The Contract With America versus The Covenant With God

by William M. James


Formats

Softcover
£9.25
Softcover
£9.25

Book Details

Language : English
Publication Date : 09/02/2001

Format : Softcover
Dimensions : 6x9
Page Count : 136
ISBN : 9780759606494

About the Book

The Reverend Dr. James, by reflecting on the roots of public social policy, causes us to re-examine the central issue of the extent to which American urban society cares for the "least of us." He ably makes the point that the seminal document that has guided national and local public policy since the 1994 elections, termed the "Contract with America," has been at tremendous odds with the higher principle upon which this nation was founded – what he describes by way of contrast as the "Covenant with God." Dr. James’s analysis places these developments in the context of this covenant, and he brings to this discussion a rich personal experience, having devoted his entire professional life to serving the spiritual and socioeconomic needs of the people of New York City’s communities.

America today is so affluent, and many of its citizens are enjoying a level of personal material comfort unlike that ever before experienced. But, in the absence of a public policy that recognizes the entitlements of all Americans to a share of that comfort, by virtue of our citizenship, a "contract" that relies so heavily on individual largesse does nothing more than pay lip service to those ideals upon which the nation was founded. The so-called "Contract with America" has represented, not an opportunity to exercise greater responsibility to the public good (as it has been touted), but an abdication of that responsibility.

The economies of this country, and of our urban centers, are booming on many levels, but too few are sharing in that bounty. We must, as Dr. James suggests, question, challenge, and act on the fact that conditions are worsening for the poor while the rich continue to live better existences. Lack of access to education, affordable health care, and job opportunities – all these problems – are walking with us into a new century.


About the Author

The Reverend Dr. William James was born in Meadville, Mississippi. He attended high school at Monroe Louisana (there were no high schools for black people in Franklin County Mississippi at this time, where Meadville is located.) After high school he went to Southern Christian Institute, Mt. Buleah College at Edwards, Mississippi where he received an A.A degree. He went from there to Butler University at Indiana where he received a B.S. degree (School of Libera Arts) and a B.S.L. from Butler School of Religion. From there, he went to Drew University in Madison New Jersey where he received a B.D. (now M. Div.) and also received an M.A. in religion. Drew awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters. He has taken special courses at Chicago University and the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.

Doctor James served as Pastor of the United Methodist Church in New York, East Calvery, where he helped to promote early childhood education. He did this as his first civic work as he served on the late Mayor LaGuardia’s Commission on "War Time Care of Children." He served at Trinity United Methodist Church in the Bronx and brought the church from zero members to 900 members in the eight years of his pastorate. There, he worked with street gangs and began to be called a "Street Minister." After Trinity Church, he became Senior Minister at the Metropolitan United Methodist Church, which he had for some thirty-three years. When he left Metropolitan, he became the Executive Director of the Multi Ethnic Center located at Drew and working with Boston University School of Religion and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., he taught the dynamics of Urban Ministry at Drew. For ten years, he served as the Executive Director of the Ministerial Inter Faith Association of New York. Dr. James has been a part of many organizations in the United Methodist Church and in the City of New York. He has sent some 3,600 young people through college; seventy-two of these became clergy persons of various denominations.