic, and challenging.  We all have needs.  I can't fill them all.  But it makes my soul sing to be present with others in their lives.  I learn so much.  It's not always sunshine and roses, but I try hard to look through the storms to see the beauty of a raindrop, or feel the comforting embrace of the wind.  I am truly an annoying eternal optimist.  I only wish I could be with them more, offer more of myself and my resources, yet life and responsibility calls.  There are so many in whom I have already lost touch with.  It scares me how fast people walk in and out of my life.  All I can do somedays is live in the moment with whom is here, and continue to add the others to that never ending prayer list.

Interpersonal.  It's my best learning style.  Just be with me.  Talk to me.  Teach me.

I could get on the "people don't understand me" train.  To be honest, I think that it's partly true.  Many have told me (for years) I am the most extraverted person they have ever met.  Some friends roll their eyes at my habits of knowing a servers name at a restaurant  or honestly answering the question "how are you today?".  I know I'm a handful in a travel size package, and I know that I talk to much.  So what?

I intentionally decide to interact with the world around me and see the good.  Most days it keeps me happy.  Other days I color.  Or sing.  But it's hard when life beats on you, or someone you care about.  There are times where you are trying so hard, and it just flies back in your face.  Then I cry.  And I sing, or play piano.  And I pray.  And finally, I get the crayons back out, and color some more.

I have a million things going on right now, with work, school, and people in my life - but I love them all and am grateful.  My masochistic self even offers to do more.  Sleep is over-rated anyway.  Realistically though - I am young and single and live in Chicagoland.  I don't know what my life holds, but I hope someday I won't be single or childless.  Then opportunities will change.  For today - I shall put on my cute and cuddly winter things, and head out with a smile.  Good morning world.

Peace,
your sister in Christ,
Erin      

Discipleship and Citizenship

Discipleship.

Churches encourage members to engage in a wide array of discipleship programs and have committees to provide resources in spiritual disciplines, classes, and more.  Olson and Friedrich acknowledge that discipleship is the domain of the church and we are comfortable with that.

Citizenship.  

Schools and communities try and teach our children to be good citizens by participating in their communities and government.  Vote!  Know what your community is doing and how to advocate for change.



Olson and Friedrich challenge their readers to connect these two domains. Religious motivations should shape how one feels about affordable housing, childcare opportunities, health care for children, or fair wages for immigrant workers.  Churches feel comfortable addressing and meeting the immediate needs of those in the community, yet are often uncomfortable digging deeper into the issue and asking why it is happening and what can be done about it on a public policy level.

Scripture reminds us that it is our work as advocates to speak.  What would have happened if the Canaanite woman had not insisted her child was deserving of Jesus's attention and healing?  Olson and Friedrich are clear - advocacy about power.  Yet out baptismal vows boldly claim that as Christians we accept the power of God to resist evil and injustice.  Therefore child advocacy, and all it entails from acts of mercy of feeding hungry families to acts of justice in fighting for affordable housing for families, is Christian Discipleship.

Here is a common metaphor to leave you with:
You are enjoying lunch along the river with your friends.
You hear someone yelling for help from the water.
You (with your mad lifeguard skills) jump in the river and save them.
A few minutes later, someone else is in the river needing your help again!
You jump back in and rescue them too.
A few minutes later, another person!
You are getting tired, but continue to rescue those in need.
When do you go upriver to look for who is pushing people in the river?

There will always be those who are in the river and need compassionate help to get out.  Yet, others are called to the justice work of looking at the systems of oppression and working to keep people out of the river in the first place.

How can the church address both of these paths?

Peace,
Erin 

Garland's Steps to Advocacy Programs

Olson and Friedrich lay out Diana Garlands principles for organizing an effective advocacy program, which provide a step by step practical approach to advocacy as she outline in her book Precious in His Sight: A Guide to Child Advocacy.  


