MLK philosophy of non-violence continues to be relevant

The philosophy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of non-violence, and it continues to be relevant today

Thirty-eight years have passed since King‘s tragic assassination in Memphis, Tenn. King, a third generation Baptist pastor, led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1957 until his death in 1968. His teaching, his public presence and his insightful writings remain at the foreground of the struggle for freedom in the United States.

Are King's comments about the contemporary church any less relevant now? "It [the church] is so often the arch supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church‘s silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are." This quotation comes from the letter he wrote from Birmingham Jail during the Montgomery bus boycott, which was one of 20 occasions in which he was arrested.

In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. On world peace, King said, "World peace through nonviolent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed, Thus we must begin anew. Nonviolence is a good starting point. Those of us who believe in this method can be voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion. We can very well set a mood of peace out of which a system of peace can be built."

Many books have been written about King. Parting the Waters: America in the King years 1954-63 by Taylor Branch provides some excellent resources to study King and the many people who have written about him. A credible biography is Stephen B. Oates' Let the Trumpet Sound—A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. A handy single-volume source of King‘s writings, A Testament of Hope—The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., was edited by James M. Washington.

The life of Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated January 15, his birthday, which has been designated a U.S. national holiday. Among the local special events scheduled around the country, Darrell Haley, Disciples pastor of the new congregation, Jesus Is Lord Christian Church in Palmdale, Calif., will speak at 4 p.m. at United Christian Church in Los Angeles, Calif., January 14, 2007.

The Christian Education ministry of Disciples Home Missions, directed by the Rev. Billye P. Bridges, has a Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday packet available. It includes the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," a biographical timeline and a host of information about nonviolence. The packet is available as a downloadable PDF file from the DHM Web site or by calling Bill Culp at (888) 346-2631.

A "Money Autobiography?"

What is it and how do you write it?

As you do your annual planning to meet the financial goals of the church's budget, consider asking Church School classes or other small groups to write their "Money Autobiography" using these questions: (If group members are comfortable in sharing with one another, perhaps the answers could be discussed in the group.)

• What was the role of money in your childhood?
• What is your happiest memory in connection with money? The unhappiest?
• What attitudes did your mother and father have toward money?
• Did you feel poor or rich as a child?
• Did you worry about money?
• What was your attitude toward money as a teenager?
• What role did money play in your life as a young adult? As a parent? At age 45 or other ages?
• How do you feel about your present financial status? Why?
• What will your income be at age 65?
• Will you inherit money? Do you think about that?
• Do you spend money on yourself easily?
• Do you feel guilty about the money you have?
• Do you take risks with money? If you lacked money, how would you feel about others helping you pay your rent?
• If you have money, how would you feel about paying a friend's rent?
• Do you tithe? How do you feel about this?
• Have you made a will? Why or why not?

How to do children's ministry

First things first ... Congregational leaders must be proactive and do everything possible to assure that churches are welcoming and safe places for children. Evaluate buildings for physical safety. See that all child care providers and teachers are carefully screened and trained. Develop, adopt and follow a protection policy.

A comprehensive children's ministry includes ministry to children, makes room for the ministry gifts of children, and finds ways of entering into ministry with children.

To meet the challenge of ministry to children we advocate for them in every aspect of their lives. We understand that that no child is safe unless all children are safe; and our advocacy extends to the many children beyond our doorsteps. We are involved in community programs that nurture and support children and we stay in touch with legislators about issues affecting children. We work to provide the love, educational opportunities, care and protection that children need to thrive in God's unconditional love. We make sure parents and care givers are supported and that all of our children's programs—educational, spiritual, mission, music, fellowship are the safest and best quality possible.

To meet the challenge of the ministry of children we recognize that God did not intend for children to wait until adulthood to do ministry. As we know from the teachings of Jesus and from our own experiences children have much to share about the nature of God and God's Kingdom. Until their experiences teach them to be otherwise, they are generous, hopeful, and trusting people. We need to continually work on ourselves and our faith communities to stay open to what children have to offer, as children.

