I found this on the Catalyst website. I am considering using it for my small group from church if they are keen...
Small Group Studies
Interested in getting a discussion going on global justice and advocacy? Then why not try our discussion guides?
A Time to Speak
This four part guide will help participants explore what it means to build their lives around God's heart for a just world and recover the prophetic vocation of calling on leaders to enact justice. The format is four articles that are read and then discussed. Both the articles and the discussion questions are provided.
Get into it! :)
2 comments:
I have generally viewed advocacy as a cop-out, even as a kind of second-rate self-serving non-committal cause-righteousness: Telling the government that they should help the poor out of your taxes, rather than helping the poor in person. I have felt that charity must be a part of society, and moreso humanity, rather than a department of the government.
Being impressed with the Catalyst study that was linked to, I'd now say I see that as only half-right.
While the Prophets sometimes called on leaders (kings and priests) to act, they often also spoke directly to the upper class -- wealthy men and women, living in expensive houses, not even caring for their own workers, living unrighteously at ease in Zion.
There's a message for middle-to-upper class sub/urbanites right there, and it hits a lot closer to home than only recommending advocacy. That, I think, is the only weakness of the study.
"Catalyst: United for Justice" who are behind this study series are primarily about advocacy as a practical method of Making Poverty History through speaking to the Australian government and MPs about fair trade, AusAid budget and spending, and the like.
It is primarily about helping groups of social justice conscience groups in churches get equipped and support to be involved in this.
With this in mind, the focus on advocacy only I would suggest makes sense.
I will use this study with my homegroup as part of a wider study on being a globally responsible follower of Jesus Christ, including fair trade, ethics, money management, volunteering, living green and the like. Another smaller study I wish us to do as part of this wider study is reading the book "Making Poverty Personal" produced by UNOH.
On advocacy, I believe there is a place for it. Rev. Scott Higgins at Baptist World Aid said to our Adi & Development Class and Morling that after he had spoken to several Politians, that each of them had said that they do care about the MDGs,etc. but would only fight for them in parliament if the people in their electorate said it was important to them. They said it only takes 1% to make it (and any topic) an election issue.
That 1% is equal to 10% of our churches/church folk. If we can get 10% of our people voicing important issues like Global warming, MDGs, fair trade policies and the like we can see those issues effecting the government.
And you say advocacy is not that important? To me, that is advocacy is love in action, based on my faith in Christ.
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