Who Do You Represent? Who are you accountable to?

"Who do you represent? Who are you accountable to?"

Usually we ask that question of our politicians, but today the question was asked of me and I do not by any measure of the imagination hold political office at present.
:-)

This is how things went down:

I was on a call with a few of my fellow bloggers from the Sanctuary- those same that worked with me on the questionnaire that we sent to the presidential hopefuls. The person who asked it was new to our little group, but I believe he asked it earnestly. Part of his point, I think, was that it is not enough for us to represent only ourselves. We also need to be representative of a constituency when we speak on political issues (to be relevant).

Perhaps...

& yet, isn't our own perspective as individuals valid and strong enough to have a relevancy of its own?

Even politicians when they are running do not represent anyone as of yet... they represent certain ideas (in the ideal) and then people vote for them and as such become their constituents.

The way I see it- & the way I responded was as follows:

1.) Yes. It is helpful to have made official some sort of constituency (this could be done by partnership with organizations that have constituencies)

2.) But, we are relevant because the ideas & values that we bring to the table are relevant.

3.) We are relevant because history has proven that often it is a handful of committed people who push for change and create the Tipping effect which leads to movements, ultimately composed of a much larger group of ppl. (I think of most of our country's movements which began with a committed few.)

4.) We are relevant because of our personal history and the fact that it ties us to the communities & issues that we speak to (the overarching American community as well as our specific identifications, i.e. here as Progressive Christians).

For as I spoke I realized that the same could be said for each of us here @ CrossLeft.org.

We are relevant together and in the context of the many other Progressive Christians out there. & yet we are also relevant simply because we are and because we choose to raise our voice and express ourselves.

At least, that is what I think.

1.) We exist.

2.) We are not alone.

When someone asks you: "Who do you represent? Who are you accountable to?" What do you say?