Honoring the Dignity of Every Human Being

We, as people of faith, are called upon to act in accordance with our beliefs and promises.  The baptismal vows many of us have taken include, “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” Scripture offers many paths to living into our vows, including the passage in which Jesus’ calling of his disciples to go out into the world, carrying nothing, and relying on the kindness and hospitality of strangers. We are called into a relationship with God embodied in the beauty of God’s creation of every human being.  Everyone is entitled to safety, individual autonomy, sleep and dignity. A systemic choice to make the already overlooked essentially invisible, lessens us and denies the love that is the core of our faith.

Cathedral of the Beloved's efforts to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being has continued to be built alongside other community organizations. Homes not Handcuffs is a working group made up of a compilation of representatives from several social justice groups including Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds, BIO, Wildflower, Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition, COTB and Project New Growth. Homes not Handcuffs has organized and hosted three forums to offer alternatives to the members of City Council to consider instead of criminalizing the homeless and unsheltered poor, taken the lead on organizing clean-up crews to pick up rubbish and debris from the downtown streets.  Each gathering begins with a healthy meal and a time of fellowship. In the midst of doing this, the emphasis remains on listening to what our community is saying and working toward solutions that will bring dignity and equality to those who often experience being marginalized and ignored.

While the camping ban ordinance is now in the hands of Department of Health and criminalization has been removed, we continue to work toward a world and community where the dignity of every human being is honored and respected.  We are grateful for the many community partners and friends we have to do this work alongside.  It takes all of us.  

Written by The Rev. Margot Page, Deacon