Jesus Christ Social Worker?
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What is the role of faith in social work and social service practice? Is there a place for it?
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Jesus Christ Social Worker?
- 1. Jesus Christ B.S.W.? Mike Morency, B.R.E., B.S.W. Love the City Windsor, Ontario 11/03/12 To have Mike speak to your church or community group email morencymike@gmail.com
- 2. Introductions Mike Morency • • • • • • Bachelor of Religious Education Urban Pastor Non-profit management professional Marketing and communications consultant Bachelor of Social Work 19 years experience working in impoverished communities and supporting people. Tell me about you?
- 3. What’s Important to You? Cup of Cold Water Reaching the Lost Following Policy/Ethics Freedom of Practice
- 4. False Dichotomies • • • • • • History of Social Work Scripture’s Call Current Literature Do’s and Don’ts Open Discussion A Christ Centred Model for S.W.
- 5. Christianity and Social Work • Led in the fight against infanticide, degradation of women, slavery, child labour, etc., • Founded first hospitals, schools, science academies, orphanages, • Source of artistic development in architecture, music, literature, and fine art,
- 6. Early Social Work Practice • Worked contrary to concept of deserving/underserving poor. • Responded to the needs of the poor in Christ’s name. • Church hired “friendly visitors.” • Developed first relief agencies.
- 7. A Biblical Call • Matthew 25: 31-46 – The Final Exam • Luke 10:26-28 – Love God – Love Others unconditionally, unreservedly! • Ephesians 2:4-6 – Ultimate Justice! • Proverbs 31:8 – Speak Up for those who can’t! • Isaiah 42:1-7 – Christ’s role – our call. • We ARE the physical manifestation of Christ in this World!
- 8. Biblical Values Social Work Values Texts Supporting Core Social Work Values Service Matthew 25:31-45; Luke 10:25-37 Social justice Micah 6:7-9; Isaiah 58:6 The dignity and worth of the person Isaiah 49:14-16; Matthew 10:31 The importance of human relationships Matthew 5: 23-24; Mark 12:31 The integrity and competence of the worker Matthew 25:13-30; 2 Timothy 2:15
- 9. A Match – Not a Choice • Not Social Work Values OR Biblical Values. • Not social work OR Christian service. • Social Work embodies the commission of Matthew 25 • To reduce Christianity to a social program, or a program of redemption results in a “truncated gospel is that is a profound distortion.” R.C. Sproul • Living out Christ’s life in this World is Christianity, and is Social Work.
- 10. Current Literature on Faith in Social Work Practice • Faith is a valid dimension to consider when working with clients. • A Social Worker’s personal faith may guide their ethics and choices in practice. • Stronger Christians make better Christian Social Workers!
- 11. Do NOT • Force your faith into your practice. • Force or push it in the face of coworkers or clients. • Think every client problem can be fixed by salvation. • Forget that your clients need salvation.
- 12. DO • Pray for your clients. • Pray WITH your clients if asked. • Share your faith with your clients if asked. • Connect clients with a local church if they express interest in faith. • Take public and political stands in line with scripture. • Respect people’s right to make their own choices.
- 13. SUM IT UP…. • Christians are called to be the physical manifestation of Christ in this World. • We do NOT have to choose between salvation and social justice. • We do NOT have to choose between biblical and social work values. • Faith is reasserting itself as a valid component of social work practice. • Strong Christians make Strong Christian Social Workers!
- 15. A Christ Centred Social Work Practice • Maintain the belief that all people need to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. • Respect human dignity, autonomy, and the right to self direction. • Seek to follow the code of ethics for the profession and policies of the agencies practitioners work for. • Recognize there is a Higher Standard and are prepared to violate laws, policies, and codes where they violate scripture and Christ’s call. • Seek to be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. • Seek to bring change by being the physicial manifestation of Jesus Christ in this world.
- 16. Thank You! Remember – you are the only Christ most people will physically meet in this world!
Notes de l'éditeur
- Let me begin by telling you a little about myself ----I have spent much of the past 20 years developing community and advocating for social change while serving as a Pastor for urban congregations in Kitchener and Windsor, a Community Organizer developing broad based coalitions, and Program Manager for Windsor’s Downtown Mission. I received a Bachelor of Religious Education from Emmanuel Bible College and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Windsor. I currently provide Communications and Fundraising Consulting services to area non-profits, while working full-time for the Youth & Family Resource Network where I assist adults who are at risk of homelessness.More importantly, I am the proud father of four beautiful children aged 11-17. My second oldest, Kassidy, is with me today and with your permission, will be video taping the session.Now, I’d like to learn about you… If small enough group, have each state their name, organization, and role. If too many, have people stand for each category: Social Workers Employed by an agency, providing social welfare services Volunteer at a church or agency providing social welfare services Church attendee seeking ideas for how to impact your community Church staff
- Looks like we have a pretty diverse group. Before get into the content of our session together, I’d like to do an exercise with you. I am going to identify four characteristics. After I have done so, I would like you to move to the area representing the characteristic you feel is most important.Let me tell you the characteristics first: 1. Giving a cup of cold water – ministering to people’s needs 2. Following the policies of your organization, or ethics of your profession 3. Reaching the lost for Christ and saving souls 4. Maintaining the freedom to do as you feel best and integrate your faith in practiceDirect people to move toward a wall for each characteristic.
