LET’S TALK JUSTICELET’S TALK JUSTICE

Session 2Session 2

Westwood Vision StatementWestwood Vision StatementFrom the Westwood CouncilFrom the Westwood Council

►Section 3) Section 3) We are called to be a vital We are called to be a vital and necessary part of our world.and necessary part of our world.

►OUR VISION IS TO BE AN ADVOCATE OUR VISION IS TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY BY…FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY BY…

Meeting basic needs and actively Meeting basic needs and actively seeking ways to end poverty.seeking ways to end poverty.

Strengthening all forms of families.Strengthening all forms of families.Working and advocating for justice, Working and advocating for justice,

striving to eliminate inequalities striving to eliminate inequalities that remain in our society.that remain in our society.

ASSUMPTIONSASSUMPTIONS

►Everyone in this room cares about Everyone in this room cares about issues of justice as a person of faith.issues of justice as a person of faith.

►God is present in our conversations God is present in our conversations and at work.and at work.

GROUND RULESGROUND RULES

►That we view each other and speak to That we view each other and speak to each other as fellow members of the each other as fellow members of the body of Christ.body of Christ.

►That this is an exercise of the body of That this is an exercise of the body of Christ not a platform to defend a Christ not a platform to defend a political party.political party.

►Luther’s explanation of the 8Luther’s explanation of the 8thth commandment is an expectation of the commandment is an expectation of the conversation.conversation.

GOALSGOALS

► That we have an experience of the church That we have an experience of the church and grow together in Christ even on issues and grow together in Christ even on issues about which we may disagree.about which we may disagree.

► That Westwood moves toward further That Westwood moves toward further defining what we mean by working for defining what we mean by working for “justice” by seeking common ground.“justice” by seeking common ground.

► That as different definitions of justice That as different definitions of justice emerge individuals are allowed space to emerge individuals are allowed space to have their own integrity intact.have their own integrity intact.

► That engagement in the work of justice That engagement in the work of justice continues to increase at Westwood.continues to increase at Westwood.

Signs of SuccessSigns of Success

►We have an experience of the church We have an experience of the church and grow together as people of faith.and grow together as people of faith.

► Individuals and groups are more fully Individuals and groups are more fully engaged in living out Westwood’s vision engaged in living out Westwood’s vision whatever their definition of justice is.whatever their definition of justice is.

►We make some decisions about We make some decisions about direction in regards to working for direction in regards to working for justice as a congregation.justice as a congregation.

RECAP OF SESSION 1 RECAP OF SESSION 1 FEEDBACKFEEDBACK

11stst exercise exercise- Using 3 criteria from Micah - Using 3 criteria from Micah 6:8 placed letters next to 14 Outreach 6:8 placed letters next to 14 Outreach partners we support.partners we support.

Observations from resultsObservations from results►While Service (S) and While Service (S) and

Congregational/evangelism (C) support had Congregational/evangelism (C) support had strong similarities, clear that definitions of strong similarities, clear that definitions of justice (J) vary widely. justice (J) vary widely.

►The question for us at this stage is where is The question for us at this stage is where is there significant common ground in our there significant common ground in our collective definitions/understandings.collective definitions/understandings.

RECAP OF SESSION 1 RECAP OF SESSION 1 FEEDBACKFEEDBACK

22NDND EXERCISE EXERCISE-- In this exercise we In this exercise we focused on scriptural views of justice. focused on scriptural views of justice. After looking at 3 examples from After looking at 3 examples from scripture, table groups discussed and scripture, table groups discussed and reacted to 9 statements of the scriptural reacted to 9 statements of the scriptural view of “justice” according to Dr. Cynthia view of “justice” according to Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda from the Lutheran Voices Moe-Lobeda from the Lutheran Voices series book called “Public Church, For series book called “Public Church, For the Life of the World” (pg. 30).the Life of the World” (pg. 30).

