DESCRIPTION:

In civil law, advocacy is the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending active espousal of someone's cause. Social justice is a reference often used to talk about the structuring of a just society in order to address and correct instances of poverty, racism, sexism, or human oppression and exploitation. Advocacy for social justice is arguably an integral, though often ignored, part of the Judeo-Christian moral and spiritual mandate to speak up for or take up the causes of those who suffer yet have no advocates. This course explores what it means for every Christian--whether working in a ministry context or in a secular calling--to observe God's call "to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Participants will explore various biblical, theological, and historical traditions of social justice. We will investigate detailed examples of injustice as well as models of advocacy, both in the United States and internationally. Finally, students will research and uncover specific and tangible ways in which ordinary Christians can intervene individually and organizationally in order to help remedy instances where injustice exists.

1. Analyze and compare various Christian traditions of social justice, including those informed by Anabaptist, Catholic, Liberationist, and Reformed thought;

2. Compare the extent to which those models reflect a holistic approach to the canon of the Old and New Testaments;

3. Identify some of the cross-cultural barriers that must be addressed to affect particular areas of social justice;

4. Demonstrate basic familiarity with a variety of issues and organizations that deal with various specific areas of social justice;

5. Begin to construct a personal, applicable theology and spirituality of social justice.

The class will meet daily for a one-week intensive for 7 hours per day. Class will begin each day at 8:30 am. Each session, students will learn via lecture, discussion of reading materials, and interaction with social agency representatives or experts. Because the class is a one-week intensive, each student must attend all of every class session and must participate through discussion, questions, and interaction.

Burghardt, Walter. Justice: A Global Adventure. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2004.

Hunter, James Davison. To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.

Skillen, James. In Pursuit of Justice: Christian-Democratic Explorations. Rowman & Littlefield. 2004.

Choice of either

Bales, Kevin. Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy. University of California Press. 2000.

Or Sider, Ronald J., Philip N. Olson, and Heidi Rolland Unruh. Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works. Baker, 2002.

Readings on reserve shelf.

Cohen, David, Rosa de la Vega, and Gabrielle Watson. Advocating for Social Justice. Kumarian Press, 2001.

Erickson, Victoria L., and Michelle L. Jones, eds. Surviving Terror: Hope and Justice in a World of Violence. Brazos Press. 2002.

Fellmeth, Robert C. Child Rights and Remedies. Atlanta: Clarity Press, 2002.

Haugen, Gary A. Good News about Injustice. InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Hilfiker, David. Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen. Seven Stories Press. 2003.

Labberton, Mark The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God's Call to Justice. InterVarsity Press, 2007.

Nouwen, Henri. The Road to Peace: Writings on Peace and Justice. Orbis, 1998.

Mouw, Richard. Political Evangelism. Eerdmans, 1973.

Myers, Bryant. Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Orbis, 1999.

Sider, Ron. For They Shall Be Fed: Scripture Readings and Prayers for a Just World. W Publishing Group. 1997.

Sider, R., and Knippers, Diane. Toward an Evangelical Public Policy. Baker. 2005.

Smedes, Lewis. Mere Morality: What God Expects of Ordinary People. Eerdmans, 1983.

Walls, James. Faith Works: Lessons from the Life of an Activist Preacher. Page Mill Press. 2000.

1. Special reserve shelf reading in addition to required texts.

2. Four critical book reviews (each 500 words [two pages]) on Burghardt and Skillen and any two from the recommended reading list or reserve shelf reading. At the end of each book review, please provide word count and the number of pages read in each book.

3. Submit a 3750-word (15-page) report or project detailing a clear, understandable biblical and theological basis, as well as an action plan, for persuading and helping laity to become actively involved in a ministry of social justice. The topic must be concrete and narrow enough to take to a particular congregation in a particular place. (Advocacy for Social Justice is one resource for the plan.) At the end of the main body of the paper, please provide word count.

4. For ThM Students: Read an additional 300 pages and do two additional book reviews (one on a theology of social justice, the other on practical implementations of social justice).