Do Justice

This community in Philadelphia, while full of families and individuals working hard to make ends meet, is taking action in their own backyards to address climate change.  In this bonus podcast episode hear from film maker Nathan Roels and local climate organizer Allen Drew about how this storytelling project came together.  And be inspired to see how you can take action for creation in your own backyard.

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The best job description according to Roy Berkenbosch is “whatever the day needs.” In his life this has meant jobs in both bricklaying and Bangladesh. In the episode Roy shares stories from his development work with World Renew and his experience at King’s University with the Micah Centre.

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John Lamsma has spent over 25 years in prison…ministry. He shares how pastoral care can ease the pain of incarceration, the origins of restorative justice as a focus in the CRCNA and the importance of affirming the image of God in every person, always.

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Jenny Yang has been on the long journey advocating for just immigration policy for over 15 years. As the Senior Vice President of Advocacy & Policy with World Relief she shares her experience speaking with Christians about immigration reform, talking with her kids about race, and how a speaking opportunity in Amish country led to mutual mind changing.

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John Klein-Geltink is a long term coach for deacons and passionate foodie—as in food banks. In his work with Operation Sharing in Woodstock Ontario John has helped switch from food donations to food gift cards. This approach gives more agency to people involved and John talks about how he can see the fruit of this change from his long involvement.

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Rev Dr Ben Lowe wrote the book on doing good without giving up. (Literally.) He works as Deputy Executive Director of A Rocha International. Ben shares the practices that sustain his work and an inspiring example of grassroots Christian communities in Ghana uniting to protect creation. Ben gives encouragement for those feeling climate anxiety and how to join the work God is already doing.

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Jonathan Nicolai-deKoning (is the director of the Micah Centre at King’s University, which helps students explore ways of seeking justice in today's local and global contexts. He joins Chris to talk about the lines of thought in two of his recent blogs on Do Justice which lent inspiration to the theme of this season.

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Joyce and Katie join us again to talk about what shaping worship justly has looked like in their contexts as well as practical suggestions for ways worship leaders can shape justice and worship in their own congregations.

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September 30th 2022 is the second time Canada will mark a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. It coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots commemoration marked by the wearing of Orange Shirts for children forced to leave their families and attend residential schools.

This reflection is designed to take approximately half an hour and we recommend that you take space to listen and reflect.  You will be guided through the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about education with prayer and reflection prompts.   Engage in this podcast in the way that allows you to fully immerse yourself in this material: find time in the day when you can walk in solitude and listen, or enjoy a beautiful drive while you reflect. Curl up in your favourite chair to draw and journal while you connect with this podcast.

Claudio Carvalhaes has sat at tables with people around the world, listening to their communal expressions of joy, lament, and doubt in worship.  From these experiences he shares ways to lead worship in solidarity with communities experiencing suffering. Claudio is the author of “Liturgies from Below” and he has a PhD. in Liturgy and Theology.

Show Notes:

Jacqui Mignault is one of the writers behind weekly Do Justice prayers. As a pastor, she talks about what it’s like to practice bringing current events before God.  If you’ve ever wondered how to acknowledge current events in worship, this is the episode for you.

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Songs about the end of the world and stuff.  [Actually] we have a great conversation about ways churches in North America can think about their relationship with creation in a new way through the music offered in the Climate Vigil Album created with The Porters Gate.

Climate change can feel heavy and dark. The Climate Vigil is a project to bring prayer and light to the topic. Global participants met during COP21 in Glasgow to sing and pray for creation.  Isaac Wardell and Peter Fargo are guests.

Show Notes:

In 1995, Jonathan Maracle, a Mohawk from Tyendinaga Territory in Ontario, Canada, decided not to sing Amazing Grace at the Sacred Assembly in Ottawa, as he had been asked. What he didn’t know was that listening to the Spirit in that moment would inspire a band and ministry that would shape the rest of his life [and the church.]

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We welcome Dr. Kenny Wallace to the show.  Kenny is an African American Choctaw Pawnee from the United States living in Canada. He teaches nationally and internationally about multi-ethnic worship with his organization Kingdom Reflections Multi-Ethnic Worship Ministries and today he unpacks with us how multi-ethnic worship can shape our spiritual imaginations.

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It’s a party! The Do Justice podcast has new partners and friends. Joyce Borger and Katie Roelofs with CRCNA Worship Ministries join us to set up the focus for this season: how worship can orient our hearts toward justice.

P.S.  Throughout this season you may hear our producers names' Megan and Victoria come up.  They're on each call to make sure that the sound quality etc. is great for your listening ears.  

Show Notes:

In the final episode of Season 4, Edgar Aguilar, senior researcher with La Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa, or the Association for a More Just Society in Honduras joins us. Edgar shares how organizations and communities advocating for Covid-19 vaccine equity have resulted in increased vaccination rates in Honduras. Chris and Edgar also talk about running—(Edgar likes running to be present in the moment; Chris likes running to the fridge for pizza)—and how work toward increased integrity in the energy sector can help meet both immediate and long-term needs for people in Honduras.

(Note for our English-speaking listeners: the abbreviation “ASJ” is pronounced “a” (ah) - “s” (EH-say) - “j” (HOH-ta) in Spanish.)

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Dena Nicolai, chaplain and refugee support mobilizer with the Christian Reformed Churches of British Columbia, shares the simple starting place for much of her engagement with people who have been refugees: joining them for a cup of coffee and saying “tell me how you’re doing.” Dena and Chris also talk about the ministry of sharing in lament, the importance of advocating ‘with’ and rather than ‘for’, and how the advocacy of faith communities and sponsors alongside newcomers changed government policy to provide a more “full” welcome for refugees in Canada.

