Seminary journaling: part 1 (the dawning of the first day in this fucking tundra)

Hey guess what? You who follow me here get the weird opportunity to read my seminary journaling assignments.

This one is about methods of addressing the faces of oppression through liberation work. A quick concept summary:

Marginalization -> inclusion
Exploitation -> mutual respect
Cultural imperialism -> cultural humility
Violence -> care
Powerlessness -> empowerment

Concepts workshopped:

The purpose of public prayer
Creating representative imagery

Reflection questions:

1.To whom are you accountable in this work?
2. How might your individual work be connected to the work already happening in your community of accountability?
3. How would you use strategies explored today in the future?


I'm accountable to nonharming and the wildly complex ethics required therein. I'm accountable to the greater work of justice, and the marginalized individuals this work impacts. I'm accountable to this religious organization and my colleagues. Also to my loved ones - I have to remain a good human in right relationships. These things can be challenging due to paradigm issues (am I paying attention to only the things I want to hear or believe in?) It's always vital with ethical issues to remember that you help by boosting agency, not by enforcing your own convictions.

Individuality is an illusion, so everything I do for liberation is a note in the sonata of wider community effort.

Turning my creative impulse towards projects which combat oppression is a great place to start implementing these ideas. Finally, I want to walk into all of my pursuits remembering that I am here to serve, and my own convenience and elevation are not the goals.