The Justice Matters Manifesto

Vision and Values

Members of this community will be characterised as individuals who are compelled to act in the face of injustice. The issues and causes about which we are passionate may be varied but we all share a common purpose – to “learn to do right, seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless [and] plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17).

In addition, the community will manifest the following values:

• Unashamedly Christian, accessible to all
• A welcoming place to meet like-minded people
• Engendering a culture of generosity – with our time, money and energy
• Driven by love for people not projects or politics
• Respect and support for an individual’s ability to be the change they want to see
• Members looking out for each other’s wellbeing.

Our community rhythm
Leading on from that vision, our gatherings will be flavoured by one of the following five themes:

• Seek: Rolling up our sleeves and making a practical difference
• Learn: Training, guest speakers and discussion
• Encourage: Sharing stories and experiences
• Defend: Advocacy, campaigning and lobbying
• Plead: Prayer, petition and intercession

What we’ll do

• Equip existing activists – including practical skills, learning about issues and exploring the spiritual foundations of justice
• Undertake practical expressions of justice as individuals and as a community – for example volunteering, going on a march, filling in postcards; we may occasionally send out members (individually or as teams) to undertake larger projects
• Network newcomers to develop real relationships that exist beyond the confines of the meetings
• Highlight opportunities for getting involved to help members who don’t know where to start
• Pray for the world, our country, our community and each other
• Champion social justice within the congregation of St Barnabas Church, Finchley and beyond
• Eat together

Members agree to

• Meeting as a full community regularly in a neutral public setting (Coffee Republic)
• Making a practical difference once a month (ie. volunteering / working in third sector)
• Supporting other members by attending or providing practical help for one-off events
• In addition, established members agree to take on some leadership functions (e.g. arriving early to welcome, organising an event about a specific passion, arranging a social, setting up and packing away, attending occasional planning meetings).