Using Sacred Rhetoric as a Tool of Resistance to Mass Incarceration

HomeButton.png The Preaching Lab Using Sacred Rhetoric as a Tool of Resistance to Mass Incarceration Imam Arshad Anwar Resident Imam Roswell Community Masjid Roswell, Georgia Rabbi Lydia Medwin Associate Rabbi The Temple Atlanta, Georgia Rev. Lisa M. Weaver, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Worship Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur, Georgia

HomeButton.png Introductions Rabbi Lydia Medwin Imam Arshad Anwar Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Weaver

HomeButton.png An Overview of the Sessions An Inventory of Contexts, Concerns, and Challenges Goals / Effects of Preaching on Mass Incarceration Words Matter: The Interfaith Picture Words Matter: The Sociological Picture Words Matter: The Theological Picture Developing and Strengthening Preaching on Mass Incarceration

HomeButton.png An Inventory of Contexts, Concerns, and Challenges How does mass incarceration intersect with your life? How often do you preach about mass incarceration? How often does your assembly hear about mass incarceration within your worshiping community? What concerns / challenges do you have about preaching on mass incarceration? In what ways do you / your assembly need to be prepared to preach / hear about mass incarceration?

HomeButton.png Goals / Effects of Preaching on Mass Incarceration Question: What should be our goal(s) in preaching about ending mass incarceration?

HomeButton.png Some Goals / Effects of Preaching on Mass Incarceration shifting individuals and communities (attitudes, biases, etc.) discipling individuals for the work of ending mass incarceration learners lovers doers of social justice awareness allies advocates helping members of our faith communities bring their prophetic fire (Michelle Alexander, 17 June 2019) pause ~ ponder ~ pray ~ proceed (repeat)

HomeButton.png Words Matter: The Interfaith Picture Synagogues, Churches, and Mosques We should be mindful of the language we choose to use. language particular to our own contexts language suitable for ecumenical contexts language suitable for interfaith contexts

HomeButton.png Words Matter: The Sociological Picture How we use language to frame the work Do we speak in terms of restorative retributive or transformative justice? Do we speak in terms of the individual or the community ? How do the metaphors we use in our sermons impede or foster the assembly s engagement and growth as allies and advocates for ending mass incarceration? How does the theme of mass incarceration shift our lens and approach to the text?

HomeButton.png Words Matter: The Theological Picture Framing the Work as Holy Work Do we speak about justice work as a gospel imperative, a moral imperative, a juridical / social imperative, or a gospel imperative with moral, juridical, and social implications? How do we speak about forgiveness, healing, and restoration? Are these static or progressive? What do these look like? Who is the recipient of forgiveness? Healing? Restoration? Who does the forgiving? The healing? The restoring? What is / are the effect(s) of these? How to we attend to triggers? Re-injury?

HomeButton.png Developing and Strengthening Preaching on Mass Incarceration Preachers should consider developing and / or cultivating moral imagination exegetical skills trauma awareness conversation partners courage

HomeButton.png Developing and Strengthening Preaching on Mass Incarceration Shifting approaches to the text and the sermon theological anthropology (imago dei) and equality of all humanity eschatological deliverance versus / and abundant life systemic discomfort and personal dis-ease present narrative from the perspectives of different characters in the text lift up the tensions in the characters and in the narrative

HomeButton.png Developing and Strengthening Preaching on Mass Incarceration Shifting approaches to the text and the sermon (continued) move (stretch?!) from the effects of the text / sermon to the implications of text / sermon appeal to the assembly s conscience (individually and collectively) give a CTA ( call to action ) to the assembly

HomeButton.png Developing & Strengthening Communities Through Preaching on Mass Incarceration Considerations for supporting and reinforcing preaching on ending mass incarceration. the part and the whole: preaching in the context of the liturgy / worship (prayers, confessions, music, litanies, responsive readings, rituals, environment) frequency of the theme liturgical elements that support themes of forgiveness, redemption, healing, restoration worship the world worship the world (repeat)

HomeButton.png What & How Shall We Preach? Preaching on Ending of Mass Incarceration through the use of Sacred Texts select a text that you would use to preach on mass incarceration bullet the points you would make about mass incarceration using that text present to your group other members was the text well exegeted? what other points could be raised? what slippery slopes / blind spots does the text create?

HomeButton.png A Starter List of Resources Handout Additional Preaching, Text and Liturgical Resources on Ending Mass Incarceration

HomeButton.png Thank you.