Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer proposed three roles that can help faith communities discern their next steps in the current Occupy movement.
The first is to do an analysis concerning whether or not the actions of the state are legitimate. For example, given the current economic crisis and the drive towards austerity that will increasingly crush the poor and cripple the middle class, the question to be asked is, "Where is the accountability toward those who committed massive fraud and financially bankrupted the nation? Who has been held responsible? Who has gone to jail?"
Another question is, who has benefitted from the crimes perpetuated? In doing such an analysis, the actions of the state might well prove to be illegitimate. The state might be determined a corrupter of culture, a predator endangering life and liberty of both human beings and creation itself. In such a condition the role of faith communities is to prophesize against the state. That is, to warn the state that unless there is repentance, its moral legitimacy is unsustainable.
The second role is to aid the victims of the state's illegitimacy. Examples of this include shelters and food banks found in churches, legislative advocacy for immigrants and the imprisoned, the faith-based organizing of aid, and pastoral care for returning veterans and their families. Indeed, an interfaith cluster of clergy is organizing to act as chaplains within the Occupy movement, and many faith communities are offering food and supplies.
The third role is to move beyond bandaging the victims crushed under the wheel, into jamming a spoke into the wheel itself. This is an extreme step whereby faith communities begin actions of noncooperation, compelling the state to repent.
On Nov. 28 and Dec. 3 all faith communities are invited into a conversation to help determine the moral legitimacy of our current political environment. In other words, what is the spiritual role of faith communities in the Occupy movement? In the events sweeping this nation, what ought to be the next steps of analysis, aid and action for faith communities?
At 7 p.m. Nov. 28, the University Temple United Methodist Church, at 1415 NE 43rd Street, will host a forum featuring a few folks involved with the Occupy encampment, and from Paul Loeb an author/activist who has studied social movements. There will be lots of follow-up time for conversation.
At 10 a.m. Dec. 3, another forum will be held at Plymouth United Church of Christ, at 1217 6th Ave. These forums are intended for faith communities so that after the forum each community can determine its own role in the Occupy movement. In this way we are respecting each community to live its own light, in its own way even as we respect the Occupy camp to do the same. We are all pieces of the puzzle.