Justice & Righteousness
Resourcing Wellness In Community
"Biblically, justice is a Divine act of reparation where breached relationships are renewed and victims, offenders, and communities are restored. Justice, therefore, is about relationships and our conduct within them. Justice asks, "How is righteousness embodied and exuded in how I live in relationship with God, neighbor, and creation?" Biblical justice is established and worked out within the confines of a relationship. The relational working out of justice is righteousness. This is why we are called to pursue right(eous) relationship with God. And through our realigned relationship with God, in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we "become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21)." ~ Dominque Dubois Gillard
As you journey through these readings, you'll notice a focus on Black and African American Spirituality and History. While the global Christian tradition is rich with diverse voices, here we pause to honor the often-overlooked contributions of Black and African American leaders to the work of God's justice and righteousness. We invite you to explore the profound wisdom they offer. Many of us have been shaped by teachings from other regions, but in this moment, we lift up these voices to bring forward insights long deserving of recognition and revelance. May these resources inspire you to rediscover the richness of your own spiritual heritage as we walk together in Jesus' path of righteousness and justice for all (Mic. 6:8, Lk. 4:14-37, Isa. 61:1-3, Matt. 5-7, Amos 5:24, Matt. 23:23, Isa. 1:17, Phil. 1:9-10, Zech. 7:9-10; & Eph. 2:13-16 ).
Ground Work Reads
Defining Word
SANKOFA is a word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. It means San (to return), ko (to go) fa (to fetch, seek, and take). The bird with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back embodies Sankofa’s meaning. Sankofa attests that we must look backwards (into our history), before we can faithfully move forward together, in the present and future. The Sankofa experience does just this, by exploring historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement, connecting the freedom struggle of the past, to our present realities. Sankofa is an invitation to understand race and caste systems as a critical component of our Christian discipleship. It is an interactive, spiritual formation, pilgrimage that equips Christians to pursue Jesus' righteousness and Justice inside and outside the church. This relational journey traces the history of caste systems and tangibly equips believers to embody Christ's mission of reconciliation and conciliation, integrating faith and works in transformative ways.
