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 

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