MD524/624: Advocating for Social Justice (4 units)

Bryant L Myers, Professor of International Development
Thomas Taylor, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Development

Karin Finkler, Adjunct Instructor in Transformational Development
Summer 2007 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

· In civil law, advocacy is the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending active espousal of someone’s cause. Social justice is a reference often used to talk about the structuring of a just society in order to address and correct instances of poverty, racism, sexism, or human oppression and exploitation. Advocacy for social justice is arguably an integral, though often ignored, part of the Judeo-Christian moral and spiritual mandate to speak up for or take up the causes of those who suffer, yet have no advocates.
· This course explores what it means for every Christian—whether working in a ministry context or in a secular calling—to observe God’s call ‘to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.’
· Participants will explore various biblical, theological, and historical traditions of social justice. We will investigate detailed examples of injustice and models of advocacy, both in the United States and internationally. Finally, students will research and uncover specific and tangible ways in which ordinary Christians can intervene individually and organizationally, in order to help remedy instances where injustice exists.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of this course you will:

1. Able to analyze and compare various Christian traditions of social justice, including those informed by Anabaptist, Catholic, Liberationist, and Reformed thought.
2. Able to compare the extent to which those models reflect a holistic approach to the canon of the Old and New Testaments.
3. Able to identify some of the cross-cultural barriers that must be addressed to affect particular areas of social justice.
4. Have basic familiarity with a variety of organizations that deal with various specific areas of social justice.
5. Able to begin to construct a personal theology and spirituality of social justice and apply it in a local setting.

COURSE FORMAT:

The class will meet daily for a one-week intensive for 7 hours per day. Each session students will learn via lecture, discussion of reading materials, and interaction with social agency representatives or experts. Because the class is a one-week intensive, each student must attend all of every class session and must participate through discussion, questions, and interaction.

REQUIRED READING: Read 1200 pages from the required reading and the bibliography. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.
1. Bales, Kevin, 2000, Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy, University of California Press
2. Burghardt, Walter, 2004, Justice: A Global Adventure, Maryknoll: Orbis Books, New York.
3. Skillen, James, 2004, In Pursuit of Justice: Christian-Democratic Explorations, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
4. Sider, R. and Knippers, Diane, 2005, Toward an Evangelical Public Policy, Baker Books.

5. Cohen, David, de la Vega, Rosa and Watson, Garbielle, 2001, Advocating for Social Justice, Kumarian Press.

RECOMMENDED READING: (some of these will be on reserve shelves):

1. Erickson, Victoria L. & Jones, Michelle L. Eds., 2002, Surviving Terror:Hope and Justice in a World of Violence, Brazos Press.
2. Fellmeth, Robert C., 2002, Child Rights & Remedies, Clarity Press Inc., Atlanta, Georgia.
3. Haugen, Gary A., 1999, Good News About Injustice, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois.
4. Hilfiker, Dr. David, 2003, Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen, Seven Stories Press.
5. Nouwen, Henri, 1998, The Road to Peace: Writings on Peace and Justice, Maryknoll: Orbis Books, New York.
6. Mouw, Richard, Political Evangelism, 1973, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
7. Myers, Bryant, 1999, Walking With the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development, Maryknoll: Orbis Books, New York.
8. Sider, Ron, 1997, For They Shall Be Fed: Scripture Readings and Prayers for a Just World, W Publishing Group.
9. Smedes, Lewis, 1983, Mere Morality: What God Expects of Ordinary People, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
10. Walls, James, 2000, Faith Works: Lessons from the Life of an Activist Preacher, Page Mill Press.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Special reserve shelf reading in addition to required texts.
2. Four, 500 word (two-page) critical book reviews on Burghardt and Skillen and two from the Recommended Reading list or reserve shelf reading.
3. Submit a 3750 word (15-page) report or project detailing a clear, understandable biblical and theological basis, as well as an action plan, for persuading and helping laity to become actively involved in a ministry of social justice. The topic must be concrete and narrow enough to take to a particular congregation in a particular place. [Advocacy for Social Justice is an excellent resource for the plan.]
For ThM Students:
4. Read an additional 300 pages and do two additional book reviews (one on a theology of social justice, the other on practical implementations of social justice).

FINAL EXAM: None.

PREREQUISITES: None

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Meets GLBL requirement for Master of Arts in Worship, Theology, and the Arts.

Last Date Updated: 7 March 2007