Session 6: Advocacy and the Faith Leader as First Responder

Presenter: 
Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer

Discussion Questions

  • The Role of Faith Leaders as Chaplains: Considering Dr. Boyer's encouragement to rethink the traditional roles of faith leaders, particularly in the context of being chaplains for the police and prisons versus chaplains for the community and those impacted by police and gun violence, how can you, in your role as a faith leader or community member, actively shift or expand your approach to provide support and advocacy for those directly affected by these forms of violence and systemic oppression?
  • From Lament to Liberation: Reflect on Dr. Boyer's approach of moving people from lament to liberation in the context of systemic injustices, such as racialized policing and mass incarceration. How can this framework be applied in your community or ministry to transform the collective grief and anger into constructive advocacy and action for systemic change?
     

Resources

  • Brunson, Rod K., Anthony A. Braga, David M. Hureau, and Kashea Pegram. “We Trust You, But Not That Much: Examining Police–Black Clergy Partnerships to Reduce Youth Violence.” Justice Quarterly 32, no. 6 (November 2, 2015): 1006–36. 
  • Cudjoe-Wilkes, Gabby, and Andrew J. Wilkes. Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2022.
  • Douglas, Kelly Brown. Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2015.
  • Forman, James. Locking up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America. First paperback edition. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018.
  • Gilliard, Dominique DuBois. Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
  • Gilliard, Dominique DuBois. Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Reflective, 2021.
  • Goode, W. Wilson, Charles E. Lewis, and Harold Dean Trulear. Ministry with Prisoners & Families: The Way Forward. 1st ed. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2011.
  • McGinn, Kathleen L., and Alexis Lefort. "Reverend Jeffrey Brown: Cops, Kids and Ministers." Harvard Business School Case 801-284, December 2000. (Revised May 2002.)
  • Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Spiegel&Grau trade paperback edition. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015.
    Thurman, Howard. Jesus and the Disinherited. Boston, Mass: Beacon Press, 1996. 
  • Trulear, Harold Dean. Healing Communities USA Training Guide: Balancing Justice With Mercy. Edited by Denise Strothers. Kindle., 2021.
  • Trulear, Harold Dean. Welcome Home: Essays and Reflections from Confinement to Community. United States: Heritage Publishing, 2022.
  • Just Mercy. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, 2020.
  • Brown, Jeffrey. “Jeffrey Brown: How We Cut Youth Violence in Boston by 79 Percent | TED Talk.” Accessed January 16, 2024. https://www.ted.com/talks/jeffrey_brown_how_we_cut_youth_violence_in_boston_by_79_percent.
  • Healing Communities USA - https://www.healingcommunitiesusa.com/ 

Next Steps

  • Call to Action: Develop a plan for a community workshop or a town hall meeting focused on the role of faith leaders in advocacy and emergency response. What is your theory of change? In other words, what impact are you trying to make and what resources and activities will help to reach this vision. Outline the objectives, key messages, and desired outcomes. Share your idea in the forum. 
  • In preparation for session 7, reflect upon how much you include themes of justice in your preaching and teaching. What common scripture do you choose? List scripture that you often connect to justice. Share this in the forum.