Justice In Action

The mission of the Justice in Action Committee at Arvada United Methodist Church is to provide opportunities for our members to understand current societal challenges and live out their faith by advocating for communities and societies in which the value and dignity of every person is upheld and love for our neighbor is the guiding principle, consistent with the Social Principles adopted by the United Methodist Church and the mission and values of the Arvada United Methodist Church.

"We seek to live lovingly and justly as servants of Jesus Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being a compassionate presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel.” -United Methodist statement on mission and ministry

Each day in February you read a brief (500 words or fewer) essay about an African American hero. By only reading one essay a day, you can reflect on the environment that surrounded that person and how they responded. There are also suggested readings and videos with additional information.

You can practice the “Calendar Resistance Discipline" with a family member or a friend as you share reflections about Black history during the month of February. With the federal government attempting to remove Black history from school curriculum, historical sites, and more, It is an act of resistance to be intentional in learning and talking about Black history.

Below is an interactive online calendar, click on each day to download and read its article. We recommend bookmarking this webpage to easily find the calendar each day. If you have our AUMC app on your smart phone or tablet, you can also access the calendar right from the homepage by clicking the "Black History Month" image. Print copies of this calendar with QR code links to each day's article and resources are also available at the Welcome Center or click here to download and print at home.

If you would like to receive an email every day until the end of Black History month with a story of a Black American hero, please email Ken Bedell to be added to this mailing list.

The rise of White Christian Nationalism has been front and center in the news, and on January 18, AUMC hosted a presentation by Dr. Rebecca David Hensley on the topic that attracted 130 people. Participants discussed the definition of White Christian Nationalism, learned about how concepts such as Manifest Destiny and the Doctrine of Destiny perpetuated its ideals throughout the history of our country, and how research shows that people supporting White Christian Nationalism tend to prioritize order and freedom for themselves and may use hierarchy and violence to protect those values.

Dr. Hensley provided ideas for countering White Christian Nationalism and urged participants to deeply listen to people of color with humility as we engage in this work. At their tables, participants suggested an array of actions that individuals and the church could take. Stay tuned for more follow-up on this topic!

"And what is required of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?"
Get weekly updates of justice in action opportunities coming up at AUMC and in our community.