A Call to Resistance

I have thought about having a Social Justice Committee or Task Force at Cedar Cross United Methodist Church for a while. Different from a Missions Committee, Social Justice Committees work at political advocacy. For example, to be in a relationship with Faith Action Network, the lobbying group that represents churches in the Puget Sound area; or Earth Ministry, and educational and lobbying group in Seattle. But it could be much more than that involving ourselves as a church in issues that concern us: healthcare, the environment, homelessness. What I feel is that after our election it may be a good time to organize this group.

On Sunday, I felt a lot of grief and fear in the congregation; tears were flowing. I myself have been devastated by the election of Donald Trump. His rhetoric has been mean spirited and threatening. We don’t know what Trump will do as president; he may surprise us and not follow his rhetoric. However, at this time there are many people, people or color, women, our LGBTQI brothers and sisters, who are afraid. I believe that we need to stand by these people in the name of Jesus Christ who loved the “least of these.” As I said on Sunday, I believe we have to testify to the gospel and continue to speak out against racism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia and torture. The word that has come to my mind through all my mental gymnastics since the election is resistance.

Do we all remember our membership vows: One of the questions is, Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves? Do we? It seems to me that this is a critical time to do that. This coming Sunday, I will be recruiting – I will be passing around a sign up for anyone interested in exploring being a part of this “committee of resistance”, otherwise known as a Social Justice Task Force. You may also email me and let me know you are interested.
This is not meant to be about partisan politics, but to recognize and embrace our call to care for “the least of these” in the world.

P.Jim