Core Value – Commitment to those Who are Poor

Train-the-Trainer Webinar

Presented by members of the Mission Integration team

April, 2014

The Poor of God

Anawim Dispossessed Outcast “Bent ones” Humble Not just materially poor

Widows, orphans, aliens…but also tax collectors and sinnersSpecial trust in God“Faithful Remnant”

Widow of Nain (Luke 7: 11-17)“moved with pity for her…”

Suffering unequal treatment & injustices• Give your cloak to the poor; Pay wages Deut 24:10-15 • Those who mock the poor insult their Maker (Prov 17:5)

Do not rob the poor or crush the afflicted; the Lord pleads their cause (Prov 22:22-23)

Worthy of respect & special provisions• Leaving fruits in the fields for the poor Lev 19:9-10; 23:22 • Permission to eat freely from the fields Exod 23:11• “The Lord hears the cry of the poor” (Ps 34

Scriptural Roots – Hebrew Scriptures

Jesus born poor Luke’s Sermon on the Mount (Lk 6:20-23)

• Blessed or “Happy” are you who are poor, hungry, weeping, and excluded”

• Matt 5:3-12 – poor in spirit, meek, thirsting for righteousness, peacemakers, persecuted

Discipleship – leaving behind possessions / identification with the poor • Call & Mission of the Twelve (Mt 10:1-15; Mk 6:8-11; Lk 9:2-5)

• Rich Young Man (Mt 19:16-30; Mk 10:17-31; Lk 18:18-30)

• St. Paul• They were pleased to share their resources with the poor. (Rom 15:26)

Scriptural Roots – New Testament

Theological Background

Commitment to those Who are

Poor

We stand with and serve those who are poor, especially those most vulnerable.

o Hallmark of Catholic Health Careo The nature of suffering

Theological Background

Why this Commitment?

• Theological• Human Dignity• Social Justice

• Political• Keep peace• Only strong as weakest link

• American/Secular values• Equal opportunity

Theological Background

We stand with and serve those who are poor, especially those most vulnerable.

Stand With

• Solidarity• Be with’ – ‘walk with’• God became human, in the form of a servant,

and walked among us• More than charity, compassion

Theological Background

We stand with and serve those who are poor, especially those most vulnerable.

Serve

• Meet needs of the whole person• Not necessarily agree with, or comply• Give a fish – teach how to fish (be wary of

paternalism)• Common good• Servant leadership

Theological Background

We stand with and serve those who are poor, especially those most vulnerable.

Poor

• Financial• Social• Spiritual• Psychological• Social• Health• Information

Theological Background

We stand with and serve those who are poor, especially those most vulnerable.

Especially those most vulnerable

• Human Dignity• Participation, Association• Voice

How I would like a church that is poor and that is for the poor.