Activism…yet another broad discussion topic which I'm attempting to address with one short post. I think, however, that the way by which I arrived at this topic is fairly interesting, so please read on.Over the weekend, my brother Derek; his girlfriend Alison; and I decided to take a day trip to beautiful Port Huron, Michigan, USA (pictured above). For those that don't know anything about Port Huron, not to worry. Simply put: Port Huron is a small industrial and semi-tourist town located near the USA/Canada border on the west bank of the St. Clair River opposite Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. It’s actually quite a scenic spot during the summer months. When my brother called me last week to talk about going over there for the weekend, he mentioned that Port Huron maintains several museums and boasts a rich history. It was at that point where the wheels in my head started turning as I began to remember a small piece of Port Huron’s history which I had retained from a while back.
I recalled a few history lectures I had at university where my professor had mentioned The Port Huron Statement. My family has a history of making quick day trips over to Port Huron (it’s about an hour’s drive from our house) so even at the time of first hearing about this statement, I remember being fascinated by it. However, hearing my brother mention Port Huron’s history further intrigued me to look deeper into something which I had all but forgotten.
The Port Huron Statement was written during a student retreat in Port Huron in 1962 by a group from the University of Michigan. This group represented a nationwide organisation called Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), which in turn contributed to an even larger development called the Student Movement. The Statement, which quickly became a manifesto for the Student Movement, encouraged egalitarianism and participatory democracy. It portrayed 1960s America as being undemocratic, militaristic, and bureaucratic.[1] After recently rereading the Statement, I realised that I don’t fully agree with all of the methods which it proposes, as some of them were quite radical, and in fact, over the top. However, a lot of what SDS proposed, I find very intriguing. For instance, SDS was very optimistic in its desire to establish a new community in which no group would suffer from isolation, want, or alienation.[2] All of the prominent social issues of 1960s America greatly disturbed the predominantly white students of SDS, and spurred them onto activism.[3]
As I revisited my notes about The Port Huron Statement and SDS, I couldn’t help but be impressed by those students’ motivations, convictions, and actions. As a result of having my interest piqued, I’ve recently been motivated to look into more examples of activism in our own country’s recent past. What immediately sprung to mind was the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) which was founded in 1875. Interestingly, the WCTU was the first Dominion-wide, non-denominational women’s organization in Canada.[4] During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the WCTU was convicted by the heavy consumption of alcohol and the prevalence of alcoholism in Canada, and sought to limit the largely unregulated and rampant distribution thereof.[5]
A more recent and perhaps more gripping example of activism as a result of conviction which I have become aware of is that of Greg Paul. Greg Paul is the founder and director of Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto, and furthermore, the pastor of the Sanctuary community: a charity and ministry to the homeless and destitute of Toronto. Greg Paul has dedicated his life to serving this community, and although he would never boast as such, he has humanly done more for them than most working in his field. Greg claims that the process which allows his success is also his greatest struggle: the action of picking up his cross. Greg explains this process as denying the enticement this world provides; confessing our deepest and ugliest shortcomings to the Lord; and following the teachings of Christ so as to become Christ-like.[6] It's a painful and arduous process, however, it's so deeply rewarding, and only in so doing are we able to achieve anything we’ve been called to.
All of this research has furthermore prompted me to ask questions directed mostly towards myself; questions such as: what am I doing today to be active? By that I mean; is there anything which convicts me to the point of action? Are all the battles already won? I don't think so. I know that there are many issues today which need be addressed, and as a Christian, it's only natural that I believe we approach these issues as collective Christians. It's time for us to wake up and take up our mutual crosses.
An organisation that is very present and very active today, that strikes me as one which daily takes on the task of carrying its cross is the National Campus Life Network (NCLN). NCLN exists to “educate, network and support post-secondary pro-life students across Canada to take the pro-life message to their campuses…work[ing] to maximize the promotion and effectiveness of the pro-life message on campus…”[7] Representatives of the NCLN from across the country toil to inform concerned students within their respective regions of the issues facing the pro-life movement today. I am fully aware that for many the abortion debate is very controversial, and furthermore one which results in polarisation. That said, the pro-life movement is very important to me, and it's an arena (among many others) which I believe Christians need to become more active in.
I'm sure that by now you're aware of the recent developments resulting in Dr. Henry Morgentaler being inducted into the Order of Canada on Tuesday, July 1.[8] While many believe the Order of Canada has long lost all credibility as a result of the perpetual induction of undeserving individuals, the NCLN took the approach of preserving the prestigious honour by protesting the induction of Morgentaler, a position which I agree with. When I received the NCLN update concerning Morgentaler, for the first time in my life, I actually contacted a politician over an issue which convicted me. Well, in all honesty, I didn’t contact any specific politician; I merely emailed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). A couple days after having done so, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a person actually wrote me back (as opposed to the typical automated response). Unforunately, the representative of the PMO informed me that I wrote the wrong office, and that appointments of inductees to the Order of Canada is an issue entirely outside of the Prime Minister’s influence. Interestingly, however, that representative added, “With respect to specific appointments to the Order, the Prime Minister's preference is for the Order of Canada to be an honour that unifies and brings Canadians together. Clearly, this appointment did not do that.” Call that response what you will, it may sound like nothing more than appeasement, but I was happy that a person actually wrote me back! I’m not trying to boast that I did anything spectacular, after all, I wrote the wrong office, but I have to admit, there was a feeling of fulfillment after sending off that initial email.
