social change
I recently caught a discussion on CSPAN (I think) about social change. One of the speakers, an African reflecting on the African struggle for what I would call prosperity, equity, and security (from Everything Must Change), listed six institutions that must be strong and involved for profound and lasting social change:
1. The press/media
2. Courts
3. Banks
4. Police
5. Election commission
6. Civil Service
It was interesting that he didn't list the church. Too often, the church (as a collection of institutions) lags behind and either waits for the change to happen or actively opposes it. But my hunch, and my hope, is that the church (as a community, a movement, a body of individuals) often plays a key but subtle role in deploying robust, honest, and visionary disciples into the press, the courts, banks, the police, election commissions, and civil service institutions - along with education, the arts, and other sectors of our common life. There, they work like yeast in dough, salt in food, and candles in darkness ... bringing transformation to institutions which preserve social change and make it normative for future generations.
All of this relates to a theology of institutions ... something we need a great deal. A wonderful sage in this field is Jim Emrich, whose work you can read about here.
0 Comments1 Minutes
new podcast up
Tripp Fuller just let me know that a podcast I did with him and Chad is now up here.
Be sure to check out his previous podcasts too ... and his summaries of German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg's work on the Trinity.
0 Comments1 Minute
Great weekends, behind and ahead
Each weekend of our EMC tour has been so enjoyable for me, and I trust for our participants as well. In Chicago last weekend, we were hosted by First United Church in Oak Park - Mamie Broadhurst and her team of volunteers couldn't have been more hospitable. The Chicago cohorts welcomed us as well - what great people! (And they have a good review of the weekend with links to blogs of some attenders and a local newspaper article.)
Tracy Howe, our lead musician, was really sick, but she came on Saturday and did a beautiful job in spite of feeling sub-par. She was joined by Tim and Laurie Thornton of the Blackthorn Project - Laurie led for us on Friday night in Tracy's absence. Beautiful music!
I was honored by the presence of Mary Nelson - a veteran of faith and justice activism for decades, and a leader in CCDA, one of the most important (imo) Christian organizations in the country. Mary and I were arrested together once, but that's another story.
I got home late Saturday night and early Sunday was down in DC to watch my oldest, Rachel, running a ten mile race under the Cherry Blossoms. So much fun - even though it was cold and rainy. Grace and I are proud parents ... blessed to have four extraordinary adult kids.
Today Grace and I leave for Chicago, where we'll be part of the Shift conference for youth workers. Then we fly on to Seattle, where I'll speak at Mars Hill Graduate School on Friday and then lead our EMC event Friday night and Saturday.
After Seattle, we only have Kansas City, New York, and Goshen Indiana left in our tour ... I hope to see you in one of our remaining four cities!
0 Comments2 Minutes
5 updates
1. Becky Garrison ... a feisty writer and friend in New York ... just let me know that a short video I was part of has been posted at the blog for an important new documentary coming out soon. It's called "The Ordinary Radicals" ...
2. BTW, check out Becky's new books here and here.
3. Here's a news article about our Chicago event this weekend ...
4. My friends in Red del Camino have posted the English edition of their newsletter. This is one of my favorite groups of people I've met in all my travels. Que Dios les bendiga!
5. And my friend Todd Hunter recently announced a new stage in his adventure, which you can read more about here ...
0 Comments4 Minutes
chicago, emergent, spring
I leave in a few hours for the Everything Must Change gathering in Chicago - Oak Park, to be exact. We'll be filming a video curriculum for the book around the edges of this gathering - I'll pass on publishing info when I get it. (I think the video will come out later this year when the book goes to softcover.) You can register at the door if you'd like to come ... we'd love to have you join us.
Steve Knight is doing an amazing job with the emergent village weblog. I'd especially recommend you check out the Andrew Jones link ... and the Jonny Baker one ...
Also - A New Kind of Christian and The Story We Find Ourselves In have just been released in softcover. I received my first copies yesterday - Jossey-Bass did a wonderful job on the artwork. The Last Word and the Word After That will be released soon.
Its Spring here in the DC area ... flowers blooming, cherry trees blossoming, birds singing ... one of our best times of the year here, a time you could say when our Creator, in our Creator's own humble way, shows off.
0 Comments1 Minutes