Who we are
We seek to provide opportunities for education, action, and spiritual growth around relevant concerns. All our guest speakers, educational opportunities and actions should be structured around examining an issue, growing in our knowledge, and expanding our positive actions in the world. It is our hope that folks who participate may find their passion or calling and engage, with the support of our group, in creating change in our society that promotes equality, justice and good stewardship of our resources. In addition to our own congregation, the group will actively seek out members of the community to walk with us side by side in trying to promote social justice for all.
Our Mission: To help in supporting the underprivileged, those who are less understood and those who are less respected in our community, state, country, and world through action.
Our Most Basic Actions:
Providing educational and action opportunities for our community
Advocating against disparities, and using our privileges to lift up minority voices
Be a visible presence of Christian Faith in the world.
A meeting place and a place to invite others to join us
There are a variety of topics that BHUMC Social Justice cares about, and what currently has been done is by no means exhaustive. Currently, we have dedicated time to Bias & Privilege, LGBTQ+, Race & Ethnicity, Gender Equality, Climate Change & The Environment, Food Security & Hunger, and Health & Healthcare.
Origins of SJAG
The idea for SJAG was born out of fellowship at Table Talk (previously named Pub Theology). This is a group of church and community members who would meet to discuss theology and other topics over a meal during the week. It was found that many members of this group held similar views and felt a need to actively pursue social holiness. It was also found that many people were pursuing social justice actions privately, and that it would allow for continued growth of faith by combining the two.
In 2020, SJAG was created as a separate entity from the church. It was not a committee within the church, did not attend council meetings, did not receive funds from the church and was not able to represent the church at events. There was a number of reasons for this:
Though the church was actively involved in outreach, and food security efforts, other social justice activity was new to the church.
This was during the “Traditional Plan” structure of the church. There were penalties for social justice work, and concerns of harm for our church and pastors.
The church was not yet a reconciling congregation.
There were concerns regarding membership.
There were a few outspoken members of the congregation unsure of the necessity of this work, and whether this is appropriate for church.
In 2022, BHUMC became a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network. The Reconciling Ministries Network is “a network committed to intersectional justice across and beyond the United Methodist connection, working for the full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the church”. Following this, the church council voted for SJAG to become an official committee/group within the church.
Contact us
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