Social Justice Ministry
Saint Barnabas's has created a Social Justice Ministry. The need for this ministry was identified in discussions by parish participants of the Sacred Ground Workshops—the film-based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith, held at Saint Barnabas's and The Church of the Messiah in Woods Hole. Many participants felt the need to apply the teachings of Jesus to social problems, including racism, economic inequity, poverty, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia.
This ministry has formed to seeks ways to work for justice in our parish community, the local community, and in the nation and world beyond our parish borders. All parishioners are welcome and encouraged to attend, as well as members of the community looking to address social injustices from a faith-based approach.
The Social Justice Committee aims to:
· Educating ourselves on Christ’s teachings on social justice
· Educating ourselves on issues of social injustices
· Share our concerns with other members of the parish
· Have Social Justice be a central part of St. Barnabas’s mission
· Build within Saint Barnabas's a community that is welcoming and inclusive
· Collaborate with and support social justice initiatives organized by others in our community
· Identify projects and/or programs that we are able to build that will promote social justice
IMMIGRATION
A Call for Help for Our Immigrant Community
Note: The next Social Justice Ministry meeting will be Wednesday, December 17, 6-7pm in the Parish House.
As Christians, we follow Jesus and the Biblical mandates and examples: “You shall not oppress the stranger for you know the heart of the stranger, having been strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9) and the words of Jesus, "for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in" (Matthew 25:35). And as Episcopalians, our Baptismal Covenant implores us to commit to "seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves" and "striving for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human being," including by "welcoming the stranger."
(Source: Book of Common Prayer, Baptismal Covenant)— From the Convention Packet pages of the Diocese of Massachusetts Convention
The Social Justice Committee is encouraging parishioners to phone or email your local state legislators and senators, asking them to SUPPORT three bills aimed to protect the rights of our immigrant community. They are Dignity Not Deportation (H.1588/S.1122 ); The Immigrant Defense Fund (H.1954/S.1127 ); and The Safe Communities Act (H.2580/S1681). These bills are being discussed currently in legislative committees.
There is also another bill, Act Supporting and Honoring ICE Detainments (Shield Act) (S.1096/H.2009), that would force local law enforcement to comply with ICE. We are asking our legislators to OPPOSE this bill.
This linked document
is a phone/email script that one might find helpful, as well as the phone numbers and email addresses of our local state representatives and state senators. A link to the contents of each bill is included as well.
* The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Judiciary is a joint committee of the Massachusetts General Court responsible for considering all matters related to crimes, penalties, the judiciary, and other legal and civil issues composed of both state senators and representatives from the state legislature.
** The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security is a standing committee of the Massachusetts General CourtMassachusetts General Court that considers legislation and matters related to public safety, homeland security, firearms, motor vehicle laws, and the correction system. It is composed of both state senators and representatives.
DRUM MAJORS FUND
The Vestry of Saint Barnabas's Episcopal Church has established The Drum Majors Fund for Justice: A Prophetic Preaching Series in tribute to the Rev. W. (Will) H. Mebane, Jr. who concluded his ministry at StB’s on September 1, 2025.
The Drum Majors Fund is a fund to be used to invite guest preachers to Saint Barnabas's in future years. It is intended, to host “preachers with a prophetic message of justice and peace” focusing on issues “concerning race, gender, sexual orientation, the environment and other causes.”