CHICAGO, IL (October 4, 2013) – The new video curriculum “Love Mercy, Do Justice: Responding Faithfully to God’s Call” is designed to help people take action and not just think about justice, says Bruce Lawson, who oversaw the project from its inception last November.
The curriculum includes a study guide and is intended for small groups, ministry teams, and individuals to dig deeper into the Scriptures as well as the 2011 Covenant resource paper: “The Covenant Church and the Ministry of Compassion, Mercy, and Justice.”
“I think it is important for everyone in the church, but I would especially like church mission committees to go through it as they consider their church’s ministry,” Lawson says.
Doreen Olson, executive minister of Christian formation, emphasizes the importance of the subject. “Doing justice is not peripheral to being a Christian. It is one of central aspects of our faith.”
The curriculum is a combined effort of the denomination’s departments of Christian Formation; Compassion, Mercy, and Justice; Communications; and North Park University and Theological Seminary. It is available as a free download.
The project started as an initial suggestion by Boaz Johnson, professor of biblical and theological studies at the university, that study material related to the resolution be included in the Covenant Companion.
The idea grew exponentially to include multiple faculty from the university and seminary, as well as other denominational leaders and local pastors. Debbie Blue, executive minister of compassion, mercy, and justice, says the project was enhanced by the involvement of so many people across different disciplines.
The curriculum is set up for four sessions, but the introduction includes suggestions on how it might be used in eight.
The first session, “A Covenant Perspective,” includes a conversation between Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, associate professor of theology and ethics at the seminary, and Harold Spooner, president of Covenant Initiatives for Care.
Session two, “Framework – An Old Testament Perspective,” includes Bob Hubbard, professor emeritus of Old Testament at the seminary, and Johnson.
Session three, “Fulfillment – A New Testament Perspective,” features a conversation between Soong-Chan Rah, seminary associate professor of church growth and evangelism, and Klyne Snodgrass, seminary professor of biblical literature.
Session four is titled “Faithful Response – A New Perspective,” and features Pastor Alex Gee and Jerome Dillard of Fountain of Life Ministries in Madison, Wisconsin, and Pastor Allan Serrano of Iglesia Evangelica Misionera in LaVilla, Texas.