- Participants with either demonstrate the dichotomy, or display significant consternation over choice – discussOver the past generation, Christians serving in social welfare have faced increased conflict over how to balance these diverse priorities. The church says that we must reach out to the lost while the world says that our faith is a personal thing and we must never try to convert someone or question if their faith, or lack of, is correct.Since you are hear, I assume you know, or at least suspect that these concepts represent a false dichotomy. You recognize that the answer is not either or – but somewhere in between. However, if you are like most of us, you continue struggle to find a balance. In this session we will briefly explore the history of social work, the call of scripture, and some of the current literature on faith in social work. I will then provide you with some basic do’s and don’ts and open the floor for discussion. Finally, I will give your what I believe is a basic framework for a Christ Centred Social Work Practice.
- Now, for some in the profession, connecting social work with Christianity is tantamount to endorsing rape or slavery. Some people have, and continue to defame Christianity, saying it is at best a negative influence and at worse a cause of bigotry, exploitation, repression, wars, pollution, animal extinction, and even inflation.In its quest for professionalism and evidence based practice, the social work profession has separated itself from its Christian roots. While it is true that the institutional church has not always, and continues to struggle to, live up to its calling, the positive impact it has had can not be denied. The fact is that Christianity has been at the forefront of most of history’s social change and formed the foundation of our modern social work practice.Examples in the Early ChurchIn the first three centuries of the Christian era, Christ’s followers amazed the world around them with the extent to which they ministered to the needs of others, especially those who had no one else to care for them. The early Church took on the major task of caring for abandoned and orphaned children who had been left on waste heaps to die, taking them into their own homes.Early Christians sought to ransom slaves, some even by voluntarily placing themselves in bondage. Within the fellowship of the Church, class of distinctions ceased to have meaning. New converts who had to leave “debased” occupations to join the fellowship (e.g. gladiators, actors, prostitutes) were given work by rich Church members or were provided support from a communal fund (Hinson, 1988).In 252 A.D., the Christians of Corinth saved the city from the plague by responding to the needs of those who were simply dragged into the street.During the Middle Ages and Reformation think of the Monks, not the knights.)a. Monasteries served as hospitals, places of refuge.b. Monastic schools trained scribes to preserve manuscripts.c. Monasteries also developed agricultural skills and knowledge.e. A time of major artistic development: architecture, music, literature and fine art.In Colonial America we see the church turlyarrisea. 100 of the first 110 American universities were founded expressly for the purpose of training men to propagate the Christian faith.b. American educational and political systems were both established on Christian principles.d. During this time Wesley preached the social responsibilities resulting in the end of the slave trade throughout the BrittishCommonweath.e. Prison reform: John Howard, Elizabeth Fry (England); Fliedner (Germany). - Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing, was trained in one of Fliedner's schools.f. Labor reform: Anthony Ashley Cooper (Earl of Shaftesbury, self-described "Evangelical of the Evangelicals" pioneered child-labor laws, prohibited women working in the mines, established mental health sanitarium, built parks and libraries).g. Harriett Beecher Stowe. Daughter of a preacher, married to a preacher; all her brothers were preachers. Her book, Uncle Tom's Cabin ignited the minds and imaginations of people in both North and South. "So this is the little lady who made this big war," said Abraham Lincoln upon meeting her for the first time. h. The Third Great Awakening (1858-59) produced a rash of missionary and philanthropic organizations in the U. S. and England:• Barnardo's Homes (world's largest orphanage system)• William Booth's Salvation Army• Henri Dunant, a student evangelist in Geneva, founded the Red Cross in 1865• YMCA was founded in 1844 and grew greatly• CMS (Christian Missionary Society) taught 200,000 to read in East Africa in one generation—Secured the end of widow-burning and child sacrifice—Brought medicine to the world—Actually founded the educational systems in China, Japan, and Korea. Truly, Where ever you see an organization that cares for people, providing medical care, food, housing, even education... You see an organization that had it's purpose rooted by Christ.