1.  Acknowledge Abundance.  
In a materialistic culture, it is hard for most of us to come to the realization that we have more.  This is a difficult thing to accept, and it can bring up feelings of entitlement and defensiveness.  The reality is that there are enough resources in the world to provide for everyone if they are redistributed.  This is a difficult concept to unpack and really needs to be done first.  The reality of privilege can be paralyzing for many, however acknowledgement is the first step to empowering and advocating for others.  
2. Infuse Theology
The love of God and love of neighbor is our foundation, or as the authors describe, our loom.  This is what makes us different from other social justice organizations.  Always ask - "Where is God in this?" and we will find much more in common throughout the body of Christ.  
3. Identify Obstacles
The reality is there are many obstacles that need to be expressed before advocacy work can be done.  A few that Garland lifts up include "there's really nothing we can do to stop child abuse, we should leave it to professionals", "we are already doing so much", "we need to take care of our own children first", "we don't have the money".  All of these are valid obstacles, but do not have to be the end of a good idea.  
4. Engage Allies 
Don't reinvent the wheel! Find other organizations in the community or across the denomination to offer assistance, provide resources, and partner with you working towards a communal goal. 
5. Develop Structure 
It is important to consider the logistics of who will be responsible for what, where supplies will be stored, what committees will be effected, and making sure to have potential leaders.  
6. Build Plan 
This is the part of the larger plan in which prioritizing issues and goals should be done.  Prayer, brainstorming, discernment, and conversation is crucial to making sure all people involved are on the same page and working in the same direction for the biggest impact.  
7. Foster Action 
Committees can meet, dream, and talk all day - but at some time (sooner than later hopefully!) the work discussed needs to be done!  This can be in the form of articles being written, events, trainings, phone calls to legislators, and many more.  
8. Evaluate Response
Taking time to reflect and evaluate is one of the most important steps to continuing to make a impact.  During this intentional evaluation, changes can be made to streamline processes, update educational pieces, or bring in new people to continue to build the advocacy program.

Programs can very difficult to get started, especially if they are lead by the pastor or staff.  Ownership by the community is one of the most important elements to motivate to work towards sustainability.  Each of these steps can be done as response and reaction to parishioners if they are guided and encouraged to work with others with specialties in different areas.  For example, Olson and  Friedrich tell a story of a pastor who asks a foreign businessman, accountant, teacher, and stay at home mother to help lead a book study together.  A year later they were actively engaged leaders in a social justice program they began.

What needs do you see in the communities you are doing ministry in?
How can you bring gifted and called folks together to learn about these ministries and begin to address some of the issues that arise?

Personally, one of the greatest needs in one of the communities I serve is having a safe place for children in the afternoon.  The church has created an after school program which is working to fill this need, with the help and support of many other agencies in the community.

Peace,
Erin

Tools are just that, tools

Like the many threads of a woven piece of fabric or rug, Advocacy is intricate and diverse.  There are many issues and struggles that affect children today, for example (a short list) 

- affordable quality childcare 

- poverty 

- hunger 

- child abuse 

- affordable housing and housing segregation 

- immigration 

- ageism 

- learning disabilities

- developmental disabilities 

- gender stereotypes 

- bullying 

- place of technology

- healthy food 

- appropriate entertainment

- illiteracy 

Many feel called to child advocacy in many ways and often have a particular passion to one thing or another.  Yet others feel a general call to child advocacy not knowing where exactly that may be.  A few major concerns that are involved in many of the issues/struggles on the above list include 

1 - safety 

2 - adult/community presence in their lives 

There are many many tools to encourage and train child advocates on these subject above, but some that speak particularly for help with a new system.    

 Safe Sanctuaries (touched on in the book) 

SWOT Analysis 

Disaster Relief - UUMCOR

Church Funded/Partnership Organizations 

Church Funded/Partnership Agencies 

many more 

SWOT Analysis 

A SWOT analysis is a planning technique which shapes the issues listen above there and give the congregation room to brainstorm ideas they have to.  Then as these idea s become programing/etc. 

Strengths 

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats 

This assessment can be extremely helpful using it weekly, for a particular program or the ministry in general.  Tools such as this can assist up to evaluate so many things, or look for particular needs or patterns in the community.  Organization is necessary, and this is just one tool to aid child advocates in their work. 

What tools do you have?? 

Peace and joy, 

Erin 

Who, me?

