Philip Dickerson

The Christian Movement for Justice has precipitated out of the experience and calling of numerous people. Through their varied experiences of life in political, business and church spheres, they understand that the gift of life and the responsibility of stewardship can only find full and meaningful expression within the context of biblical norms of justice. Our hope and vision is to build an enduring life and legacy, family and nation on the basis of Christian values!

The new constitution empowers us as Christians and citizens to participate responsibly in the public arena. We approach this realm with passion and humility, aware of our track record and the absence of any distinctly Christian social and political vision for our country. Never the less due to the seeds sown by past generations, the vast majority of South Africans are supportive of Christian values in private and public life and are now free to reform and create structures reflecting biblical norms of justice.

Our civil structures exist to facilitate, and where necessary, compel the outworking of the Royal Law "Do to others as you would have them do to you". Our religious structures exist to appeal to every citizen to embody this law in heart and deed. Christian values do not replace the myriad of human sciences and endeavors of our complex modern world. They perform the role of an orchestral conductor, providing oversight, direction and discipline for the contribution of each player to the whole.

Christians have a heritage of faith and values upon which we can offer the nation a compelling and comprehensive vision of the future and become a force to be reckoned with in the public arena. CMJ is a vehicle structured to give public expression to those values, transcending interest group and party politics, fulfilling a prophetic role in the nation. Through card-carrying membership and networking with organizations of similar mind we seek endorsement and support from every South African. To achieve this we have a strategy comprising four major elements.

Research: Co-opting the support of leaders in their respective spheres of academics, business, politics etc to research legislation, get involved in think tanks and solution finding from a biblical perspective, recognizing the highly differentiated nature of our nation and respecting the autonomy and legitimacy of its mediating institutions.

Advocacy: Creating a vehicle for the expression of Christian values in public life. Placing lobbyists in Local and National Parliaments drawing authority from its membership base and the findings of research on local and national issues.

Education: Grass roots education programs on two levels.

• Christian citizenry, biblical principles of government etc
• Educating and informing the voting public on the policy, promises and conduct of the various political players. Thereby providing and important vehicle in holding government, political parties and their representatives accountable.

CMJ was launched at a promotion breakfast in July of 1998. The response was enthusiastic with numerous pledges of support, both in cash and in kind.

We have a two-pronged approach to our canvassing. In order to make membership of the movement accessible to the vast majority of South Africans we have adopted a membership policy reflected below.

PO Box 419	Phone 011 4658125
Ferndale	Fax 011 4658125
2160	Cell 0834416463
Johannesburg	E Mail philipd@jhb.lia.net

1. Every person is made in the image of God and shares a common dignity, which gives rights and responsibilities, which no law can take away.
2. Christians must serve our nation as a biblically prophetic voice for justice. Through prayer, analysis, the mobilization of public opinion and appropriate public action, citizens must critically support in its exercise of justice and recall it to its tasks when it goes awry.
3. Justice requires that all individuals, communities and organizations should have fair and equitable relations with one another.
4. The state is an organized political community of government and citizens subject to the God given requirement of Justice.
5. Government is accountable to God, Who is the origin of all justice. Government is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a legal order that equitably recognizes, protects and brings into harmony the different rights and responsibilities of individuals and communities
6. Government must recognize and respect the diverse ultimate convictions of citizens. It must promote freedom of conscience, worship and speech and allow citizens to express these convictions in all of their lives.
7. Democracy means that Government and citizens share the responsibility for Justice.

Support the Government when it does justice; challenge it when it fails to do justice. 

philipd@jhb.lia.net