“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
Isaiah 1: 17, Revised Standard Version
Social justice is the concept of fairness in relationships between individuals in society and equal access to wealth, opportunity and social privileges in society.
The five main principles of social justice are:
1. Access: society offers a variety of resources and services to individuals like healthcare, food, shelter, education, sport etc. However access to these resources and services are not always equal. For example, people with higher incomes are able to send their children to private school, pay for their children’s tertiary education fees, which then leads to a better chance of securing a higher paying job in the future. However, people with lower incomes have fewer opportunities which limits their access to education and continues the cycle of disadvantage.
2. Equity: is the allocation of resources specific to needs of the individual to ensure similar outcomes. This is in contrast to equality where everyone is offered the same resource to achieve the same outcome. Equal distribution of resources is often not equitable as some individuals have more needs than others. Social justice is overcoming unfairness caused by unequal access to economic resources and power.
3. Participation: is where everyone is able to voice their opinions and concerns and take part in decision-making that affects their life and wellbeing. If a small, select group of individuals are making decisions for a larger group, and others are unable to voice their opinions, that is social injustice. Societal barriers to participation, like discrimination due to race, gender, and sexual identity, need to be removed and historically undermined and discriminated groups encouraged to speak. It can mean providing resources so people can learn about issues and how to get involved or inviting advocates to speak for underrepresented groups.
4. Diversity: an understanding and appreciation of the value of cultural differences. This allows policy makers to design policy to take these differences into consideration and expand opportunities for marginalised and/or disadvantaged groups. Discrimination in employment on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, age etc are often seen in society and policies that counteract this is one way diversity is taken into consideration.
5. Human rights: and social justice are interrelated – they are two sides of the same coin. A just society ensures the protection of everyone’s civil, economic, political, cultural, and legal rights. These rights include the right to life, the right to free speech, the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, the right to work and education, the freedom and safety from harm etc. These rights are recognised internationally by the United Nations, protected by treaties, and governments must be held accountable if they violate these rights or fail to protect them.
The United Nations World Day of Social Justice is celebrated each year on February 20th. It is a day to reflect on issues of social justice in Aotearoa like poverty, social and economic exclusion, and unemployment.
Methodists have a long history in working for social justice. Early Methodists lobbied for the abolition of slavery, and prison reform. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Methodist Church recommended that its members give serious consideration to pacifism between the two world wars.[1] Many Methodists were conscientious objectors and were imprisoned or placed in detention for the duration of the war.
In 1940, with a background of centenary celebrations of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Conference expressed concerns about how the terms of the treaty had been violated.[2] Conference passed a resolution addressed to the Government that raised concerns that the tribes from the Waikato, King Country and Taranaki were not fully represented and called for a full enquiry to be held into Māori grievances.[3] Conference explained the basis for speaking up as being the fact that Methodist missionaries had advised Māori Chiefs to accept and sign the Treaty and assured them that it would stand for all time and be honoured.[4]
Methodists were involved in the activities to stop the 1981 Springbok rugby tour. The leaders of the Methodist church, along with other church leaders, encouraged their members to protest against apartheid but to keep all forms of protest within the limits of non-violence and to use passive resistance.[5] This aligned with the Methodist ethos of social justice.
The Methodist Law Book contains these social principles:[6]
Wise stewardship of God’s good creation.
The sacredness of human personality and the equal value of all men and women in the sight of God.
Employment and labour relationships based on fairness and dignity.
Communal and individual responsibility for the due care for those vulnerable in our society.
The opportunity for all to live well and with integrity.
The just and fair use of power, technology and strength.
The conviction that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ contains the message that will promote effectively the regeneration and reconstruction of society.
These social principles align well with the principles of social justice.
Members of the Methodist Alliance are working for social justice as they work with the most vulnerable and marginalised in our communities with services like food banks, youth housing, Housing First, etc. Our Working Group campaigning to increase benefit and abatement rates are lobbying for social justice for those who are surviving on benefits. We are telling the stories of people living in poverty, people who are faced with choices every day about what to spent their insufficient income on, and what to go without.
Everyone has a part to play in social justice. Here are some things you can do:
Contact your local Mission to see how you can support their work.
Adopt a politician – write to them monthly about a social justice issue like the housing crisis, income insecurity, food insecurity, etc.
Find an ActionStation campaign that speaks to your heart and read the report, sign the petition, or donate. https://actionstation.org.nz/campaigns
Join the Methodist Alliance working group that is campaigning to increase benefit and abatement rates.
Make a commitment to do something on Sunday 20th February – even if it is to sit and reflect on issues of social justice and pray for change. Perhaps you could “Stay and Pray” for social justice after you attend church on Sunday 20th.
If you would like more information about how you can support the Methodist Missions, or to join the campaign workgroup, please contact me.
Carol Barron, National Coordinator
03 375 0512 | 027 561 9164 | Carol@MethodistAlliance.org.nz
[1] Wesley Historical Society Publication #58 p52 [2] Healy, D, Listening to the People of the Land, Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand, 2019, p117 [3] Ibid [4] Healy, D, Listening to the People of the Land, Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand, 2019, p118 [5] Wesley Historical Society Journal 1991-2 p38 [6] Law Book of the Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa Section 1.IV