To meet the challenge of ministry with children we continually seek to open present situations that exclude children (for other than safety reasons) and search for new opportunities to be in ministry with them. We need to think of their needs and gifts as we plan for every aspect of congregational life from work days to Sunday morning worship.

The Masai people of eastern Africa greet each other with these words, "How are the children?" They understand that if children are well then the whole society is well. All priorities fall into their rightful places when our decision making, be it governmental, denominational, local church, or family, is based on what is best for children. Let us together pray that the needs and gifts of children are top priorities in every congregation so that the ways of God can be better understood and the Gospel lived out more fully in the wider world.

Consultations, workshops, training programs, and print resources to support every aspect of your congregation in the ministry to, of, and with children are available through the DHM Office of Family and Children's Ministries. Contact Kaye Edwards at kedwards@dhm.disciples.org or (888) 346-2631 for information.

First steps in developing a child friendly church

1. Take a "virtual tour" around your church grounds and through your church building- visualize your narthex, sanctuary, fellowship areas, church school classrooms, nurseries, outside recreational areas, restrooms, offices.  Take notice of inside and outside signage.  As you visually tour the building, ask yourself some questions, such as: In what ways does the physical environment of our building say to children, "Welcome, we are glad you are here."  Is our building a safe physical space for children?  What might be uninviting and unsafe for children?
2. Take a mental walk through your worship service(s).  Ask yourself, "In what ways does the worship of our church communicate a message of worth and inclusion to children?  Do children participate in worship leadership- ushering, scripture reading, singing in the choir, playing instruments, leading prayers and litanies?  Are they provided with appropriate worship helps such as children‘s bulletins?"
3. Take a mental walk through your church programs.  Ask yourself, "In what ways do the programs of our church communicate a message of worth and inclusion to children?" Think about church pot-luck dinners and other special events, church school programs, nurseries, committee work such as work days.  "Are children provided opportunities to participate in outreach?" 

For information on outreach opportunities: www.discipleshomemissions.org/FamilyandChildren/KidsToKids/index.htm.

Lenten Packets

It is important to connect the celebration of Lent and Easter that takes place in church with daily family life.  Resources are needed by families to help them reflect upon and celebrate these seasons at home.  One such resource is a Lenten packet.

These packets are large envelopes (9" X12"), containing a variety of activities and suggestions for families to use during the Lenten season.  On the outside of the envelope is information about the particular season, the reason for the packets and a list of its contents. The activities, ideas and suggestions in the envelopes are designed for a variety of ages within the family. The Lenten packets are distributed in church on the Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday. Below is a list of possible activities to include in such a packet.  Your church may think of others.

Lenten Packet

Daily scripture readings of a Gospel for the family. 

We suggest the Gospel of Mark (breaking it down into passages for each day for 40 days—remember that Sundays in Lent are counted as little Easters and are not part of the 40 days.

• Information about the tradition of, and a recipe for, baking pretzels;
• Ideas for a Lenten mission project, or a calendar for Lenten sacrifice;
• Ideas for Prayer;
• Seeds to plant;
• Craft sticks and yarn to make Lenten crosses;
• Crossword and word search puzzles for Lent;
• Suggestions for Lenten symbols for the family to include in a family worship center;
• Symbols for Lent to be used to make a family mobile or banner;
• Lenten liturgies for home use.

Adults Relating to Kids: for anyone with children in their lives

ARK is a unique parenting program that is based on the giving and receiving of unconditional love.  Anyone with children in their lives— church school teachers, youth leaders, pastors, nursery workers, grandparents, aunts and uncles—will find this program helpful.  There is both a Christian and a secular version of ARK.  The materials are available in Spanish and English. 

ARK Group Facilitators Training events are two days, usually Friday and Saturday.  Registration is $100 per person and includes lunches, light breakfasts, snacks, and a copy of the ARK participant book with facilitator notes. Please see the calendar for a list of upcoming ARK Group Facilitator Training Events.

You will find additional information about ARK Groups and on-line registration for the facilitator training events at:  www.discipleshomemissions.org/FamilyandChildren/ARK/index.htm.

Contact Kaye Edwards for printed copies of ARK Group Facilitator Training Brochures.