Bring Labor into Church and Church into Labor This Month

Every year, North Texas Jobs with Justice tries to help facilitate the "Labor in the Pulpit" program originated from the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. We ask churches to allow workers to stand up in church services during August, especially on the Sunday before Labor Day, and point out that all religions support justice for working people. We don't usually know how it works out, but this year we know that Reverend Bob Uzzel will feature workers' music at Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church, 1013 W Ennis Av, in Ennis TX 75119 on September 4th. Also that Reverend Ed Middleton will speak at Northaven Church in Dallas on September 6th.

Here's what he will talk about on Tuesday, September 6th, 7 p.m. Northaven United Methodist Church, 11211 Preston Rd. Dallas:

THE QUEST FOR WORKER’S RIGHTS AND THE SILENCE OF THE CHURCH

"The reasons for the church’s silence on worker’s justice are many and complicated. Some churches have significant endowments to protect, and clergy are dependant upon their retirement funds duly invested in an economic system that plays off workers against workers around the world. Then, too, some of our largest, if not proportionally generous, parishioners count on not being troubled by such matters on Sunday morning. They come to have their souls uplifted, not to hear the pastor meddle in politics.”—as taken from the presentation.

Ed MiddletonEd Middleton will be raising the question as to why Christians are willing to opt for the pragmatic narratives as set forth by economic theorists and media “talking heads” when ours is one of a God embodied society where justice is done, mercy given, and shalom experienced. He will be using the story, "Parker’s Back," written by the noted southern Roman Catholic writer, Flannery O’Connor, to explore part of this Christian narrative.

Reverend Middleton and other church leaders are expected to attend the Dallas AFL-CIO's Labor Day Breakfast on September 5th at 9 AM at the Infomart. He is a leader of the Workers Rights Board, which will present a special hearing "Taking action on the Jobs Crisis" at 10 AM on Saturday, September 3rd, at Judge Carlos Medrano's courtroom, 410 S Beckley in Oak Cliff.

Reverend Jann Aldredge-Clanton, another Workers Rights Board leader, is working on a related project to promote a "healthy workplace bill." See http://www.healthyworkplacebill.org/problem.php for more info.

Jobs with Justice always works to broaden the movement for workers' justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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