Message from Pastor Mori
Dear RFUMC Family,
I know many of you are involved in volunteer work such as the Night Ministry, or food groups, or Chicago Books for Women. You also may be involved with many of community organizations that help and support your neighbors. I know this because helping others and caring for ones who are need is part of the RFUMC family's core.
Last Tuesday I went to a retreat for my ordination program and there we learned about charity and solidarity. In other words, "work to or work with." I think this is an important question for good people who often help people.
According to Thought Work, "charity is something you give to those 'less fortunate than yourself'. It suggests a belief in a hierarchal system, an 'us' and a 'them'. It creates a power dynamic that further reinforces systems of oppression and economic inequality. Solidarity, by contrast, takes a systems change approach. Its foundational philosophy is that all relationships and power dynamics are multi-directional and acknowledges that everyone has wisdom and resources to solve problems."
I thought about our ministry. How are we doing with charity and solidarity? I do not doubt that charity is providing relief for hunger and oppressions, the homelessness and poverty, and many other issues and pressures that people face. However, are we familiar with solidarity? Sometimes we are very comfortable in doing charity work. But we often do not have many chances to think about solidarity and about our relationship with others. Charity is the primary way people change the world and make a difference and charity is a time-honored way of supporting others.
However, sometimes it is not enough. In the retreat, I learned that real change may require a mutual relationship under equality. Former Roman Catholic bishop Helder Camara said, "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint, when I ask why they are poor, they call me communist." The lecture gave me a chance to look at what people really need and what makes change happen. When we open our eyes to have a deeper understanding of poverty and oppression, then solidarity is often the next step.
It can also be the starting point of the change.
I think the solidarity means standing with the one who is in need without understanding that nothing will change unless we are addressing the problems of the world together.
In Gospel of Matthew (11:5) and Luke (4:18) shows that Jesus also preached good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed rather than charity.
Yes, the real changing can happen when we "work with", work in relationship and when we realize that we need one another.
As a wrap up I want to share Eduardo Galeano's quote : I don't believe in charity. I believe in solidarity. Charity is so vertical. It goes from the top to the bottom. Solidarity is horizontal. It respects the other person. I have a lot to learn from other people. - Eduardo Galeano
Blessings
MORI
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment