Justice Collaborative

The Justice Collaborative is a movement for human rights and dignity growing across the Great Plains. The Collaborative happens everywhere that United Methodists roll up our sleeves to tackle tough, local needs alongside our neighbors. 

The Justice & Mercy Team of the Great Plains Conference loves the prophet Amos and his watery image of justice. Amos challenged the religious leaders of his day for engaging in worship and ritual without care for justice, saying in chapter 5, verse 24: “but let justice roll down like water and righteousness like a flowing stream.” This biblical image for justice is the mighty force of God’s love in motion for the good of all. And so as we often like to say, Amen! Let justice roll!

In short, the Justice Collaborative is the name we have given to the movement for human rights and dignity the Spirit has been initiating through United Methodists since the founding of the Great Plains Conference. As the term “movement” suggests, the Justice Collaborative is a direction of God’s activity in the world, it is social and collaborative in nature, and, for us, it centers three core verbs characterizing Wesleyan spirituality: 1) to encounter, 2) to respond, and 3) to engage. We encounter God’s call to do justice, we respond by saying yes to learning from Jesus about how to do justice, and we engage in building beloved community together, all of us baptized and blessed by the ever-flowing stream of God’s love and justice.

We Fish for People

The fish represents the uniquely Christian symbol of the Greek word, ichthus, which translates to “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is Savior.” The ministry of Jesus, as marked by justice, inclusion, healing, and radical love unites the Justice Collaborative with shared purpose. We do justice because Jesus Christ, our Savior, invited us to follow him and to fish for people.

A school of fish expands our Christian symbol into a common image associated with community organizing. The justice we seek will bring people together to mobilize people power to transform our local communities. Wherever there are United Methodists, we will create momentum for hope, love, and peace together. We will pray and work for God’s love and justice in our churches and our communities.

Join the Movement 

Want to collaborate with us?
SIgn up to recieve our Justice Collaborative emails to stay informed of latest happenings and opportunities around the Conference. All are welcome to join the movement to follow Jesus and extend God’s love and justice right where we are!