[Oe List ...] New ways to do church

[R Williams]

Janice,
 
JustFaith, when begun in the Catholic context, was one response to two facts: (1)Catholic social teaching is, in my opinion, about the best church thinking on social justice to be found but (2) among Catholics it is a well-kept secret, and many who know about it don't like it.
 
Although I have participated in only a weekend session from the program, JustFaith is indeed a 30-week endeavor that requires a lot of commitment from those who participate.  In addition to weekly study and dialogue sessions there are several "border crossings" and other kinds of interaction with low income and others who experience injustice.  Even though it started as a Catholic program, from the beginning it has used writings from such well-known Protestants as Walter Wink (a good Methodist boy from Texas) who wrote The Powers That Be trilogy, Walter Brueggemann, a UCC clergy and theology professor (The Prophetic Imagination) and others.  Jezreel's group also has a lot of follow-up opportunities.  
 
Catholic Charities USA, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (an organization of the US Catholic Bishops) and others have been sponsoring partners of the program.  With the addition of Bread for the World, their first (I think) non-Catholic partner, they have indeed become ecumenical, a very good thing.
 
I recommend this program and am looking for a group in my geographical area that may be doing JustFaith so I can participate in the whole thing.  Thanks for calling this to our attention.
 
Randy Williams

--- On Thu, 6/12/08, Janice Ulangca <aulangca at stny.rr.com> wrote:

From: Janice Ulangca <aulangca at stny.rr.com>
Subject: [Oe List ...] New ways to do church
To: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008, 10:21 AM





#yiv144185196 P {
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Perhaps church study groups may be pointing to new ways of "doing church"?  Or at least new entry-points for those who haven't seen the point of "church".
 
Excitement here as 42 from probably 20 congregations are registered for an introductory workshop this Saturday (June 14) for the ecumenical JustFaith 30-week study program.  The series is based on broad scriptural themes & scholarship, while DVDs and a dozen or so books delve into current issues. Jack Jezreel, the founder and national director of JustFaith will be here Saturday. He's a fine presenter - caught interest of local United Methodists at a national UM social justice conference last year.  
 
JustFaith started out as a Catholic program, now is ecumenical, co-promoted by Bread for the World.  The program also has the groups, of 10-15 folks, visit local areas of need and good programs and plan their own projects as response to local situations.  Jack Jezreel and his small national staff do continual updating of materials and program processes in response to feedback from the local programs.  To date over 700 congregations have participated.  Saturday we have Catholics and Quakers, Presbyterians and Lutherans, Baptists and United Methodists, and new unaffiliated congregations represented.  A great mix.  Sure glad I learned from EI to appreciate the gifts of all traditions!
 
The Council of Churches here is sponsoring and heavily promoting the program, as part of a larger strategy to bring leadership development resources to local congregations.  The Peace with Justice Committee, which I chair, has 8 active clergy and laity who are experienced leaders, passionate about bringing faith resources to action for peace and justice. We've acted as the planning group for the Saturday workshop and hope to be able to schedule several groups around the area starting in September.  From ICA experience, I can see that it can make all the difference in the world if these small groups can stay connected and encouraged. 
 
Janice Ulangca
 
----- Original Message ----- 

From: cdzoll at comcast.net 
To: Order Ecumenical Community 
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 7:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] "Obama Tells You How He Did It" organizationally


His name is Keith Wheeler and he is active in one of our church study groups, but not the church, per se. David Zollars

----- Original Message ----- 
From: McCabe, Diann A 
To: Order Ecumenical Community 
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 10:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] "Obama Tells You How He Did It" organizationally


Thanks for sending this.  It's good--who wrote it?
 
Diann McCabe


From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of cdzoll at comcast.net [cdzoll at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 11:32 PM
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] "Obama Tells You How He Did It" organizationally




I can't open either one of them, but I have a friend out here who wrote a pretty good piece for those friends you may have that don't think Obama is "the one." He gives what he calls the "upside" to many of the criticisms of Barack Obama.   David Zollars_______________________________________________
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