Continuing working through Weaving: A Just Future for Children, an Advocacy Guide by Diane C. Olson and Laura Dean F. Friedrich, I was reminded of a childhood song -

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?  (repeat)
(John Doe) stole the cookies from the cookie jar!
Who me?  Yes, you!  Not me!  Then who?

Responsibility.  Accountability.
Definitely difficult concepts, especially if we as Americans must choose to change something we love.

In review - Olson and Friedrich on the subject of child advocacy:
Framework is important!!
Metaphor is a loom, which requires a frame, made up of:
1 - Theology
2 - Scripture
3 - A Safe Environment (Chapter 3)
Then comes the weft: (strings going vertical)
*Child Advocates

A huge part of advocacy is making the choice to do something.  They turn the frame into something - without them it is just an empty loom.  While advocating for children can be a one time act of mercy or compassion, more often it comes a continual process of justice.

Olson and Friedrich give an great discussion on types of advocacy.  Here is the list -
* Education
* Service
* Public Policy
* Coalition Building (partnering)

Some of which are much easier, or more comfortable for churches however as Christians I firmly believe we are called as the body of Christ to each one of these.  As leaders I think it is crucial to focus on making connections and building relationships to encourage each of these types of advocacy roles within the gifts of a congregation - including children!

On a related topic, I am often asked (as a UM Deacon Candidate) what a Deacon does?  The best thing is a deacon can do ministry in so many places!  Deacons can serve in hospitals, schools, community organizations, or even churches.  A great metaphor for a deacon is a bridge builder.  I understand my calling as a deacon as one who helps to encourage and facilitate the connections between churches and those who are in the church with the needs of the world.   Many of us are called to acts of compassion and mercy - such as giving change or a granola bar to someone begging in the street, yet others are called to justice work - such as advocacy as described as a process, creating relationships and asking/addressing the question of why is this person here?

How do you respond to the concept of advocacy?
Do you feel called to any particular type of advocacy, whether towards a particular group or using the categories listed above?
How does advocacy fit within your calling?

Peace,
Erin

and the Bible says...

Well... the bible says a lot of things actually.  Simple things (God is love) and complicated things we don't really want to listen to (love your neighbor).  Good things (God created) and well, questionable things (God said go kill all the people in that city).  As with anything, context determines meaning.

Christians believe that the bible is a window into understanding God.  The stories in the bible teach lessons in what to do, or often what not to do.  In the second chapter of Weaving: A Just Future For Children, Diane C. Olson and Laura Dean F. Friedrich.  continue to shed light on their metaphor of children's ministry and advocacy as a weaving loom.

The loom provides a framework for the work to be done.  In the past entry I discussed the importance of sound theology as a part of this frame.  The second chapter highlights a second aspect of the frame - scripture.

The bible is full of stories and examples of child advocacy.  Olson and Friedrich include 5 main categories:
1 - scriptural mandates for advocacy
         example - Jeremiah 31:15
2 - proscriptions against harming children
         example - Matthew 18:14
3 - inclusion of children
         example - Luke 18:16
4 - justice for children
         example - Micah 6:8
5 - care for children
         example - Genesis 33: 13-14
* many stories or references fall in 2 or more of these categories.

One of the stories touched on by the authors as a biblical example of a child advocate is found in Matthew 15:21-28.  It is a story of a mother who is never named who comes to Jesus pleading for help for her daughter who is possessed by a demon.  Jesus however does not sweep in and play the hero.  He ignores this woman.  However she is having none of it.  Continuing to shout at him, he asks her why he should help her.  The implication here is that she is not Jewish and therefore unworthy.  By comparing herself to a dog, she boldly points out to Jesus that even dogs get the crumbs from the masters table.

Jesus then tells the woman her child is healed because of her faith.
While there are many issues that can be addressed here... from a place of child advocacy, what this mother did (especially as a woman in her time and place) was an amazing act of bravery and courage.  Many advocates in modern day American contexts struggle to persistently shout for help and justice from those with the power to make it happen.

The inclusion of this story by the author of Matthew is for a purpose.  It vividly makes the point that Jesus did not only come for the Jews.  However, what role does the child inflicted here play?  Is she merely a pity case?  Neither her or her mother are even granted a name.  Readers do not know much about their family situation or other struggles.  Do we see this use of sad stories today in modern society?

