2007 PARKTON
The 2007 Word and World school was named the Economic Justice and Prophetic Witness School. It was a three-day Christian Movement Building Institute that took place at Rockfish Retreat Center in Parkton, North Carolina.
The School was organized by the Southern Faith, Labor, & Community Alliance and Word & World.
“It was our view that a creative, deeply anchored coalition of faith, labor and the community needed to be forged, especially in the south,” said Rev. Johnson. “In such a coalition, the rootedness, love and persistence of faith must be merged with the urgency, energy and practical needs of workers and labor.
“We needed an experience that would bring together faith and labor in a creative and positive way,” said Rev. Johnson.
The Economic Justice and Prophetic Witness School was just such an experience. Over eighty faith, labor and community leaders participated in the Economic Justice and Prophetic Witness School, which was anchored in worship, Bible study, courses focused on social analysis, movement history, and strategic action. The School incorporated a wide diversity of denominational traditions, backgrounds, work histories, ages, and ethnicities.
Components:
- Parkton Courses and Faculty
- Parkton Site Visits and Plenary Sessions
- Prayer and Worship
- Music, Poetry, and Celebration
- Parkton Circle of Support
- Participant Comments
PARKTON COURSES AND FACULTY
Following is a list of the Parkton Word and World faculty and classes offered:
Morning Bible Studies
Morning Bible Studies
The Quest for Beloved Community: Marilyn Baird, Nelson Johnson and Z. Holler
Sabbath Economics: Ched Myers
From Slavery to Humanity: Exodus Then and Now: Jocleen McCall and Steve Taylor
Hebrew Prophets and Economic Justice: Why do you
grind the face of the poor?: John Mendez and Bill Wylie-Kellermann
Mustard Seeds and Miracles: The Parables of Jesus: Tyrone Greenlee and Joyce Hollyday
Farm Workers and the Bible: Alex Jones and Leigh Edwards
Afternoon Courses
A History of Worker Justice Struggles inNorth Carolina: Jim Wrenn
Environmental Justice and Low-income Communities: Margie Ellison and Naeema Muhammad
Truth and Reconciliation: Local, State, Region, Nation: Cynthia Brown, Nelson Johnson, Jill Williams
Transformational Change: Working the Intersection(s) of Multiple Identities/Movements to End Oppression: M. Carmen Lane
Exposure Tour to Local Labor Camps/Fields: Leticia Zavala, Baldemar Velasquez and Alex Jones
PARKTON SITE VISITS AND PLENARY SESSIONS
Tar Heel
In the sweltering heat of a summer day in Tar Heel, North Carolina, representatives of faith, labor, and community groups gathered outside the world’s largest hog slaughtering plant to bear witness to the pain suffered by workers who have been injured and abused in unsafe working conditions, necessitated by a bloody bottom line. Rev. Nelson Johnson, co-founder of the Southern Faith, Labor, & Community Alliance and Word & World board member, and Rev. Dr. William Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP, led a rally and prayer service in which both current and former workers at Smithfield Packing shared their stories of pain and abuse. Elsa Garza, a former worker and school participant present at the rally, was told by management that she had to choose between her job and her family when she had taken too many days off to care for a sick daughter. “I am here because I want justice,” she said, speaking through a translator. “Justice for myself and for my co-workers.”
Speaking Truth, Building Movements:
The first plenary Tuesday evening gave school participants the opportunity to hear from three local movement leaders. Mauricio Castro shared of his journey out of the war-torn country of El Salvador to continue his work of seeking justice in the United States. Joyce Johnson followed by testifying to God’s ability to “make a way out of no way” as she moved through the civil rights movement, the black liberation
struggle, and into the movement for Beloved Community. Gary Locklear closed out the evening by telling of the Lumbee Indians’ struggle
for recognition and justice.
Migrant Worker Organizing in the Carolinas:
Marisol Jimenez McGee, advocacy director for El Pueblo, framed this plenary discussion with the push and pull of global economic forces. “Blaming an immigrant for migrating is like blaming an apple for falling from a tree.” Thus, she said, globalization, like gravity, is the force behind the movement of immigration. Baldemar Velasquez followed Jimenez McGee by sharing about his own experiences working in the fields of Indiana and Ohio during his early years. Now the president of a growing union representing migrant workers across the United States, he has set his sights on North Carolina as the location of FLOC’s next struggle. Cynthia Brown followed by sharing the struggle to build strategic alliances among people of color in Durham. And Rev. John Mendez closed with a powerful statement about the common struggle to connect movements for justice.
