Exploring God’s Justice: A

Wrap-Up of the February 25 DCBC Justice Forum

DCBC hosted its first Justice Forum on February 25 at the Baptist Building. Thirty eager and energized participants, ready to deeply engage with each other and to encounter God afresh, filled the ballroom. Thanks to the work of the Ministry Roundtable and a subgroup, led by Rev. Michelle Nickens, this event allowed those gathered to explore God’s justice. Through scriptural reflection, small group engagement, and large group participation, everyone was drawn into the experience. The group comprised young adults in their twenties and older adults in their eighties representing a variety of DCBC churches from the District, Maryland and Virginia Mission Roundtable member, Rev. Roi Ji Marip, and her niece and fellow church member, drove from Harrisonburg, Virginia — a little more than two hours — to attend. When everyone was sharing, Rev. Ji Marip shared her concern for her homeland of Myanmar/Burma and the lack of concern for justice from churches here in the United States.

Several approaches to doing justice were shared, including political protest and activism, preaching, teaching, direct service to the community and political advocacy. Participants were asked to respond to a few polls and their answers were recorded electronically to create a word cloud For example, the first question — What does your congregation look like? — generated the following word cloud:

And, the second question — What are the two most pressing justice issues to you? — generated:

Rev. Michelle Nickens led a Lectio Divina experience, inviting everyone to take some time to reflect on and hear scripture with new ears and eyes. A four-person panel

— Rev. Jevon Billups of Dominion Life Center, Rev. Dr. Adrien Ngudiankama of Salem Gospel Ministries, Rev. Ryan Phipps of Church In Bethesda and Rev. Nickens of

Washington Plaza Baptist Church — furthered the exploration of God’s justice and our role in it. They each reflected on an aspect of justice and the challenges to respond to the call of Micah 6:8: What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

Rev. Jevon Billups shared how “each of the dimensions of wellness connects with the other areas of justice…. Environmental justice, social justice, educational justice, financial or economic justice are all tied to mental health.” As an act of justice, he contends, “We must break the stigma and normalize these conversations (on and around mental health and wellness).” He challenged all of us to consider the language used in small groups, from the pulpit, on social media, in our communities and beyond, and to pay attention. There may be someone suffering in silence, and we can assist. We are all called to engage with mental health and wellness — including ourselves — as this is necessary for justice to be realized.

Rev. Dr. Adrien Ngudiankama asked everyone how many cell phones, laptops, etc., they have. He then shared that to produce these items, at least two children lose their lives per device in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Coltan, the mineral necessary for electronics, is mined in the DRC where war is ongoing. He asked us to think globally when considering God’s justice. “I own such items, and they are necessary for life today,” he confessed. However, he challenged us to think about justice for children, workers, creation and around the world. Global justice is not isolated and includes justice in our own communities. God’s justice calls us into all the world.

Rev. Ryan Phipps began his reflection by reading Acts 2:44-45 and 4:32-35. He testified that “the church he serves doesn’t look as much like the early church as it should.” He reiterated how the ecclesia (the church, the people) of the early church had everything in common, and there were no needy people among them. He explored this notion more thoroughly through a quote describing the early days of Christianity from the Roman Emperor Julian, who vehemently rejected Christianity. “The Galileans [Christians],” Emperor Julian said, “support not only their own poor but ours as well, and all men see that our people lack aid from us.” Rev. Phipps encouraged meeting the needs of the surrounding community outside our churches but challenged us to consider the needs within the church and follow the early model, for this is God’s justice.

Rev Nickens reflected on God’s justice as it pertains to gender-based and domestic violence and cited some alarming statistics. Domestic violence is pervasive in our society and societies around the world, and it impacts issues of patriarchy, the prison-industrial complex, poverty, child well-being, childcare, sexual abuse, immigration, homelessness and much more. Most likely, we are all touched by such injustice and must seek to be bearers of God’s justice in all areas of life.

In small groups, the story of Mark 5:1-20 was analyzed. Each group was assigned an individual character in the story and reported back to the larger group, sharing how they saw justice and liberation in the gospel narrative. Good conversation ensued and participants continued to be challenged, perhaps even convicted, before departing in prayer to go be about God’s justice in the world.

This forum is one of many steps in DCBC’s journey with justice. Most people present were moved to go deeper and look forward to future experiences. In fact, later this summer, Rev. Nickens will lead a book study stemming from this forum. More information on that to follow.

The Ministry Roundtable and subgroup invite anyone who is interested in exploring justice further to reach out to carry on the conversation. If your church is engaged in justice work, please let us know and share how other DCBC churches may join you!

This year’s Annual Gathering, October 26–28, will be exploring justice, so mark your calendars now and plan to join us!

Here are a few resources cited during the forum:

• Practicing Resurrection by Janet Wolf

• The Politics of Jesus by Obrey Hendricks

• The Poverty & Justice Bible (ABS)

• We Are Called to Be a Movement by William Barber

• “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr.

• Engaging the Powers by Walter Wink