Bangor Theological Seminary
Bangor

ET 1704: Economic Justice, Work, and Class
Spring 2001

Thursdays, 8:30 -- 11:20 a.m.
Instructor: Marvin M. Ellison
Portland office: (207) 774-5212
Bangor office: (800) 287-6781
E-mail address: Mellison@bts.edu
Office hours: By appointment

Course goals:

• To deepen awareness of the personal and social dimensions of economic injustice;

• To develop a critical analysis of the political, economic, and social structures that cause human suffering and planetary degradation;

• To explore the meaning and demands of economic justice for individuals, faith communities, and the social order locally, nationally, and internationally;

• To gain fresh insight from various sources, including scripture, the social teachings of the church, the social sciences, and various eco-justice movements; and

• To participate in the process of developing a constructive Christian economic ethic for the new century.

Grading system: A letter grade will be given unless a student requests in writing, no later than March 29, a Pass/D/Fail grade.

Credits: 3 semester hours

Course requirements:

1. Constructive class participation (30%):
1. Consistent attendance, timely completion of assigned readings, and conscientious effort to relate the material to your own experience, to the global economic crisis, and to congregational life and ministry. (20%)
2. In-class presentation of a book review (see 2.c below). (10%)
2. Writing assignments (70%):
1. A weekly insight and/or question (typed, double-spaced, no more than 2-3 sentences) in response to the week’s assigned reading. When citing a text, include author and page number(s). (10%)
2. Two brief writing assignments (typed, double-spaced) due: (20%)

February 15: "My Own Economic Story"
April 19: "Review of a Denominational Statement on Economic Issues"

3. A book review (3-5 pages, typed and doubled-spaced) in which you first explicate the material from the author’s point of view and then discuss the strengths and/or weaknesses of the author’s (or authors’) contribution toward a contemporary economic ethic. In addition, prepare a 1-2 page summary outline of the book, to be distributed as a handout; make a brief (10 minute) presentation in class; and facilitate a discussion of the book. (Report = 20%)

Select one of the following to review and also present in class:

March 29: William Greider, One World, Ready Or Not (esp. pp. 11-122, 227-387).

April 5: Ronald J. Sider, Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America (Baker Books, 1999)

April 19: Theodore Jennings, Good News to the Poor: John Wesley’s Evangelical Economics (Abingdon, 1990)

April 26: "Women and Economic Justice: Visions for a New Century," Church and Society (Presbyterian Church USA), 91:2 (November/December 2000); or Berma Klein Goldewijk and Bas de Gaay Fortman, Where Needs Meet Rights: Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in a New Perspective (World Council of Churches Publications, 1999)

May 3: James M. Childs, Jr., Greed: Economics and Ethics in Conflict (Fortress, 2000)

May 10: Barbara Andolsen, The New Job Contract: Economic Justice in an Age of Insecurity (Pilgrim Press, 1998)

May 17: Elizabeth Bounds et al., eds. Welfare Policy: Feminist Critiques (Pilgrim, 1999); and Joan M. Martin, More Than Chains and Toil: A Christian Work Ethic of Enslaved Women (Westminster John Knox, 2000).

4. Summary action/reflection project:

Written work will be evaluated in terms of:

• Overall clarity of your thinking and expression.

• Your critical engagement with texts, including demonstration of your understanding the author’s points and ability to evaluate them fairly.

• Your ability to state and give an accounting for your own position.

• Late work will be penalized.

Course schedule and assignments:

#1. February 8 The Call to Return to Economic Ethics

Introduction to course and colleagues
Exercise: Objections to studying "faith and economics" and brainstorming ways to respond.
Developing our ground rules

Handouts (2): 

"Affluenza quiz"
"Locating and Discerning Economic, Work, and Class Dynamics in Our Lives"

#2. February 15 Making the Connections: Christian Faith and Economic Life

Due today: Brief writing assignment #1 ("My Own Economic Story")

In 3-4 pages (typed, double-spaced), write about your own economic story. As a prompt, refer to the handout on "Locating and Discerning Economic, Work, and Class Dynamics in Our Lives."

Reading: Rebecca M. Blank, Do Justice: Linking Christian Faith and Modern Economic Life (United Church Press, 1992).

Handout (for 2/22): Stephen C. Mott and Ronald J. Sider, "Economic Justice: A Biblical Paradigm," Christian Social Action (January/February 2000), 10-13.

February 22 Reading Week (no class)

#3. March 1 Developing a Justice Lens

Reading: 

Daniel C. Maguire, The Moral Core of Judaism and Christianity, Ch. 7 ("Redefining Justice"), 126-165.

Walter Brueggemann, "The Liturgy of Abundance, the Myth of Scarcity," Christian Century (March 24-31,1999), 342-347.

Ronald J. Sider, Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America (Baker Books, 1999), Ch. 2 ("A Biblical Foundation"), 49-75.

Ched Myers, "God Speed the Year of Jubilee! The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics, Part 1," Sojourners Magazine (May -- June, 1998), and "Jesus’ New Economy of Grace: The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics, Part 2," Sojourners Magazine (July -- August, 1998). www.sojourners.com/soj9805 and /soj9807.

Ched Myers, "Balancing Abundance and Need," The Other Side (September -- October 1998). www.theotherside.org/archive/sep-oct98.

Carol S. Robb, "The Rights of Farmers, the Common Good, and Feminist Questions," in Covenant for a New Creation: Ethics, Religion, and Public Policy, ed. Carol S. Robb and Carl J. Casebolt (Orbis, 1991), 272-290.

