Justice & Mercy | MINISTRY FROM TWO POLES

Archive for the 'Justice & Mercy' Category

Feb

Presbyterians to Study Civil Unions and Christian Marriage

Categories: Ethics, GLBT & Queer Theology, Justice & Mercy and Marriage & Sexuality
Tags: bias, Church, conflict resolution, Ethics, Faith, GLBT issues, IMAGE OF GOD, inclusive, marriage equality, PC(USA), Theology

As a friend of mine pointed out, this “study” may already be frought with bias. Since it will study the “relationship between civil union and Christian marriage” can we assume that they will not study the far longer traditions of Christian unions and civil marriages. The study seems to suggest some fairly overt, albeit unreflective, bias to begin with.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sharon K. Youngs, Communications Coor. February 4, 2009 (888) 728-7228, ext. 5750; sharon.youngs@pcusa.org

GA Moderator announces names for special committee to study civil union and Christian marriage

Committee of 13 will begin work in March

LOUISVILLE-The Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has selected members for the General Assembly Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage. Continue reading ‘Presbyterians to Study Civil Unions and Christian Marriage’

Jan

Luke’s Jesus

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Justice & Mercy, Liberation theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: biblical authority, Christ, Christian, Church, Faith, Jesus, Liberation theology, oppression, PC(USA), reflections, Theology

Several year’s ago, after finally giving my heart to Christ, I asked several people the question, “Okay, now what?” I had no idea what it meant to be a Christian, and little background from my early childhood from which to cull an answer. Almost everyone, including several clergy, suggested I read the Gospel of John, followed by Matthew, Mark and then Acts. What was it about Luke’s Gospel that prompted people to omit it from a new Christian’s reading list? Historically, Luke hasn’t been a favorite Gospel, which, for me at least, prompts the question, “What does it say that might be uncomfortable to the church hierarchy?” Luke’s Jesus, it seems, was an advocate of social justice, a vehement critic of religious authorities and a harsh judge of the people who rejected God’s “true” ministry. Continue reading ‘Luke’s Jesus’

Jan

Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 3)

By Rev Andy Little 1 Comment

Categories: Ethics, Justice & Mercy and Liberation theology
Tags: biblical authority, Christ, Christian, Church, conflict resolution, Ethics, group dynamics, IMAGE OF GOD, Kingdom of God, oppression, PC(USA), Theology

Continued from here. Go to Table of Contents

Pastoral care in spiritual abuse

Most of the authors, again, describe two distinct groups – those that abuse and those that are abused. While the majority discuss pastoral or secular care for the victims, little is said about the perpetrators of spiritual abuse. Arterburn and Felton, however, seemed to acknowledge the brokenness and victimization of all the participants by providing a short section, after each description, labeled “Hope for the …”. While differences can be distinguished with regard to aggression, intentionality and, to some extent morality, each of the players who stay in an errant or sick religious environment, without trying to change it, can be viewed as victims in need of recovery and redemption. Care should be taken, however, to avoid excusing aberrant behavior, since that can lead to freeing the victimizers from the obligation or duty to recognize and change their abusive patterns.

Continue reading ‘Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 3)’

Jan

Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 2)

By Rev Andy Little 3 Comments

Categories: Ethics, Justice & Mercy and Liberation theology
Tags: biblical authority, Christian, Church, conflict resolution, Ethics, group dynamics, oppression, PC(USA), Theology

Continued from here Go to Table of Contents

The others players in the ‘game’ of spiritual abuse

Most of the authors researched consider the remaining players to be persons addicted to a toxic or sick religious system, generally assuming that healthy members would be aware of the problems and leave to find a more nurturing environment. While not all are directly involved in the abusive behavior, all people remaining within the system and choosing not to seek change are, to varying extents, complicit in the illness of the church. Various terms were used to name these people – victims, religious addicts and scapegoats being the most common.

Continue reading ‘Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 2)’

Jan

Feminist Perspectives and Gen 1:26-28 (Part 5)

By Rev Andy Little 2 Comments

Categories: Feminist theology, Justice & Mercy and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christian, Feminist theology, Genesis, God, IMAGE OF GOD, inclusive, Liberation theology, oppression, Progressive, Theology

Continued from Deconstruction and the Hermaneutic of Suspicion or go to Table of Contents

GENESIS 1:26-28 – THE IMAGE OF GOD

Underlying much of feminist biblical hermeneutics, obviously, is the issue of equality of the genders, with many feminists directly addressing the issue of “the image of God” or imago dei. This concept originates with Genesis 1:26-28, and is picked up in a few other biblical texts, most notably 1 Corinthians 11:7-8. The problem with the imago dei from the viewpoint of feminist theology is not so much the meaning of “made in the image of God”, which has generated all manner of exceedingly complicated theological discourse since Iranaeus’ misconceptions were corrected by Augustine of Hippo[1], but rather the question of who was made in the image of God. Continue reading ‘Feminist Perspectives and Gen 1:26-28 (Part 5)’

Jan

Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Authority (Part 4)

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Feminist theology, Justice & Mercy and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christian, Feminist theology, inclusive, Liberation theology, oppression, Progressive, Theology

Continued from: Feminist Theology or go to Table of Contents

DECONSTRUCTION AND THE HERMANEUTIC OF SUSPICION

Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza has been a leading advocate of a hermeneutical approach that incorporates a “dual emphasis on deconstruction and reconstruction.”[1] This process necessitates delving into what is ambiguously stated, omitted from or is inferred in a passage, as well as what is said. It calls into question the patriarchal formulation of orthodoxy, including the process of rejecting other ancient works in the development of the canon, as part and parcel of the church’s historical approach to marginalizing women. Continue reading ‘Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Authority (Part 4)’

Jan

Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Authority (Part 3)

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Feminist theology, Justice & Mercy and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christian, Feminist theology, inclusive, Kingdom of God, Liberation theology, oppression, Progressive, Theology

Continued from Biblical Authority or go to Table of Contents

FEMINIST THEOLOGY

Many groups with special theological interests found considerable fodder in the development of this multiplicity of investigative approaches to scripture, among them various kinds of “Third World” liberation theologies and, of particular interest here, feminist theologies. It is difficult to represent a norm for feminist theology, since there are several schools of thought. The common denominator, as expressed by Letty Russell, is a theological approach of advocacy for women that “represents a search for liberation from all forms of dehumanization … advocating full human personhood for all.”[1] Continue reading ‘Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Authority (Part 3)’

Jan

Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Authority (Part 2)

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Feminist theology, Justice & Mercy and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christian, Church, Equity, Feminist theology, God, Holy Spirit, Progressive, Theology

Continued from The Creation Story or go to the Table of Contents

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

The “authority of scripture” has quite a range of meanings in Christian theology and, for the purposes of this essay, will be discussed in quite broad strokes with relation to scriptures. The status of authority extends from scripture simply being considered the word of God. This is viewed in several ways, and is to some extent indicative of how we approach God. Continue reading ‘Feminist Perspectives on Biblical Authority (Part 2)’

... or, preaching from both ends

Rev Andy Little

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That's too bad - I'm so sorry. Oh, well, just try to make the best of it. What you'll find here is a variety of essays and ramblings to do with things theological, social, whimsical and, sometimes, all three. I don't write to get famous - trust me, I've been told how futile that would be - but to express myself. I love to communicate and browbeat - ummm, I mean dialogue - about the things I find intriguing. Since you're here, and the door's locked, why don't you stay a while. There's a page bar under the header with links to information about us - I mean me. Don't forget to tell me what you think - in a nice way, I mean.