Persistence is one important trait of a child advocate.  Others the authors list include: generosity, creativity, strength to confront authority, and daring.  Many modern day advocates are highlighted from Hillary Clinton to Mr. Rogers.

What is one trait you have that you believe is essential for a child advocate?  

How do we as child advocates continue to keep the focus of issues 

on the child and what is best for them?

Is there a bible verse or story that speaks to you about child advocacy?  

Peace and joy~
Erin

The purpose of a frame

Children and Faith blog #1

Frames give support.  The whole purpose is that they keep their shape and maintain the structure of a project throughout the creation process.  For example a weaving loom:

The loom's frame keeps the strings in place as pieces are added creating a complex rug, tapestry, or fabric.  It is the vertical lines that are called the warp, and the colorful pieces being added her are the weft.

In their book "Weaving: A just future for Children, an Advocacy Guide" Diane C. Olson and Laura Dean F. Friedrich use the 3 part analogy of a loom to illustrate having a practical framework for children's ministry.

The first 3 chapters are focused on the loom, the actual frame, as a way to look at the theological implications.  Chapter 1 "Seeing Children through God's Eyes" highlights how important it is to begin with theology.  Consider this - how does your understanding of God, and the nature of God, affect what you think about and how you interact with children?

Here are some key points -
- Images of God help humans understand something about God, yet none is ever complete.  Example, God is like a father, yet God is also like a mother, furthermore God is also like the wind.  Scripture gives many wonderful and deep images.  Just keep in mind, God never only... (God is not only an old white man, young white man, and bird.)
- The nature of God is love.  Children are often blessed with the gift of authentically sharing this gift, allowing themselves to be used by God to touch others with God's love.
- Humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27, imago Dei).  Yes, humans are created in the image of God, no our bodies aren't like God's.  However, as the image of God, all humans have value.
- The coming of Christ in the incarnation further connects God directly with humans, and especially with children.
- The love of God, to be shown to our neighbors, creates a social responsibility to those who have not.  If God loves creation and humans are a special part of that creation each having important value, Christians have a calling to speak out against injustice, especially to children.

The general church has responded to the state of child advocacy by encouraging churches to reach out and transform the lives of new generations of children.  

The theology however, matters.  For if Christians minister to children out of authentic love because they are God's creation, the relationship that can form has great potential.  If the loom is not sound, there is no guarantee that the new fabric with work out.  There is great risk in working with children without considering "where is God in this situation?".  Some of these risks include objectifying children, demeaning their value, or demeaning them until they are "adults."  This is in direct conflict with the concept that every person, regardless of age, is created in the image of God.

As I continue to reflect upon these thoughts and others from class and readings, I am struck by the importance of identifying my own framework and theology.  It is so easy for me and a children's leader to focus on the colored aspect of the picture - the programming.  What will we do?  However, if this is not preceded by a general understanding of why it is done,  does it create harm?

Who is this child in the eyes of God?
I ask myself - where is God in the life and play of this child?
What does culture tell me about children that affect my view of this child?  Is that helpful or harmful?

So many questions.  Children are a magnificent part of the lives of many, with unique talents to share.  Yet, we must take a moment to consider what our basic theology says about children.  The frame matters.  Theology matters.  Why we treat others the way we do speaks volumes to what we believe about God.

Peace and joy,
your sister in Christ~Erin Michelle

Chicago life update

I can't believe I've been living here for just over 4 months now.  I never thought I would enjoy the city...

Major updates...
I am now a full time student at Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary.
working on my Masters in Divinity
Certified Deacon Candidate in Wisconsin (in the United Methodist Church)
doing my field ed (internship) at United Church of Rogers Park where I help run the after school program and children's chapel
I am awesome at public transportation
and I rank #2 for world's best theologically trained musical nannies (after Julie Andrews...)

Life is good.

My roommate and her family are good.

School is hard.

So why back to the blog?
1 - I miss it....
2 - I have to "blog" for my january class - children and christian faith, so I thought I'd put them up here too!
3 - it's a good outlet... and heaven knows I could use more of those (especially if I will then talk less...)

God bless you in 2013 and beyond.

Peace and joy,
your sister in Christ~Erin Michelle