Justice Hub
Together we are journeying towards reflecting God's Kingdom Justice in South Wales and beyond
We believe that God created the world and that all human beings are made in the image of God. Every person is unique, loved by God and equal in His sight.
As an Association, we recognise that the story for too many people is that they experience injustice in their lives. The challenge of justice may be faced for many different reasons, including (but not limited to) race, gender, disability, age and economic inequality. We believe justice is a matter that all Christians should treat with the utmost seriousness as it is a key attribute of the God we serve.
We repent for the times when we have fallen short of being the people God calls us to be. We ask forgiveness for those times when we have been part of the problem rather than standing alongside those who are suffering. We say ‘sorry’ for times when we have turned a blind eye to the injustice others have faced.
We believe we should experience a ‘holy discontent’ whenever we discover a lack of justice. As an Association we seek to act against discrimination of all kinds, wherever it may be. We will endeavour to be more than reactive and seek to be proactive in working together for Kingdom justice.
“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24
Defining Justice:
We recognise that the term Biblical / Kingdom Justice can have different meanings to different people based on various theological beliefs and studies. Biblical references to the word “justice” mean “to make right.” Justice is, first and foremost, a relational term — people living in right relationship with God, one another, and the natural creation. From a scriptural point of view, justice means loving our neighbor as we love ourselves and is rooted in the character and nature of God. As God is just and loving, so we are called to do justice and live in love. (WorldVision)
Therefore when we use the terms Biblical / Kingdom Justice we mean: The condition and action required for the state of wholeness and flourishing for all in God’s creation.
In order to put this statement into practise by the end of 2021 we will have:
Established a Justice Hub: which will bring together those with a passion across the association for Justice in all areas of our Baptist Family together: this groups will look into how it can encourage, challenge and support churches in issues of justice.
The purpose of the Justice Hub is:
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To inspire, inform and prophetically challenge the churches and structures of our Association
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To build good relationships and representation in areas of Justice
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To model relating to people of different cultures, genders, perspectives and to engage in meaningful dialogue about issues that affect theses groups
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To provide a think tank for the way forward in reflecting God’s Kingdom
Just Aware Training: all those who are involved in serving as trustees and within key roles of the SWaBA will take part in the Just Aware training provide by Baptist Together, this will include moderators for churches who are guiding churches through settlement in the first phase.
In the second phase of rolling out the training in 2021 we will encourage all our Ministers, Ministers in Training and Church leaders to do the training with the hope they will then under take the training with their leadership teams and churches.
Continued Ministerial Development: we will actively encourage both Newly Accredited Ministers and those in continued ministerial development to engage with issues of justice by providing safe spaces for reflective learning and reading.