Working in ministry, I find I'm always walking a fine line between acting upon my conviction, and becoming too political, but I think there's a balance. Furthermore, what I'm about to suggest is as much directed towards myself as it is towards you, as I too have a lot to learn about getting involved. Some of the steps towards convicted and informed activism which I'm trying to implement into my own life are as follows:
Vote:
The Port Huron Statement was written during a student retreat in Port Huron in 1962 by a group from the University of Michigan. This group represented a nationwide organisation called Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), which in turn contributed to an even larger development called the Student Movement. The Statement, which quickly became a manifesto for the Student Movement, encouraged egalitarianism and participatory democracy. It portrayed 1960s America as being undemocratic, militaristic, and bureaucratic.[1] After recently rereading the Statement, I realised that I don’t fully agree with all of the methods which it proposes, as some of them were quite radical, and in fact, over the top. However, a lot of what SDS proposed, I find very intriguing. For instance, SDS was very optimistic in its desire to establish a new community in which no group would suffer from isolation, want, or alienation.[2] All of the prominent social issues of 1960s America greatly disturbed the predominantly white students of SDS, and spurred them onto activism.[3]
As I revisited my notes about The Port Huron Statement and SDS, I couldn’t help but be impressed by those students’ motivations, convictions, and actions. As a result of having my interest piqued, I’ve recently been motivated to look into more examples of activism in our own country’s recent past. What immediately sprung to mind was the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) which was founded in 1875. Interestingly, the WCTU was the first Dominion-wide, non-denominational women’s organization in Canada.[4] During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the WCTU was convicted by the heavy consumption of alcohol and the prevalence of alcoholism in Canada, and sought to limit the largely unregulated and rampant distribution thereof.[5]
A more recent and perhaps more gripping example of activism as a result of conviction which I have become aware of is that of Greg Paul. Greg Paul is the founder and director of Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto, and furthermore, the pastor of the Sanctuary community: a charity and ministry to the homeless and destitute of Toronto. Greg Paul has dedicated his life to serving this community, and although he would never boast as such, he has humanly done more for them than most working in his field. Greg claims that the process which allows his success is also his greatest struggle: the action of picking up his cross. Greg explains this process as denying the enticement this world provides; confessing our deepest and ugliest shortcomings to the Lord; and following the teachings of Christ so as to become Christ-like.[6] It's a painful and arduous process, however, it's so deeply rewarding, and only in so doing are we able to achieve anything we’ve been called to.
All of this research has furthermore prompted me to ask questions directed mostly towards myself; questions such as: what am I doing today to be active? By that I mean; is there anything which convicts me to the point of action? Are all the battles already won? I don't think so. I know that there are many issues today which need be addressed, and as a Christian, it's only natural that I believe we approach these issues as collective Christians. It's time for us to wake up and take up our mutual crosses.
An organisation that is very present and very active today, that strikes me as one which daily takes on the task of carrying its cross is the National Campus Life Network (NCLN). NCLN exists to “educate, network and support post-secondary pro-life students across Canada to take the pro-life message to their campuses…work[ing] to maximize the promotion and effectiveness of the pro-life message on campus…”[7] Representatives of the NCLN from across the country toil to inform concerned students within their respective regions of the issues facing the pro-life movement today. I am fully aware that for many the abortion debate is very controversial, and furthermore one which results in polarisation. That said, the pro-life movement is very important to me, and it's an arena (among many others) which I believe Christians need to become more active in.
I'm sure that by now you're aware of the recent developments resulting in Dr. Henry Morgentaler being inducted into the Order of Canada on Tuesday, July 1.[8] While many believe the Order of Canada has long lost all credibility as a result of the perpetual induction of undeserving individuals, the NCLN took the approach of preserving the prestigious honour by protesting the induction of Morgentaler, a position which I agree with. When I received the NCLN update concerning Morgentaler, for the first time in my life, I actually contacted a politician over an issue which convicted me. Well, in all honesty, I didn’t contact any specific politician; I merely emailed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). A couple days after having done so, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a person actually wrote me back (as opposed to the typical automated response). Unforunately, the representative of the PMO informed me that I wrote the wrong office, and that appointments of inductees to the Order of Canada is an issue entirely outside of the Prime Minister’s influence. Interestingly, however, that representative added, “With respect to specific appointments to the Order, the Prime Minister's preference is for the Order of Canada to be an honour that unifies and brings Canadians together. Clearly, this appointment did not do that.” Call that response what you will, it may sound like nothing more than appeasement, but I was happy that a person actually wrote me back! I’m not trying to boast that I did anything spectacular, after all, I wrote the wrong office, but I have to admit, there was a feeling of fulfillment after sending off that initial email.
