Reflections on the Social Creed for the 21st Century

By Erica Arave (Centre College, Class of 2009), Summer Assistant with the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy

The chief presenter of the Social Creed at the 218th General Assembly was an under-40 mom, Dr. Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty. But the chief advocate for the Social Creed in the Social Justice Committee was Youth Advisory Delegate (YAD) Michael Mishkovsky, age 20. Quiet until that time as a few older commissioners wanted to put action off for another two years, he urged immediate approval: "this is the kind of thing young people want to hear from the churches …" And, after some floor debate, it turned out that 83 percent of the commissioners agreed with him. The Social Creed is not a doctrinal creed, though it is theologically and biblically based. It is a concise statement of what the church stands for when it comes to justice in the world — and the youth of our church are again increasingly concerned about justice. Did I say it was one page long?

The Social Creed invites open discussion, even voting on the principles and positions it contains.

To deepen the discussion, you can watch this 28-minute video about the Social Creed, read the two-page backgrounder and maybe look at the original Social Creed of 100 years ago. It is fun to look at the differences between that early one, focused on labor and industry, and the current one, which is broader in focus. Also consider studying the prayer book, New Prayers for the Social Awakening: Inspired by the new Social Creed, edited by Christian Iosso and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, available from Westminster John Knox, (800) 523-1631.

After giving some background, encourage youth to express their opinions.

• Ask them why they think it is important for the church to maintain its pledge for a better society.
• What will this mean for future generations?
• How can they act in concrete or practical ways?

The Social Creed brings with it a good history lesson, but it is meant as encouragement and to provide a vision.

Let us know your thoughts, and those of your church or student group!