- Modern Social work evolved out of the church’s response to the Poor Laws which sorted people into different categories; the able bodied poor (undeserving), and the impotent poor (deserving).The 19th century ushered in the Industrial Revolution, and with it migration to urban areas and serious social problems. The church responded with mission efforts (urban missions), in an attempt to resolve problems like poverty, prostitution, disease, and other afflictions. In the United States and Canada, workers known as "friendly visitors“ were hired by the church and other charitable bodies, to provide direct relief, prayer, and evangelism to people in need. In Europe, chaplains or almoners were appointed for administer the church's mission to the poor.
- Why did these courageous men and women take the stands they took? Why did they invest their lives in the least of those among us? It was not out of some altruistic sense of duty for one’s fellow man, but out of a heart felt call from the words of Scripture.Matthew 25: 31-46 is presented as the final exam for believers – Christ will simply ask all people – did you live a life of love and service?This is the Key – as Luke 10: 26-28 states - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with your entire mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself”.If we truly love our neighbour as ourselves will we give them “a cup of water” in His name, then walk away and leave them to die in their sin, being eternally separated from the Healer of All? This is not justice – social or otherwise. I encourage you to think about God’s sense of justice in reading Ephesians 2:4-6.Proverbs 31:8 says, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."Isaiah 42:1-7 describes Christ’s future ministry …“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;4 he will not falter or be discouragedtill he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”5 This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.– We are called to be the hands, feet, voice… the very presence of Christ in this world. Those who have gone before up in social service knew what they were about, and who they were representing!
- Now, I want to point out that Social work’s professional value base is uncompromisingly congruent with the Bible. While other disciplines may struggle with finding a Biblical mandate for their existence, social work does not. According to the Council on Social Work Education (2008) “The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human well-being by strengthening opportunities, resources, and capacities of people and to create policies and provide services to prevent and address conditions that limit human rights and the quality of life. Acknowledging a global perspective, the social work profession strives to eliminate poverty, discrimination, and oppression” Social work embodies the commission of Matthew 25 (doing “unto the least of these”) through organized, professional services that use social work policies, practices, and expertise to accomplish its purposes (Pittman, S. & Drimm, R. 2008).
- For Christians serving in the field of social welfare it is not a choice between social work values or biblical values, nor is it a choice between social work or christian service. In fact, as R.C. Sproul pointed out, “The choice that the church has is never between personal salvation and mercy ministry. It is rather a both/and proposition. Neither pole can be properly swallowed by the other. To reduce Christianity either to a program of social welfare or to a program of personal redemption results in a truncated gospel that is a profound distortion.”[8]Finally, Isaiah 58:6-14 reveals that true Christianity, is Christian Social Work --- it is living as the body of Christ in the world TODAY!
- While moden, “scientific” social work lost sight of the value of faith and even became antagonistic to it, there is a growing movement within the social work profession to affirm that spiritual and religious beliefs are integral to the nature of the person and have a vital influence on human behavior. These spiritual and religious dimensions are being increasingly recognized as important features of social work practice at all phase. This perspective embraces a holistic conception of the person and has more recently been elaborated as the bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective. This view reintroduces spiritual issues as a legitimate focus for social work practice and provides for a more complete understanding of client strengths, challenges, and resources.Social work research also has shown that although many social workers see religious and spiritual issues as important parameters in practice and important in their own lives as well as in the lives of their clients, many are hesitant to initiate discussion of spiritual issues with clients (Canda & Furman, 1999; Derezotes & Evans, 1995; Joseph, 1988). Much of this hesitation is due to the lack of knowledge and skill in this area. Greater sensitivity to the concerns of the religious client has also been shown to be related to the social worker’s own spiritual awareness—the ability to integrate the personal, spiritual, and religious self with the professional self.Depending on the policies of individual organizations, Christians in social work now have the opportunity to truly minister to the whole person.
- So, what does all this mean for our day to day practice going forward? Let’s work together to develop some short do and do not lists….
- O.K. – No for some Do’s – what can we, should we do as Christians working in Social Welfare?
- Open floor for questions and discussion.
- Alright, to finish up, I’d like to give you a working model for your practice.A Christian social work model is, above all else, a Christ centred model. Unless everything we do is done with the deliberate intent of allowing Jesus to work through us, and in the process to give Him the glory, then the model becomes a sham and the word Christian should be dropped.The Christian social work model is an integrated model. It endeavours to put together the truths of psychology and of the Scriptures in a harmonious way. Psychological understanding, and biblical truths can, and do, go together.This model is only effective though, and will only continue to be effective and relevant if we recognise we have no answers in ourselves, and are dependent upon God for all we need to do the task; that we are committed to prayer, to a growing knowledge of the Word of God, to a growing knowledge of human behaviour and a willingness to learn from our mistakes.So let me close by giving you my rough draft of a Christ Centred Model for Social Work Practice….. Workers…