Awakening in the News:The News-Leader writes about our Bible Belt alternative...
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Church fights against social injustice
“A Voice for Justice” leads people to help the needy.
By Kathleen O’Dell
News-Leader
At church on Sunday, Koda Smithey printed the word “Poaching” on an index card and nailed it to a wooden cross in the sanctuary.
“I love animals,” the 11-year-old said. The card represented his concern for endangered animals and his commitment to help solve the problem.
Susan Bowen, another member of Brentwood Christian Church, penciled her concern, “Lack of medical care for the working poor in this great nation,” on a card and nailed it to the wooden cross. Others followed her with their messages – “Nicaragua,” by 6-year-old Kate Hall, “Price gouging on non-renewable fuels,” and “Darfur” by others, until some 20 cards hung on the cross.
It was an expression of the Brentwood congregation’s commitment on “A Voice for Justice” Sunday to work toward solving injustice in the world, said the Rev. Phil Snider. The activity was during the 11 a.m. “Awakening” worship service, which emphasizes issues of social justice and openness to all people – both things too often neglected in Christian circles, he said. Songs carried the theme with phrases, “…Give me new eyes to see what’s around me…” and “…Move our hands, that they may feed the hungry…”
A Voice for Justice was sponsored by the Missouri Churches United in Christ and the Missouri Christians Against Racism and Poverty. The two groups also planned an ecumenical service and public forums on the topics later Sunday and today in Jefferson City. The denominational leaders expect to meet with Gov. Matt Blunt and the majority and minority leaders of the Missouri House and Senate.
“The way we treat the poor and the way we deal with issues of injustice are at the heart of both the Hebrew Bible and Christian Scripture,” Snider said.
He challenged the congregation to “be agents of change” in their world through actions and efforts. “What happens in the sanctuary does not mean anything if people don’t carry it into their lives,” he said. “God is only pleased when our acts of worship cause us to go out in the world and make a difference.”
His congregation, like many others, volunteers for efforts like Rainbow Network, which helps support health and economic opportunities for Nicaraguan families and the homebuilding project, Habitat for Humanity, projects through the Ozarks Area Council of Churches and literacy programs. Services in weeks to come will be an effort to “name” the hidden injustices – whether economic, racial or sexual inequalities – and offer tangible ways they can work to correct them. Next week Snider and associate pastor Emily Bowen will present “For God’s Sake, Save Darfur,” because of the armed conflict in the Sudan in Africa that has left an estimated 450,000 dead from violence and disease.
On Sunday, however, he challenged listeners at the service to look closer to home – a single working mother who must choose between buying groceries and paying rent or taking her sick child to the doctor; the 9-year-old (Maryland) child who died from a brain infection for lack of money to treat an abscessed tooth.
No one can do it alone – most people go to school full time, or work long hours at jobs and fill their lives caring for their families and friends. Collectively they can bring change, Snider said.
“That’s the way I’ve always felt about the church," said Susan Bowen, who volunteers for a St. John’s Health System hospice program. “God has no hands here. We are God’s hands and feet and God's voice, and I think that’s what we are to be doing.”
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