This is what, among other things, Dr. King said in Michigan a little over 26 years ago:
‘”There are certain technical words within every academic discipline that soon become stereotypes and cliches. Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other word in modern psychology. It is the word ‘maladjusted.’  This word [...]

Dr. Soong Chan Rah, author of The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity and professor at North Park Seminary, will be in Seattle November 14th speaking at Quest’s “Skin Deep Conference on Faith and Race in the church”.
Peace, dwight

MHGS is hosting an important daylong race and ethnicity workshop on Thursday, November 12th, for all faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our significant others. The workshop seeks to acknowledge the voices of MHGS faculty, staff, students, alumni, and significant others who recognize our need and desire to develop intercultural competence and promote ethnic and racial [...]

Last night a fire broke out in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood destroying four buildings, including the GreenBean Coffee House where a number of my friends work; Taproot Theater also suffered damage.
I am deeply saddened by this loss and my heart goes out to those whose livelihood, and sense of community & neighborhood is smoldering.
Peace, dwight
[...]

Last week was The Other Journal’s annual Film, Faith & Justice forum.  And as with previous years, I found myself drawn into hope.
This year I could only attend one evening of the forum but I was able to met and hear Dr. Kelly Johnson from University of Dayton speak to “Facing Suffering: Human Tragedy and [...]

PRESS RELEASE for envision ‘09

Evangelical, Mainline Theologians Gather in DC to Rethink Freedom and Faith

(Washington, DC) – As unrest in Iran continues to highlight the role of religion in public life overseas and U.S. faith leaders of diverse stripes gauge their role in public life at a time of political change, evangelical and mainline theologians are reaching across party lines to rethink the intersection of freedom and faith in the United States. Leading evangelical and mainline scholars, activists, and policy professionals will gather at the 2009 Envision Scholars Seminar in Washington, DC June 25-27 to critically examine the concept of freedom in American democracy and Christian theology.

Though some claim the Obama Presidency means a new era in American politics, questions raised by the civil rights movement remain important for churches whose services continue to be the most segregated hour in America. The Seminar will begin with a discussion of conceptions of freedom in the black freedom movement in light of the Obama presidency, followed by discussions of the changing role of faith communities in light of the current economic crisis, climate change, debates concerning marriage and human sexuality, American foreign policy, and religious fundamentalism.

The Seminar grew out of the Envision ‘08 Conference – a national conference at Princeton University that brought together multi-generational leaders, scholars, artists and activists from across the theological spectrum, including prominent Christians such as Richard Cizik, Shane Claiborne, Rita Nakashima Brock, Lisa Sharon Harper, Obery M. Hendricks, Jr., and Jim Wallis. “Evangelicals are not just a people of vision,” said Richard Cizik “but are also implementing a public strategy that is transforming culture beyond politics.” The energy and enthusiasm of the Envision movement is part of a growing trend best described by Jim Wallis: “What we’re witnessing is the beginning of what could be another Great Awakening in which the hunger for spirituality and social justice are fueling a revival and inspiring a movement that will significantly impact American Politics.” 

Peace, dwight

So my first solo book now has cover art.  And is listed on Amazon.com for pre-order.  The book is being published in Baker’s emersion line and will be available in November 2009.
peace, dwight

“Come Holy Spirit! Come!” for millennia Christians have given voice to this prayer. Across traditions, denomination; on the week before the Church remembers the first Pentecost Christ-followers from many traditions will gather in Seattle to envision faith and justice in our city.

Evangelical, Emerging Church, Catholic, and Mainline Christians together with those who are spiritually inclined but unrelated to any Christian community will gather in Seattle for an open “World Cafe” Conversation.  All who participate will play a dynamic role in giving form and content to our envisioning conversation. 

Our gathering theme is “Faith and Justice in the 21st Century.” Our context is the needs of our neighborhoods and cities in a time of economic recession calling us to new forms of engagement. The agenda for the day will be relaxed, giving us all room to share what we hear the Spirit calling us to do in our neighborhoods, in our cities. While we honor the gifts of the traditions in which we live, the organizers of this gathering no longer believe it is God’s will that our traditions divide us as we carry out the mission to which we are called.

Click here for more information or here for registration,

See you there,

peace, dwight

Last night in during Essential Community (a course I team-teach at MHGS) we were privileged to have Philbert Kalisa (pictured in the white shirt) from Rwanda join us.  In the wake of the Rwanda’s genocide in the 1990s Philbert sensed something of a divine invitation to explore ways of participating in the reconcilation and peace building process between both victims and perpetrators in Rwanda. He told story after story people choosing recilcation over hatred.  Rev. Philbert has formed an organization called Reach . . . definiately worth checking out. 

Peace, dwight

A very interesting, and I think very important conversation is about to take place around “the Gospel, politics & the future.”

Here is an excerpt from an email my friend Keelan Downton sent this morning.  “This June 8-10, scholars, artists, activists, and pastors will converge on Princeton to envision a course for Christian political engagement over the next decade. We hope you’ll be one of them. Over 60 leaders will guide a strategic conversation and deep meditation to discern what it means to be a prophetic Christian in America today.”

For more details visit: www.ev08.org

Peace, dwight