September 2006 - Beatitudes Society Fellows: The Big Story

From Anne Howard, The Beatitudes Society Executive Director

It’s September, the month of new beginnings. Schools are beginning fall terms, students and faculty are back on campus, and as we launch our second year at The Beatitudes Society , we are making plans for starting new campus chapters.

I am excited to note that September 1 marks my own new beginning as Executive Director of The Beatitudes Society. But the Really Big Story this month - the story that tells who The Beatitudes Society is and what we do – is about our inaugural group of Beatitudes Fellows.

This summer, eight students participated in paid summer fellowships, serving at faith-based social justice organizations. Five fellows shared a living/learning community experience while serving agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, and three Fellows worked at nonprofits in Washington, DC. Reflections from their experiences are highlighted below, and I know you will enjoy seeing how they began to “turn the world upside down” – Beatitudes style.

It is my great hope for The Beatitudes Society that we will be able to offer these life-changing fellowships to more and more students: next summer, I would love to double our number of fellows. To that end, we need your help! The Beatitudes Society is a tiny organization with a big heart and even bigger goals. And meeting those goals involves lots of costs and lots of travel - flying to seminaries and divinity schools to represent the Society and meet faculty and students, bringing students to extraordinary conferences, supporting authors as they explore new theological thinking with diverse audiences, and getting our fellows to their sites. If you have extra frequent flyer miles, we would love to have them (and if anyone on the list has free time on a private jet, let us know what as well!) Please email me to let me know about frequent flier miles, and to donate, go online to our secure donation site .

Thank you, and blessings,

Anne Howard, Executive Director

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And here's the Really Big Story this month, from the first class of Beatitudes Fellows:

This summer as a Beatitudes Society fellow gave me a broader view of the progressive movement and deeper faith that progressive advocacy will change America for the common good. Talking with the sharp and caring kids at the emerging leaders banquet during the Sojourners conference; hearing smart progressive ideas from the Center for American Progress; seeing all the effective organizations while mapping faith groups in six states shows me that the more we cooperate on common ground, the better our prophetic voice and political action will be.
-Alex Carpenter, Beatitudes Fellow at Faith in Public Life, and The Beatitudes Society Chapter
Convener at GTU

The Beatitudes Society gave me the opportunity to narrow the gap between ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’ through my fellowship at The Regeneration Project, an interfaith organization committed to deepening the connection between ecology and religion. Now I have this experience to draw from as I continue to follow the path of a Beatitudes-inspired ethos. I also know a group of people who are following the same path, whom I know I can call on for assistance and encouragement as we all struggle to empower the blessed poor.
-Chad Crawford, Beatitudes Fellow at The Regeneration Project

My fellowship at Faith in Public Life this summer was an invaluable experience. Some of the projects that I worked on helped me to reflect on what areas in ministry I would like to focus, including faith and public policy as well as lobbying. Working and learning from the other interns and employees at Faith in Public Life helped me to learn about how I can incorporate my faith in the public sector. Since Faith in Public Life is a brand-new organization and I was present at its official launch, I learned what it takes to get the word out about a new organization and get it off the ground. I cannot wait to take what I've learned this summer to my church and fellow ministers at Howard University School of Divinity.
-Lauren D. Phelps, Beatitudes Fellow at Faith in Public Life

[During my fellowship at Sojourners], I was given the keys to 30-years worth of cutting edge, progressive Christian journalism and told to go exploring. It was an incredible journey and I have learned so much about our ongoing struggle for justice in America and around the world. As a seminary student, this fellowship provided an invaluable education in how the body of Christ translates its theology into bold, prophetic action for justice. In addition, the Sojourners community welcomed me with open arms, and I have gained wise teachers and companions for the journey ahead.
-Jamie Pitts, Beatitudes Fellow at Sojourners

Though General Assistance Advocacy Project is not a faith-based organization, faith is a very large component in the work that they do. Those who work at GAAP are drawn with an unyielding conviction that all people should be treated as people, and that it is the responsibility of society to ensure that all of its members are cared for. This is a very faith filled position. I am truly grateful for the time that I served there. Also, my Beatitudes Society Fellowship experience would not have been complete if I hadn’t had the opportunity to spend the summer with my housemates, the other San Francisco Beatitudes Society Fellows. It completely enriched my experience.
-Jason McGaughey, Beatitudes Fellow at General Assistance Advocacy Project

Working with Peninsula Interfaith Action, I learned how communities can address their own issues and work to create the change they want in their community. I saw over 400 people stream into the Catholic Church, St. Francis of Assisi, because they did not want to see their children killed in the streets anymore. I saw what power looks like. Working with PIA gave me tools to empower people and gave the experience of seeing people that are empowered make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of their neighbors. In short, I saw the Kingdom of God coming into being through very human efforts.
-Maryann Philbrook, Beatitudes Fellow at Peninsula
Interfaith Action

Anyone who works within a system becomes the system, even if they seek to overcome the system within. Notice American culture. Can we escape the American drive for success, for profit, for wealth, for narcissistic individuality if we play within a framework that accepts all of those as given qualities within the nature of humankind? No. In San Francisco, I realized the urgency for a second vision. True justice should not serve comfortable suburbanites like me by locking up those who suffer in an endless chain of prison and release. Rather, if one is to take compassion seriously, envisioned justice lives with the poor and suffering. Hope, paradoxically, lies on the streets.
-“Drew Baker, Beatitudes Fellow at Catholic Charities, CYO

Throughout my time at St. Anthony's I was constantly reminded of the high cost of being poor through listening to the stories of men and women who are exhausted from work, from waiting in line for basic necessities, from addictions and mental disorders. It was difficult to remind myself that these are the men and women that Christ calls ‘Blessed’ and he offers to them the kingdom of heaven. My experience as a Beatitudes Fellow reminded me that my role as a Christian is to walk alongside these beautiful men and women in the Tenderloin and to seek to understand why Jesus loves the poor.
-Lindsey Anderson, Beatitudes Fellow at St. Anthony Foundation

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