A Reflection on Ecumenical Advocacy Days
By Claudia AguilarI was born and raised in a time and place where people’s claims for justice were more like loud cries, but no one would listen to them and nothing would change. The voices of millions were silenced with money, censorship, or guns. These cries demanded justice not only for internal affairs, but also for international politics and the role of developing countries in history: Latin America has been the victim of oppression by hegemonic powers since her birth. We would cry out and our voices would be silenced. My trust in the power of our voice as a people and my voice as a citizen was lost.
When I moved to the United States to go to seminary, I was expecting apathy from citizens who were too comfortable with their privilege to care about those without it. Sadly, that was often the case even among the future leaders of the Church. But this weekend, Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) proved me wrong: seeing almost a thousand people of faith claiming justice through their worship, knowledge, actions, and their whole lives, was one of the most redeeming experiences I have ever had. It healed the part of me that was angry at the apathy, the contentment with the status quo, and the hypocrisy of a society that, since its foundation, has considered true and inalienable the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The fast that was sought at EAD was a lifelong fast, a commitment to the shalom that will allow life in all creation to flourish. Everywhere, people were asking, “Is this the fast I seek?” Everywhere, people were pledging to ask that question every day of their lives. EAD gave the silent voices of millions a clear sound, loud as a trumpet. Praise be to God.
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ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY DAYS
EAD is an annual three-day training event on justice and political advocacy. It interactively prepares people to go back into their community to be informed and active advocates for justice.
In this era of economic and political urgency, as critical decisions are being made about U.S. federal budget priorities and as national elections are fast approaching, 2012 Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) asked, “Is This the Fast I Seek?”
The 10th annual EAD took place on March 23–26, 2012, in Washington, D.C., where almost a thousand Christians explored economy, livelihood, and our national priorities through the lens of Isaiah 58. They came together seeking a global economy and a national budget that break the yokes of injustice, poverty, hunger, and unemployment throughout the world—heeding Isaiah’s call to become “repairers of the breach and restorers of streets to live in.”
Speakers included Dr. Margaret Aymer, Dr. Gary Dorrien, Ellen Nissenbaum, and Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, II.
The training concluded with the thousand Christians gathered convening on the Washington, D.C., to advocate for a Faithful Budget. Read more about that action here.
You can go to EAD too! Check out the EAD website and save the date for the 2013 conference.
Claudia Aguilar was born and raised in Mexico City. In 2006, she moved to Decatur, GA, to attend Columbia Theological Seminary, where she earned her Master of Divinity. She is currently serving as Admissions Intern at Columbia Theological Seminary and works part-time at Mercy Community Church, a congregation that welcomes everyone but shows a preferential option for those living in the margins.