Justice at Smithfield:
In preparation for the action at Smithfield Packing Plant, a powerful plenary was held highlighting the stories of suffering of workers. Elsa Garza shared her experience of being told she must choose between caring for her sick daughter and keeping her job. Anne Thomas shared of the harassment she faced at the workplace and the unsafe conditions. Rev. William Barber closed out the session with a call to action stating his intention to lead a delegation to speak truth to power, to confront Smithfield management. Closing the School, a worship service was held giving participants the opportunity to testify to the impact of the School on their life and work. Rev. Nelson Johnson shared powerfully from Acts 3, calling school participants to be mindful of who is at the gate.
Farm Exposure Tour
A reflection by student activist J. Lamar Gibson
On Wednesday, about 15 people went to two nearby labor camps where migrant workers pick the food that we purchase from
the grocery store. We were able to see firsthand the deplorable conditions under which these men lived, and I personally found a
new appreciation for the vegetables that find their way to my kitchen table. The group had the opportunity to share a meal and
to interact with the workers. Although I was saddened to see the state that these men were in, I left glad to know that I could begin
to help in the efforts to improve their living conditions.
Also during the School, I participated in a Bible study in which we discussed Exodus and its relevance to today. We were
shown how the issues faced by the Israelites are parallel to those faced by some on the margins of our society. Migrant workers are
in a place where they plant and pick the crops for minimum wages and sometimes less. These crops are sold at affordable prices to consumers in various stores across the nation, and not one thought is given to the people who work the fields from where these crops come. In the Bible study, we were asked to consider the question: who are the Pharaohs of our time? A few people in the group found it difficult to accept that we as consumers are actually the Pharaohs. We benefit from the labor of the oppressed while doing nothing to help better their conditions. Being in the Bible study and then going out to witness the exact situation we had just discussed was a powerful learning experience.
In the sweltering heat of a summer day in Tar Heel, North Carolina, representatives of faith, labor, and community groups gathered outside the world’s largest hog slaughtering plant to bear witness to the pain suffered by workers who have been injured and abused in unsafe working conditions, necessitated by a bloody bottom line. Rev. Nelson Johnson, co-founder of the Southern Faith, Labor, & Community Alliance and Word & World board member, and Rev. Dr. William Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP, led a rally and prayer service in which both current and former workers at Smithfield Packing shared their stories of pain and abuse. Elsa Garza, a former worker and school participant present at the rally, was told by management that she had to choose between her job and her family when she had taken too many days off to care for a sick daughter. “I am here because I want justice,” she said, speaking through a translator. “Justice for myself and for my co-workers.”
Speaking Truth, Building Movements:
The first plenary Tuesday evening gave school participants the opportunity to hear from three local movement leaders. Mauricio Castro shared of his journey out of the war-torn country of El Salvador to continue his work of seeking justice in the United States. Joyce Johnson followed by testifying to God’s ability to “make a way out of no way” as she moved through the civil rights movement, the black liberation
struggle, and into the movement for Beloved Community. Gary Locklear closed out the evening by telling of the Lumbee Indians’ struggle
for recognition and justice.
Migrant Worker Organizing in the Carolinas:
Marisol Jimenez McGee, advocacy director for El Pueblo, framed this plenary discussion with the push and pull of global economic forces. “Blaming an immigrant for migrating is like blaming an apple for falling from a tree.” Thus, she said, globalization, like gravity, is the force behind the movement of immigration. Baldemar Velasquez followed Jimenez McGee by sharing about his own experiences working in the fields of Indiana and Ohio during his early years. Now the president of a growing union representing migrant workers across the United States, he has set his sights on North Carolina as the location of FLOC’s next struggle. Cynthia Brown followed by sharing the struggle to build strategic alliances among people of color in Durham. And Rev. John Mendez closed with a powerful statement about the common struggle to connect movements for justice.
Justice at Smithfield:
In preparation for the action at Smithfield Packing Plant, a powerful plenary was held highlighting the stories of suffering of workers. Elsa Garza shared her experience of being told she must choose between caring for her sick daughter and keeping her job. Anne Thomas shared of the harassment she faced at the workplace and the unsafe conditions. Rev. William Barber closed out the session with a call to action stating his intention to lead a delegation to speak truth to power, to confront Smithfield management. Closing the School, a worship service was held giving participants the opportunity to testify to the impact of the School on their life and work. Rev. Nelson Johnson shared powerfully from Acts 3, calling school participants to be mindful of who is at the gate.
