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Social Mission and Prophetic Justice
| To continue the quest for social justice as a witness, in word and deed, to the redeeming love of God in Christ, through our Strategy and Action Commission, our Ecumenical Working Group to Counter Racism, and the MCC Board of Directors.
"Do justice... love mercy... and walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 |
Overview
Social witness — churches working together for the sake of the world — is an integral and essential part of the ecumenical commitments of Christian churches.
Ecumenical public policy advocacy involves maintaining watch over a wide spectrum of issues through the lens of Christian traditions, values and social ethics.
Legislative advocacy
Legislative advocacy is a primary focus of prophetic witness. Church leaders and council representatives are called upon to offer public testimony before legislative committees on a range of issues for which the Council has taken a public stand, including:
Opposition to the death penalty
Protecting a worker’s right to Sabbath observance
Preventing casino gambling
Building a Culture of Peace - New Decade to Overcome Violence Resources
In a variety of ways throughout its history, the Massachusetts Council of Churches has worked to counter violence at home and abroad. The World Council of Church's Decade to Overcome Violence presents another opportunity for congregations in this region to find fresh ways to address the perennial problems caused by violence.
A new educational resource (a PowerPoint (pdf) and leaders' guide) titled "Building a culture of peace" is designed for Christian adult study groups to use in furthering peace awareness.
The presentation is based on the four main points of DOV: 1) The Spirit and Logic of Violence; 2) the Use, Abuse, and Misuse of Power; 3) Issues of Justice; and 4) Religious Identity and Plurality. The PowerPoint also offers some creative ideas for follow-through. The presentations open and close with meditative exercises, challenging participants to engage the material thoughtfully and prayerfully.
The PowerPoint is Ideal for a Sunday School class, a church forum or luncheon, or for home viewing and family discussion.
Additional resources from the World Council of Churches may be found
Resources
View the following resources online:
Positions and Policies Statements