Working in ministry, I find I'm always walking a fine line between acting upon my conviction, and becoming too political, but I think there's a balance. Furthermore, what I'm about to suggest is as much directed towards myself as it is towards you, as I too have a lot to learn about getting involved. Some of the steps towards convicted and informed activism which I'm trying to implement into my own life are as follows:
Vote:
I believe democracy is a great privilege, and voting is the most basic way to exercise democracy. I encourage you to do it. Inform yourself on the issues, and vote as you feel led. As you become more informed, you could voice your concerns to your local representative at any level of government.
Work within your gifting and skill set:
I believe that God has blessed each individual with gifts that are unique to them, exercise them, practice them, and develop them.
Pray:
I’m mentioning this one last, but I’m doing it for the sake of emphasis! It’s the most important thing we can do in all of this. It should be what we do first, and constantly throughout any action we take. The above two suggestions should only be exercised after thorough prayer, and throughout the entire process, continue to devote your actions and words to prayer. Pray for those that are in leadership, that God would direct them. Ultimately, in all of the concerns we act upon, it’s important to realise that none of this is hopeless. God has a long term plan…a very long term plan. Have faith in Him, and trust Him to fulfill that plan.[9]
So, you may have noticed that we're not in Port Huron anymore, furthermore, you may feel that all of this is pretty basic stuff, but for me it's been a good reminder. I believe that activism is a word which describes something we've been called to. Activism is acting upon the conviction which the Holy Spirit has placed within you. It's entirely Scriptural; it's seeking God’s justice. One of my favourite passages describes very well what that means for a Christian; “Seek Justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”[10]
So, you may have noticed that we're not in Port Huron anymore, furthermore, you may feel that all of this is pretty basic stuff, but for me it's been a good reminder. I believe that activism is a word which describes something we've been called to. Activism is acting upon the conviction which the Holy Spirit has placed within you. It's entirely Scriptural; it's seeking God’s justice. One of my favourite passages describes very well what that means for a Christian; “Seek Justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”[10]
I encourage all of you to follow the above passage. Act upon the scripturally motivated convictions you feel God has placed within you. I’m hoping to do the same. One up me, and make sure you don’t email the wrong person.
[1] Alexander Bloom and Wini Breines (eds.), “Beginnings,” in “Takin’ It to the Streets”: A Sixties Reader,
(New York, 2003), pp. 49, 50
[2] SDS was particularly distressed by the ongoing violence and discrimination expressed by whites towards African Americans. SDS believed that it was their responsibility to reverse the trends which their parents, grandparents etc. had established.
[3] Alexander Bloom and Wini Breines, pg. 50
[2] SDS was particularly distressed by the ongoing violence and discrimination expressed by whites towards African Americans. SDS believed that it was their responsibility to reverse the trends which their parents, grandparents etc. had established.
[3] Alexander Bloom and Wini Breines, pg. 50
* SDS was inspired by the results they had witnessed achieved by the predominantly African American organisation; Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), pg. 51
[4] Janene Pasierbek, The Women’s Christian Temperance Union: 1880-1920, (London, 2008), pg. 2
[5] Pierre Berton, Marching As to War: Canada’s Turbulent Years 1899-1953, (Toronto, 2001), pg. 100
[6] Greg Paul, God in the Alley: Being and Seeing Jesus in a Broken World, (Colorado Springs, 2004), pp. 73-75
[7] Accessed at:
[4] Janene Pasierbek, The Women’s Christian Temperance Union: 1880-1920, (London, 2008), pg. 2
[5] Pierre Berton, Marching As to War: Canada’s Turbulent Years 1899-1953, (Toronto, 2001), pg. 100
[6] Greg Paul, God in the Alley: Being and Seeing Jesus in a Broken World, (Colorado Springs, 2004), pp. 73-75
[7] Accessed at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2376571702
[8] Cassandra Drudi, “Morgentaler inducted into Order of Canada,” The National Post, Wednesday, July 2, 2008, accessed at: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=625346
[9] Kevin Michael McKeehan and Michael Tait, Under God, (Minneapolis, 2004), pg. 371
[10] Isaiah 1:17, The Bible, New International Version,
[8] Cassandra Drudi, “Morgentaler inducted into Order of Canada,” The National Post, Wednesday, July 2, 2008, accessed at: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=625346
[9] Kevin Michael McKeehan and Michael Tait, Under God, (Minneapolis, 2004), pg. 371
[10] Isaiah 1:17, The Bible, New International Version,
(Grand Rapids, 1973)
2 comments:
Personally I have never visited Port Huron to behold the beauty described here. However, I have visited Ann Arbor (point here-still in Michigan and quite a historic site, although it doesn't build the point..lol)Anyways, The Port Huron Statement and the main theme of activism is quite intriguing. The scripture eloborates in St. Matthew 25 vs.14-29 about burrying one's talent. So I do acknowledge the encouragement that as christians we are obligated to be activists in this world, guided by the 'embedded' passion God has given us. So my encouragement is keep sowing to God Minister A.A. Ross. Am praying for you. God Bless!
I am glad you care strongly about our right to protest in Canada. However it is becoming harder and harder to protest in modern days. Have you heard of the attempted attack on protesters in Montebello Quebec?
some interesting info on it here
http://stephen-harper.com
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