RECAP OF SESSION 1 RECAP OF SESSION 1 FEEDBACKFEEDBACK

Observations from exercise 2Observations from exercise 2- In the 9 - In the 9 statements there are statements with statements there are statements with significant common ground and some that significant common ground and some that need more clarity and possibly some that need more clarity and possibly some that would not be considered common ground for would not be considered common ground for Westwood at this time.Westwood at this time.

Suggested lens for viewing the feedbackSuggested lens for viewing the feedback- If you - If you get 3 out of 4 Lutherans to agree on the type get 3 out of 4 Lutherans to agree on the type of communion bread let alone statements of communion bread let alone statements describing justice is next to a miracle.describing justice is next to a miracle.

RECAP OF SESSION 1 RECAP OF SESSION 1 FEEDBACKFEEDBACK

► Common Ground statementsCommon Ground statements- While we may not all - While we may not all mean exactly the same thing, these 4 statements mean exactly the same thing, these 4 statements seem to begin to get us close. “The scriptural view seem to begin to get us close. “The scriptural view of justice…of justice… #2 “is based on and corresponds to the justice of God which #2 “is based on and corresponds to the justice of God which

is seen as liberating the oppressed, identifying with the is seen as liberating the oppressed, identifying with the vulnerable and upholding their rights, judgment, and mercy.vulnerable and upholding their rights, judgment, and mercy.

#6 “aims at freeing the oppressed, sharing food with the #6 “aims at freeing the oppressed, sharing food with the hungry, housing the homeless, and more.hungry, housing the homeless, and more.

#7 “aims also at dismantling the sources of oppression and #7 “aims also at dismantling the sources of oppression and the political, cultural, and economic arrangements that the political, cultural, and economic arrangements that contribute to hunger, poverty, and homelessness.contribute to hunger, poverty, and homelessness.

#8 “is understood to be both demand of God and gift from #8 “is understood to be both demand of God and gift from God.God.

RECAP OF SESSION 1 RECAP OF SESSION 1 FEEDBACKFEEDBACK

►Statements needing more clarity/Not Statements needing more clarity/Not common groundcommon ground #1#1 #3#3 #4#4 #5#5 #9#9

GOALS OF SESSION 2GOALS OF SESSION 2

1.1. Look at the social statement on Look at the social statement on “Church in Society” to stimulate “Church in Society” to stimulate discussion on what the ELCA has said discussion on what the ELCA has said about the church’s role in society.about the church’s role in society.

2.2. Discuss, react, and get feedback on Discuss, react, and get feedback on “A Common Foundation: Shared “A Common Foundation: Shared Principles for Overcoming Poverty.”Principles for Overcoming Poverty.”

TABLE DISCUSSION TABLE DISCUSSION

►Discuss Section II A. and B. from the Discuss Section II A. and B. from the ELCA social statement. Focus especially ELCA social statement. Focus especially on those things after “this church shall on those things after “this church shall therefore…” in each section.therefore…” in each section. Share which statements seem most Share which statements seem most

appropriate/helpful to you.appropriate/helpful to you. Share which don’t.Share which don’t. These were written 20 years ago. Would These were written 20 years ago. Would

you write any of them differently to be you write any of them differently to be more helpful today (change/subtract/add a more helpful today (change/subtract/add a word).word).

FEEDBACK EXERCISEFEEDBACK EXERCISE

►Read through the “A Common Read through the “A Common Foundation: Sufficient, Sustainable, Foundation: Sufficient, Sustainable, Livelihood for All”.Livelihood for All”.

►Discuss each point in your table group Discuss each point in your table group and share agreements, where you lack and share agreements, where you lack clarity, and where disagreements are clarity, and where disagreements are BEFORE YOU FILL ANYTHING OUT.BEFORE YOU FILL ANYTHING OUT.

►At the designated time please fill out At the designated time please fill out the feedback form on this document.the feedback form on this document.