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In this episode, Kyle Meyaard-Schapp, vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) shares how he got involved in climate advocacy as a Christian - including the middle-school humor nickname for the lake near the town where he grew up! Kyle and Chris also talk about lament as a necessary component of hope, how to encourage folks wherever they are on their justice journeys, and taking the long view when it comes to bringing about change.

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Julia Beazley, Director of Public Policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, tells the story of the survivors, church communities, and policy makers who advocated to instate Bill C-36 into law. Chris and Julia also talk about the responsibility to stop treating people in vulnerable circumstances like the problem and address the systemic problems that make people vulnerable.

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You don’t have to be a history geek to appreciate the vintage vibes in this episode! Susan VanLopik, Director of Program Excellence with World Renew joins Chris Orme to look at the broad overview of how (and how long) the CRCNA has been involved in working toward justice throughout its history. Chris and Susan talk about words from a 1973 report to Synod that still pack a punch today and Susan shares the powerful stories that inspire her (and all of us) to keep working toward justice for the long haul. (Sadly, we never get the details about Susan’s finger tattoos. Maybe next time.)

Show Notes:

Our colleague Cindy Stover joins Chris Orme to geek out about the word “shalom” and set the groundwork for our next season exploring the intersections of charity and advocacy.

This advent join us for a conversation with Shane Claiborne on peacemaking.  Shane reflects in dialogue with hosts on what Jesus did with contextual connection to us and Shane shares some of his own stories on discomfort, direct action and being people of presence.  The talk was originally given Northern Alberta Diaconal Conference's Day of Encouragement.  

We're busy working on our next season so make sure you're subscribed.  And as you know leaving a review can help us to reach new audiences.  

September 30th 2021 marks the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.  It coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots commemoration marked by the wearing of Orange Shirts for children forced to leave their families and attend residential schools.

This reflection is designed to take approximately an hour and we recommend that you take space to listen and reflect.  You will be guided through three calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with prayer and reflection prompts.   Engage in this podcast in the way that allows you to fully immerse yourself in this material: find time in the day when you can walk in solitude and listen, or enjoy a beautiful drive while you reflect. Curl up in your favourite chair to draw and journal while you connect with this podcast.

Follow along in the written version at this link.  The reflection questions are also written there. 

In this episode, Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat shares the theological underpinnings that inspire the sustainable efforts and regenerative agriculture practices at Russet House Farm. She and Chris also discuss worshipping outside, eating locally, times of Sabbath and Jubilee, and caring for creation as we long for God’s ultimate goodness for our world and our neighbours.

Show Notes: (Links)

This episode two guests--Leah Gazan, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre and Steve Heinrichs, Director of Indigenous-Settler Relations of Mennonite Church Canada-- join host Chris Orme. Leah and Steve share the story of how they connected, where their work both overlaps and is unique to their respective identities as indigenous and white settler, and ways folks can participate in enacting the resolutions established in the passing of United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

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In this episode David Bailey, executive director of Arrabon, joins Chris Orme to talk about music, building cultural imagination toward reconciliation, and how to move from being a diverse church to being a reconciling church.

Writer, teacher, and mother Lisa Van Engen joins us for this conversation on engaging kids in seeking justice. Lisa and Chris talk about how and when to talk with kids about justice, including the reality that many who are impacted don’t have the privilege of deciding ‘when.’ Lisa also shares stories about questions around racism and injustice that her students and children have raised, how they’ve talked together about issues that impact their neighbors and friends, and what kids can do to advocate.

Show Notes: 

In this episode, Chris asks Dennae how she’s seen the multi-ethnic churches she’s involved with respond in a season of spotlighted violence. They also reflect on a collection of prayers Dennae wrote in response, Healing Prayers and Meditations to Resist a Violent World, and how to keep moving intentionally toward God’s kingdom when it’s long and hard work.

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Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, joins our host Chris Orme for the first episode of Season 3. Mae and Chris discuss different forms of advocacy, as well the spiritual formation that takes place through advocacy.

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Rev. Nick Coates joins our hosts to discuss the topic of peace.  Coates is a minister in Calgary Alberta.  He says, “My joy in life is helping people discover what it means to be human and alive in this world. That’s what I think Jesus is all about.”  We can't think of a better time than advent to share this episode with you.

Here are the links referenced in this episode: 

Julian Maturia and Cindy Stover join hosts Chris Orme and Vanessa Alvarez to discuss gender based violence.  What is our role as Christians, as church communities, as development and advocacy agencies in responding to this issue? 

Note: This episode references female genital mutilation and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

The Climate Witness Project is a joint effort between World Renew and the Office of Social Justice.  In this episode justice mobilization specialist Andrew Oppong says this on climate change, "Beyond caring for the earth there is such an intimate connection to caring for your neighbour, which is tied into our big commandment ".  Explore this idea with him and hosts Chris Orme and Vanessa Alvarez.

What does it look like to bring creativity and the arts to racial justice?  Guests Cheryl Nembhard and Drew Brown discuss racism, hope, and responding to our times.  Hosts Chris Orme and Vanessa Alverez dig in with these guests to explore lament and the guest's creative processes.

Ken Kim World Renew's Director of Disaster Response joins hosts Chris Orme and Vanessa Alvarez.  Kim discusses why responding to disasters is so important and reflects on the work being done in the aftermath of the Beirut explosion.

Hosts Chris Orme and Vanessa Alvarez talk with immigration mobilizer Jason Lief about immigration in the United States.  Lief is a professor at Northwestern College in practical theology.   In this conversation the three speakers discuss their connections to immigration and a Christian approach to immigration.