The theme running through my presentations outside the Diocese in recent weeks is “Advocacy.” I have used this word (its root””’voc’””meaning ”˜voice’) to encourage retired professors, graduating college students and other community leaders to “give voice to people and creatures that have no voice, or whose voices are not heard.”
One needn’t be a Christian or a religious person to recognize the moral importance which certain forms of advocacy signify. Sometimes we rightly speak only for ourselves””in giving our opinions or interpretations of something. Advocacy can also be a negative expression of the individualism so characteristic of our culture.
“Every man for himself,” (wherever that motto came from) is poor moral counsel for people of any age, occupation or affiliation.
Ah. But who can say what is morally right? A bishop? Certainly not a reasserter. There has to a tertium quid to determine right from wrong. And this involves religion. Lewis used this fact as the basis for Mere Christianity. Perhaps the good bishop will read it one day.
[i]One needn’t be a Christian or a religious person to recognize the moral importance which certain forms of advocacy signify.[/i]
But one must be a Christian to advocate the Gospel of Jesus Christ …
Brian
I’ve heard that one should have Christian baptism to be a Christian in the general course of things and that polytheistic forms do not qualify, but that is only a tradition from the New Testament times recorded in Acts. Bishops are certainly free to be heretical in may ways these days. I think, BoM, you have it correctly.
How about advocating love for Bp. MacBurney?
In Christian terms a vocation is a particular form of life taken up in response to a divine calling. An avocation would originally have meant a pursuit taken away from (called away) from one’s vocation, but now means something done apart from making a living.
Advocacy is responding, or adding, to a voice in support of something. To be fair to Bishop Irish, I think she is saying that advocacy is often self-serving, and this shouldn’t be the norm for a Christian vocation. True Christian advocacy is on behalf of others, especially those who are vulnerable and marginalized. Now, when Christians join in advocacy with others, maybe especially non-Christians – on behalf of the poor or vulnerable (with little or no say in their present or future circs) – they add credibility to their witness and vocation since this shows sacrifice and not self-interest.
#2 BOM – Everyone has access to the voice of God, even “retired professors, graduating college students and other community leaders.” Joining with them on behalf Christ’s poor is valid Christian witness. We may even gain disciples for Jesus Christ as we show we are not only interested in our ecclesial and doctrinal disputes.