Sacred Activism and The United Nations
By Rabbi Roger Ross
Andrew Harvey defines Sacred Activism this way: “Sacred Activism is a transforming force of compassion-in-action that is born of a fusion of deep spiritual knowledge, courage, love, and passion, with wise radical action in the world. The large-scale practice of Sacred Activism can become an essential force for preserving and healing the planet and its inhabitants.”
It is up to us to focus on, as Mr. Harvey says, “… inviting concerned people to take up the challenge of our contemporary crises in order to become inspired, effective, and practical agents of institutional and systemic change, in order to create peace and sustainability.”
When The New Seminary received its designation as an ECOSOC (Economic/Social) NGO (Non Governmental Organization) in 2002, we looked at many different organizations open to us as members, to determine where TNS could be of service while supporting the message of Interfaith and Sacred Activism. We chose the Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns. The CSVGC-NY is a committee made up of members of many different NGOs. While the purpose of the committee may be found on the website in the vision and mission statements, this part of the statement, we believe, sums up the direction the committee is taking and why it echoes the work of TNS:
Within the committee are many working groups, each dedicated to bringing to fruition one goal which supports the stated purpose of the United Nations. In October (anniversary month of the founding of the UN), the CSVGC-NY presents a Week of Spirituality and Global Concerns (WoS) when each of the working groups showcase the work they have been doing to further the goals of the UN.
TNS students and graduates hold the energy for all of the programs as they welcome visitors and UN staff and agency personnel to each of the workshops presented by the Working Groups of the CSVGC-NY, and participate in several of the group’s presentations such as Meditations for Peace, the establishment of Campus Peace Centers, and many other world healing programs.
For the last two years, more than 20 students and alumni have participated and have had the chance to network with various other NGOs and committees and, in some cases, join with their work being done on a world scale.
Last year, Rev. Julie Lira (then a student) and Rev. Dana Mark had the opportunity to work with an organization called ATOP (Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention) and went to Sierra Leone to bring healing, mental health assessment and art therapy to children in the refugee camps who had been badly treated during the ongoing terrible wars there. This year, they both went to Haiti with the same group to work at bringing relief and care to many of the tens of thousands of children orphaned and displaced by the devastating earthquake in February 2010. Doing this work has truly changed their lives and enhanced their ministries in ways they had never before imagined. This is truly Sacred Activism.
The New Seminary, in its work at the UN, brings a vision of spirituality that empowers ministries, agencies and NGOs to seek a higher sense of purpose. Our vision aligns with Andrew Harvey’s, who says, “When, however, the deepest and most grounded spiritual vision is married to a practical and pragmatic drive to transform all existing political, economic, and social institutions, a holy force – the power of wisdom and love in action – is born. This force I define as Sacred Activism.”
I extend an invitation to all Students and Alumni of The New Seminary to participate in events at the UN. If you are interested and can be in the New York area, please send me your name and email and when an event comes up that needs volunteers, we will contact you.
