In scripture, true justice happens when hearts are transformed by the indwelling power of the Spirit, an indwelling that is fostered through practices like prayer and fasting and worship. Spiritually formed people pursue justice because it’s in their nature.
But it’s also true that the pursuit of justice is, in itself, a spiritual practice that shapes us. When we advocate on behalf of the prisoner and the alien, when we pursue peace and reconciliation, and when we protect the dignity of the marginalized, we are formed in unique and profound ways.
And so, during Lent, we will explore this connection. We’ll delve into the traditional spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and worship. But we’ll also learn about and get involved with a couple of local justice issues. To help us on our journey, we’ll be hearing from three local scholars, Dr. James Felak, Dr. Kirsten Foot and Cote Soerens.
On February 19, Dr. Felak, a professor of History at UW, will share about two classic approaches to the Christian life in a talk entitled “Moderation or Zeal”. James will draw from several authors and theologians to help us think about what it means to live Christianly.
On February 26, Dr. Foot, a professor of Communication at UW, will talk about research-as-action, based on her experience studying efforts to counter several forms of human trafficking. Kirsten has just finished writing a book about the challenges organizations– including faith-based ones– face in cross-sector collaboration against human trafficking. She is well-acquainted with what is happening locally, and will point us toward some ways we can help stop trafficking.
On March 12, Cote Soerens, a Phd candidate at the Oxford Center for Missions Studies, will share about her advocacy work related to immigrant rights and the Northwest Detention Center.