In the most recent issue of Thema, WVIS’ digital magazine for the spiritually curious, BA Miskowiec, WVIS spiritual director intern and certified lay minister within The United Methodist Church shared this Social Justice Quilt.
The design of a Social Justice Quilt is an artistic representation of the thesis that we are united with Christ and with each other as the Body of Christ. Being one with Christ, Christ’s priorities become our priorities. Christians continue Christ’s practice of offering healing and wholeness to all persons. United Methodists make that offer through their baptismal vow to “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.”
The design of this Social Justice Quilt came about through BA’s work on a Masters in Theopoetics and Writing. In her first semester, she took a course on Theological Reflection that asked students to reflect on the intersection of a theological concept and our personal lives. BA chose to explore how The United Methodist Church sacraments of holy communion and baptism intersect with her commitment to advocacy and activism in the social justice area.
This is her artistic interpretation of this intersection. The center panel of the quilt depicts a communion table and the waters of baptism. Surrounding that are quilt squares expressing some of the social justice issues the Church is called to address. Surrounding the social justice squares are more traditional patterns, indicating that our work is hemmed in by our history and beliefs. United Methodists in West Virginia and Virginia contributed squares to the quilt, an indication of our connection in Christ and within The United Methodist Church
At the West Virginia Annual Conference in June 2023, Bishop Sandra Steiner-Ball accepted the gift of the quilt and consecrated it as a spiritual formation and educational tool. The quilt was displayed on Peace with Justice Sunday, June 4, at her home church, St. Marks UMC in Charleston. Reservations for the “Traveling Quilt Show” are being taken. This will be a time of encouraging and empowering churches to speak out against injustice.
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