Farm Exposure Tour
A reflection by student activist J. Lamar Gibson
On Wednesday, about 15 people went to two nearby labor camps where migrant workers pick the food that we purchase from
the grocery store. We were able to see firsthand the deplorable conditions under which these men lived, and I personally found a
new appreciation for the vegetables that find their way to my kitchen table. The group had the opportunity to share a meal and
to interact with the workers. Although I was saddened to see the state that these men were in, I left glad to know that I could begin
to help in the efforts to improve their living conditions.
Also during the School, I participated in a Bible study in which we discussed Exodus and its relevance to today. We were
shown how the issues faced by the Israelites are parallel to those faced by some on the margins of our society. Migrant workers are
in a place where they plant and pick the crops for minimum wages and sometimes less. These crops are sold at affordable prices to consumers in various stores across the nation, and not one thought is given to the people who work the fields from where these crops come. In the Bible study, we were asked to consider the question: who are the Pharaohs of our time? A few people in the group found it difficult to accept that we as consumers are actually the Pharaohs. We benefit from the labor of the oppressed while doing nothing to help better their conditions. Being in the Bible study and then going out to witness the exact situation we had just discussed was a powerful learning experience.
PRAYER AND WORSHIP
The Economic Justice and Prophetic Witness School was anchored in powerful worship. The opening worship set the tone for the School. It began with welcomes from the various organizations supporting the School, included a village covenant and culminated in the preaching of Maria Theresa Palmer. Sharing out of the authority of her own transformational journey, Rev. Palmer set the stage for a rich exchange across cultures, languages, and movements.
MUSIC, POETRY, AND CELEBRATION
The Economic Justice and Prophetic Witness Village was one filled with the music, stories and experiences of many intersecting identities and traditions. A highlight of the rich exchange was the Evening of Cultural Expressions. From poetry to dance to song, many school participants shared out of a deep reservoir of gifts. Z. Holler and Kyle Lambelet pulled out all the stops in their performance of the Appalachian mountain tune “Mountain Dew.”
The Praise and Worship Team led by Ange Smith and Joyce Johnson called participants together before each gathering, rooting the School in the musical tradition of the Black Church.
The Praise and Worship Team led by Ange Smith and Joyce Johnson called participants together before each gathering, rooting the School in the musical tradition of the Black Church.
PARKTON CIRCLE OF SUPPORT
Beloved Community Center
Black Workers for Justice
Duke University Chapel
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Farm Labor Organizing Committee
Ford Foundation
Lock’s Creek AME Zion Church
North Carolina Conference in Mission of the
United Methodist Church
North Carolina Council of Churches
Southern Faith, Labor, & Community Alliance
United Food and Commercial Workers
National Board
Michael Boucher, NY; Deborah Compton-Holt, NC; Joyce Hollyday, NC; Nelson Johnson, NC; M. Carmen Lane, MI; Farah Mokhtareizadeh, NJ; Ched Myers, CA; and Bill Wylie-Kellermann, MI.
Black Workers for Justice
Duke University Chapel
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Farm Labor Organizing Committee
Ford Foundation
Lock’s Creek AME Zion Church
North Carolina Conference in Mission of the
United Methodist Church
North Carolina Council of Churches
Southern Faith, Labor, & Community Alliance
United Food and Commercial Workers
National Board
Michael Boucher, NY; Deborah Compton-Holt, NC; Joyce Hollyday, NC; Nelson Johnson, NC; M. Carmen Lane, MI; Farah Mokhtareizadeh, NJ; Ched Myers, CA; and Bill Wylie-Kellermann, MI.
PARTICIPANT COMMENTS
“This school helped to strengthen my belief that workers can join together to create a truly powerful entity to move to action.” “This was indeed an awesome educational, spiritual experience that has charged my energies to do more within my community.” |
“I have always had—since my college days in the ’60’s—these [understandings of the connections between faith, work, economic justice and prophetic witness], but this particular School has revivified, renewed and rekindled the very strong connections of all.” |
“[The Economic Justice and Prophetic Witness School] made me think much harder about issues of faith and justice, and confirmed my sense of prophetic calling.” |