Justice

Position

The CRC?s Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action is a ministry that deals with many social justice issues: restorative justice, racism, abortion, HIV/AIDS, poverty in North America, world hunger, war and peace, religious persecution, refugees, marginalization of immigrant workers, and more. In Canada, the CRC?s Committee for Contact with the Government deals with similar advocacy issues. For more information, see www.crcna.org/pages/justice.cfm and a report on restorative justice adopted by Synod 2005 (www.crcna.org/pages/synodical.cfm).

History

Social justice ministry in the CRC developed in response to world hunger reports adopted by Synods 1979 and 1993. A world hunger and social justice coordinator was appointed in 1994, and the Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action became established in 2000. A similar advocacy ministry in Canada has operated as the Committee for Contact with the Government in social-justice advocacy since 1968.

In response to overtures regarding the Jubilee 2000 campaign seeking debt cancellation for the world's poorest countries, Synod 1999 adopted a "Resolution on International Debt" to encourage social justice and hunger action and the implementation of educational and discussion activities in conjunction with the work of Bread for the World, Citizens for Public Justice (Canada), the Center for Public Justice (U.S.), Jubilee 2000, and other compatible organizations and efforts such as the Micah Challenge (2004). Along with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, the Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action has also helped the church develop awareness and measures in working against the challenges of HIV/AIDS.

In 2009, in response to a request from the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa to Reformed churches throughout the world, synod voted to introduce and promote study of the Belhar Confession (which calls for faithfulness in unity, justice, and reconciliation) in preparation for consideration of a proposal to Synod 2012 to adopt the Belhar as a fourth confession of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

Synod 2010 received an overture regarding advocacy of the denominational position opposing abortion and adopted a recommendation ?to instruct the Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action (OSJ) to boldly advocate for the church?s position against abortion, and to help equip churches to promote the sanctity of human life? (Acts of Synod 2010, p. 883).

Synod 2010 also received and adopted a study report on the migration of workers, highlighting the great need for mercy, compassion, advocacy, and justice in ministering to and for workers and refugees from other countries. In light of this, synod urged that ?the Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action, together with the Canadian Committee for Contact with the Government . . . engage in policy development and advocacy strategies that will lead to immigration reform and the enactment of fair, just, and equitable laws regarding those without status in Canada and the United States? (Acts of Synod 2010, p. 878).

Synod 2010 also requested a review of the mandates of OSJ and the Canadian Committee for Contact with the Government, and Synod 2011 approved revised mandates for these specialized ministries.

References

• Agenda for Synod 1979, pp. 29, 82-84, 418
• Acts of Synod 1979, pp. 610-41
• Agenda for Synod 1993, pp. 128-29, 138-55
• Acts of Synod 1993, pp. 540-41
• Agenda for Synod 1994, pp. 355-56
• Agenda for Synod 1995, pp. 44-45
• Agenda for Synod 1996, pp. 40-41
• Acts of Synod 1996, p. 557
• Agenda for Synod 1999, pp. 219-20, 425-32, 487-88, 492-95
• Acts of Synod 1999, p. 573
• Agenda for Synod 2000, pp. 33, 76-79
• Acts of Synod 2000, p. 621
• Agenda for Synod 2001, pp. 86-88
• Agenda for Synod 2002, pp. 61-62
• Agenda for Synod 2003, pp. 83-84
• Agenda for Synod 2004, pp. 48, 68-70, 233, 489-91
• Acts of Synod 2004, p. 555
• Agenda for Synod 2005, pp. 70-72, 529-65
• Acts of Synod 2005, pp. 726, 743, 761-62, 778
• Agenda for Synod 2006, pp. 85-87
• Acts of Synod 2006, pp. 642-43
• Agenda for Synod 2007, pp. 34, 145-47
• Acts of Synod 2007, pp. 581-82
• Agenda for Synod 2008, pp. 38, 61-63
• Acts of Synod 2008, pp. 457, 510-11
• Agenda for Synod 2009, pp. 249-51, 269-313
• Acts of Synod 2009, pp. 604-607
• Agenda for Synod 2010, pp. 535-85, 661-62
• Acts of Synod 2010, pp. 875-79, 883
• Agenda for Synod 2011, pp. 35, 73-76
• Acts of Synod 2011, p. 817