“Ferguson and Faith” by Leah Francis Essay (Book Review)

In Chapters 1-3, Leah Francis describes the actions and peaceful protests that were arranged by the clergy of St. Louis to seek justice for Michal Brown, a young black man who was shot in the middle of a day by a policeman. In those protests, the clergy joined the local leaders, and their participation was perceived by some other participants as the symbol of “the presence of God” ¹. In this way, the religious activists may raise public awareness about the topical social issues in relation to the spiritual dimensions of human life, and engage people “in conversation about the theological imperative” in the fight for justice and equality ².

According to Francis, the theological reflection requires individuals to evaluate their social backgrounds and history that supported their formation and to understand that each person have a choice to become better and see the presence of God in his/her life³. The author’s observation is of great significance because it demonstrates that people always has a choice either to give away to the unjust events and adverse conditions of life or to renew themselves and make the efforts to improve the situation for the better.

Francis pays greater attention to the role of young people in the movement because they embody the sense of urgency in the situations that demand “immediate attention and responsiveness”⁴. Young leaders appeal to other young people who do not participate in the life of the church, and the young activists can motivate them by demonstrating passion and strong aspiration for the achievement of the common good. It is important because the teenagers and the millennials are usually prone to listen to their peers and be influenced by them. Thus, care for justice expressed by the young protestors is encouraging, and it may positively affect the decisions and actions of other young people.

Chapters 4-10 are devoted to the identification of religious and spiritual implication of protests for justice and equality.

“Caring for people who are oppressed and disenfranchised is a core tenet of many religious faiths” ⁵. Therefore, clergy cannot simply neglect the social events that take place in the world, and needs to make efforts for the achievement of problem-resolving. By participating in movements for equality, clergy promotes the conception of “safe sanctuary” and representation of church as a place of emotional and psychological safety for every person regardless of his/her gender or ethnicity ⁶.

Francis also underlines the essential role of black women in the clergy. Along with the young activists, through the participation in movements for equality, the black women may significantly raise the public awareness about racial and gender inequality.

In Chapter 10, Francis notices that “the struggle for human dignity is a deeply theological issue”⁷. However, a religious person should not attempt to resolve the issues merely in the theoretical contexts, and needs to undertake the practical measures that may lead to the tangible positive outcomes. In this way, the collaboration with organizations, communities, and young people in protests and movements for justice is significant as it allows clergy to shed light on the complex social, ethical and spiritual issues that many members of society prefer to neglect. By doing so, they encourage people to be more caring for those who are in need of help.

Bibliography

Francis, Leah Gunning. Ferguson & Faith: Sparkling Leadership and Awakening Community. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2015.

Footnotes

1. eah Gunning Francis, Ferguson & Faith: Sparkling Leadership and Awakening Community (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2015), 16.
2. Ibid., 22.
3. Ibid., 37.
4. Ibid., 56.
5. Ibid., 91.
6. Ibid., 109.
7. Ibid., 156.