Schaff speaker discusses Social Gospel, justice

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

youngstown

The Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien approached his topic, “Inventing Social Christianity: The World as the Subject of Redemption,” with scholarly knowledge, religious concern and a dose of humor.

He spoke to about 44 clergy and lay leaders Tuesday afternoon in the David S. Schaff Lecture series at First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave. He gave a public lecture in the evening, “Economic Crisis, Economic Democracy and Occupy Wall Street.”

The Rev. Dr. Dorrien is the author of some 16 books including the most recent, “The Obama Question, A Progressive Perspective.” An Episcopal priest, he is the Reinhold Niebuhr professor of social ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York, and professor of religion at Columbia University.

Dr. Dorrien discussed the church and the Social Gospel movement that was prominent in the 1880s and early 20th century. The movement used Christian ethics to deal with social problems and injustices such as poverty, alcoholism, child labor, crime, racial issues, inadequate labor unions and excessive wealth. “Christianity was bound to determine social justice,” Dr. Dorrien said. “The church must be the steward of a good society.”

He said the inspiration was Christ, and what lessons were contained in the Gospels about caring for those less fortunate. That lesson could be applied to fair treatment, living wages and rights of workers. The ethical values of Christ, Dr. Dorrien said, were held in esteem but also conflicted with a capitalistic society.

Dr. Dorrien said two prominent leaders in the movement were Washington Gladden and Walter Rauschenbusch. The latter was a Baptist pastor whose congregation was in Hell’s Kitchen in New York. “He encountered searing urban poverty,” Dr. Dorrien said.

Rauschenbusch wrote about how ethics of the Social Gospel, if applied to capitalism, could improve the situation of workers.

In theory and theology, the ideas of equal treatment, rights and fairness were applauded; but in the reality of society, difficult to achieve.

“Idealistic” and “naive” are two words that Dr. Dorrien said could be used to describe the movement. But, he noted, it also offered ideas and applications of Christian ethics and beliefs that led to the labor, civil rights and feminist movements.

“The Social Gospel movement gives passion for justice,” Dr. Dorrien said. He said “living out the kingdom of faith” is a means to attaining social justice.