#4. March 8 Social Analysis: A Globalized Economy

Reading: Michael Harrington, The Vast Majority: A Journey to the World’s Poor (1977), Ch. 4 ("The Creation of the World") and Ch. 5 ("The Development of Underdevelopment"), 102-151.

John B. Cobb, Jr., "Liberation Theology and the Global Economy," in Liberating the Future: God, Mammon, and Theology, ed. Joerg Rieger (1998), 27-42.

Mark Lewis Taylor, "Transnational Corporations and Institutionalized Violence: A Challenge to Christian Movements in the United States," in New Visions for the Americas, ed. David Batstone (1993), 101-124.

#5. March 15 Social Analysis: The Growing Economic Divide in the U.S.

Reading: Holly Sklar, Chaos or Community: Seeking Solutions, Not Scapegoats, for Bad Economics (1995), Introduction, Ch. 1-5, and 9 (pp. 1-101, 161-177).

 

#6. March 22 Seeking Solutions, Not Scapegoats

Reading: Suzanne Pharr, In the Time of the Right: Reflections on Liberation (Chardon Press, 1996).

Resource persons:
Clean Clothing Campaign
Bangor Homeless Shelter
Scott Planting, Mission at the Eastward
Jim Harvey

 

#7. March 29 The State of Working Maine 2000

Book review due today: William Greider, One World, Ready Or Not (esp. pp. 11-122, 227-387).

Reading: Christopher St. John, "State of Working Maine 2000" (Maine Center for Economic Policy, September 2000). www.mecep.org/stwkme/report.shtml.

Resource person: Christopher St. John, Maine Center for Economic Policy

Handout: "What Would It Be Like for a Family of Four to Live on $16,530" (Ron Sider, Just Generosity, pp. 19-23)

#8. April 5 Churches’ Responses to Economic Injustice

Book review due today: Ronald J. Sider, Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America (Baker Books, 1999)

April 12 Easter recess (no class)

#9. April 19 Denominational Statements on Economic Issues

Book review due today: Theodore Jennings, Good News to the Poor: John Wesley’s Evangelical Economics (Abingdon, 1990)

Due today: Brief writing assignment #2 ("Review of a Denominational Statement on Economic Issues")

Select one of the following denominational statements, and in 5-7 pages summarize the key points, including the biblical/theological vision, ethical mandates for economic life, definition of the problem (social analysis), and solutions proposed. Do you agree with Lebacqz that most denomination statements fail to include the voices/perspectives of the poor, do not define justice clearly, and back away from more radical proposals for change? What else do you want to comment on?

1. American Baptist Churches (no comprehensive statement, but a series of resolutions)
2. Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, "An Ecumenical Statement: February 1996." www.cccb.ca/english/fullpublice
3. The Episcopal Church in the USA, "Economic Justice and the Christian Conscience" (1987) [23 pp.]
4. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All: A Social Statement on Economic Life" (1999).
5. Presbyterian Church (USA), "Toward a Just, Caring and Dynamic Political Economy" (Office of the General Assembly, 1985). [37 pp.]
6. Unitarian Universalist Association, "Resolutions and Resources, a Social Responsibility Handbook," pp. 91-96c.
7. United Church of Christ, "Pronouncement on Christian Faith, Economic Life and Justice," in Blank, Do Justice, Appendix, pp. 151-189.
8. The United Methodist Church (no comprehensive statement; see Social Principles). Also, "Text of 30509-CS-R432-U, ‘Economic Justice for a New Millennium’," www.gc2000.org/pets/pet/text/p30509.
9. United States Catholic Conference, "Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy" (1986, abbreviated).

#10. April 26 Case Study: World Hunger

Reading: Frances Moore Lappe et al., World Hunger: Twelve Myths, second edition (Grove Press, 1998).

Recommended:

Jack Nelson, Hunger for Justice: The Politics of Food and Faith, Ch. 6 ("Is Overpopulation the Biggest Problem?") and Ch. 7 ("Population Control in the Third World"), pp. 101-131.

Resource person: Jessica Michaud

#11. May 3 Resistance to Justice

Reading: Walter Brueggemann, "Voices of the Night – Against Justice," in Brueggemann, Parks, and Groome, To Act Justly, Love Tenderly, Walk Humbly: An Agenda for Ministers, pp. 5-28.

Garrett Hardin, "Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor," and William W. Murdoch and Allan Oaten, "Population and Food: Metaphors and Reality," in Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life, 4th edition, ed. Christina Sommers and Fred Sommers (1997), pp. 800-823.

#12. May 10 A Manifesto for North American Middle Class Christians

Reading: Sallie McFague, Life Abundant: Rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet in Peril (Fortress, 2001), Preface, Parts I & II, Epilogue, and Appendix (pp. xi-xiv, 3-123, 203-210.

George Tinker, "An American Indian Theological Response to Ecojustice," Ecotheology 3 (1997), 85-109.

 

#13. May 17 Next steps, and course evaluation

Book reviews due today:

Elizabeth Bounds et al., eds. Welfare Policy: Feminist Critiques (Pilgrim, 1999)

Joan M. Martin, More Than Chains and Toil: A Christian Work Ethic of Enslaved Women (Westminster John Knox, 2000).

Video: Tony Campolo, "Support: What Will Help?," in "Curing Affluenza.".

 

May 21: Graduating seniors’ work due.

May 25: All others’ work due. [If you want your written work returned via mail, please include a SASE with your final paper.]