What is Social Justice?

by Erin Morey, Vestry Commissioner for Social Justice

As part of our baptismal covenant, we promise to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” St. Paul’s engages in vibrant and desperately-needed outreach to make an immediate difference in the lives of people in crisis as a way of living out this promise. In pursuing social justice, we also work to come up with positive solutions to address larger questions about injustice in society. To use the old metaphor, the difference between outreach and social justice is the difference between giving a person a fish to eat for a day, and teaching the person to fish to allow them to eat for a lifetime.

Deacon John Mark Feuerstein shared his perspective on the importance of social justice with me. He spoke of asking, “Where is the justice in this?” in everything we do. His understanding reflects social justice as empowerment, personal connection, systemic change, and connection to Christ:

“Social justice is working to establish equal rights and opportunity to those who are impoverished or oppressed. It is addressing issues of racism, income inequality, educational inequality, inequality of health care and other issues from the perspective of systemic change rather than viewing them as the problems of the individuals who have not succeeded in our society. Jesus befriended people with disabilities, Samaritan, and the rejected of his day. Who shall be the advocate for those that live on the fringes of society today?

“As a child raised in East Harlem, I heard “school was for fools” and the alternative was the distribution of crack cocaine. The income for many residents was insufficient for the cost of living. Many of the kids were employed in my neighborhood as drug runners for supplemental income. Cheese lines and minimum wage was not sufficient to put decent food on the table. About two months after I had left for the military, I received a call from home, and was notified that several friends had been shot and killed on the corner of First Avenue. Where was the justice for this community who was left no alternatives? The dangerous and detrimental side of such an occupation.

“My grandfather came to East Harlem when he was in seminary and devoted his life to improving the community. One of the many things he accomplished was organizing the first community credit union. Banks were red-lining East Harlem, making it impossible for people of color to get loans to own their own homes or improve the homes they had. The East Harlem Credit Union was the model for Federal Credit Unions throughout the country. This is what social justice looks like.”

We look forward to you joining us as we engage in this ministry. Beginning on Sunday, August 30, St. Paul’s will feature a monthly social justice prayer and information session following the 8:45 and 10:45 services on the last Sunday of the month. The sessions will provide the opportunity to explore highlights of a current issue, pray for those involved, and get linked to information about how to take action. The brief sessions will allow people to participate without missing the fellowship of coffee hour and adult forums.

In addition, members of St. Paul’s recently began community organizing efforts. Meetings are held the second Saturday of the month at 8:00 a.m. (including August 8 and September 12). Please join us and share your experiences and passions with us, and help us discern ways St. Paul’s can continue to make a difference.