Enjoy this look back at the top Do Justice articles written in 2021 (ranked by top pageviews). It was a big year for us to be reading and praying about justice and you’ll see themes of this year in all of our top articles. It is our hope and prayer that these articles blessed you and moved you to new action.
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.
I’ve been thinking about Smith’s poem during these early months of 2021 as Canadians and Americans eagerly anticipate scheduling their COVID-19 vaccinations and permit themselves – however hesitantly - to imagine life after the pandemic.
An increase in migrants-especially unaccompanied minors- arriving at the border has many Americans concerned about the children’s welfare and their safe and orderly processing by immigration services. Today, we’ll (briefly) answer 4 major questions about what is happening at the southern border.
Protecting the lives of refugees are not only national values; they are Christian ones, as well. One of the beautiful things about the refugee resettlement programs in Canada and the United States is that they welcome the participation of faith based organizations in the implementation of refugee resettlement; indeed, they depend on people of faith to survive.
Inspired by these words and the recommendations from that report that CRC churches should continue cross-cultural dialogue, we are working towards a Hearts Exchanged reboot that will equip Reformed Christians to engage with Indigenous peoples in a good way. This is certainly not a new conversation, not in the year 2000, and not now in 2021.
In 2012, the advocacy organization Just Vision released a film where you can watch first hand what the encounters are like between settlers and Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarah. In a riveting short (less than 30 minutes) documentary film, My Neighborhood follows the story of Mohammed El Kurd, a Palestinian boy growing up in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
After watching, Amanda Gorman perform her Magnum opus poem at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, I thought about what I was missing in a world consumed by racial unrest, a worldwide pandemic, and political strife. Gorman reminded me of things that brought Black joy in my life. "Black joy" are those small activities that resist giving in to the many racial challenges Black people face and building resilience to remain grateful and gracious. I need to draw from the deep wells of culture, history, and religion. These five triggers have helped me through tough times and renew my hope. These are a few of my favorite things to bring me Black Joy.
I invite you to read the passage from Dr. King, Jr’s sermon again. I invite you to ask yourself, whether you are an immigrant or an American citizen, identified as a racial minority or majority, are you living in compliance with this “peace” that tethers on compromising the dignities of God’s beloved creation? If so (because we all do), how do you plan on non-violently revolting against this “peace”?
June is known as Indigenous History Month across Canada, and the reality of that history has come into stark focus with the uncovering of 215 unmarked graves of Indigenous children on the grounds of the residential school near Kamloops, B.C.. For residential school survivors and their families this announcement is not a surprise, but it is another reminder of the trauma and horror of the schools.
Safi, Christians are often surprised to discover that Jesus’ story, at least part of it, is found in the Qur’an. They are even more surprised when they come to realize that the Qur’an speaks of the virgin birth and his miracles. Clearly, Jesus is significant to Muslims. I’m wondering if you can help my Christian friends who may know little of Muslim beliefs to understand the role that Jesus plays in Islam.
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