Shalomic Imagination • dwight j. friesen

“Black America Again”

It’s “Thanksgiving” in the USA today… thanksgiving for whom? is a great question to be asking. USAmerican “Thanksgiving” appears to be weighted in the direction of settlers and colonizers. If you are an indigenous “American” or an African “American” or

Dwight J. Friesen November 24, 2016September 23, 2022

Dr. Steven C. Bouma-Prediger, 2016 Grenz Lecture

Dr. Steven C. Bouma-Prediger delivered The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology’s 2016 Stanley Grenz Lecture. Author of many books including Earthkeeping and Character, and For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care. Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger

Dwight J. Friesen November 10, 2016May 12, 2022

Imagining Peace

What a great TED talk! Pádraig Ó Tuama is an Irish poet and theologian, and this is worth watching. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen October 29, 2016November 4, 2022

Dr. Angela Parker, Reading Texts, Reading Cultures

During a recent prospective student “Preview Event” Dr. Angela Parker delivered a lecture titled “Reading Texts, Reading Cultures.” I was thrilled to discover that someone at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology recorded it. I wanted to share it

Dwight J. Friesen March 31, 2016November 3, 2022

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

A few months ago – September 25, 2015 to be exact – the 193 countries of the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Development Agenda titled “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” I can only imagine the

Dwight J. Friesen February 2, 2016February 26, 2024

Reimagining Theological Education National Summit

Convergence and ATS have collaborated to bring together some of the more innovative theological educators, seminaries administrators, and directors of leadership training programs for a national summit for Reimagining Theological Education. October 9 & 11, 2015. The Seattle School was

Dwight J. Friesen October 2, 2015September 29, 2022

Randy Woodley’s 10 Missiological Imperatives

I read and reread everything that Dr. Randy S. Woodley (Keetoowah Cherokee) writes and try to sit at his feet every chance I get. I sense he may be a prophet of our time and place. Maybe especially to Whiteness

Dwight J. Friesen May 15, 2015November 3, 2022

“Starting Over – Fighting Back”

Starting Over – Fighting Back by Sheila Cassidy And so we must begin to live again, We of the damaged bodies And assaulted mind. Starting from scratch with the rubble of our lives And picking up the dust Of dreams

Dwight J. Friesen November 20, 2014October 20, 2022

Keynote Speaker for “Bishop’s Convocation”

Bishop Kirby Unti of the ELCA NWWA Synod has invited me to serve as the 2014 keynote speaker for their region’s pastor’s conference. I will be presenting on the key themes of the new book that I have co-authored with

admin March 1, 2014May 5, 2022

MESA gathering

Recently I had the opportunity to be a part of an international gathering of Emergent minded followers of Christ from Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico, Australia, New

Dwight J. Friesen October 31, 2013September 26, 2022

Dr. Perkins on Getting Involved

Civil rights activitst, Christian minister, community developer and best selling author Dr. John Perkins breifly talks about personal transformation through getting involved. One can’t sit on the side lines, and just collect ideas, get advice, or stay abstracted… the Jordan

Dwight J. Friesen February 5, 2013May 8, 2022

“Same Love”

So I was driving to Issaquah to meet a local leader about a possible new church and to walk around a couple of neighborhoods together. On my way, I was listening to KEXP radio…as I often do, when John Richards

admin July 18, 2012September 5, 2022

The Danger of a Single Story

“Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.” Chimamanda

admin October 26, 2010May 5, 2022

transforming space into place

You’ve got to check out this great video highlighting Portland’s “intersection repair” project. This is such a cool example of neighbors, literally, taking back the the streets such that the individuals, community and the built environment are transformed. This is

Dwight J. Friesen May 12, 2010June 10, 2022

Hallelujah… Christ is Risen

Spring Song by Lucille Clifton the green of Jesus is breaking the ground and the sweet smell of delicious Jesus is opening the house and the dance of Jesus music has hold of the air and the world is turning

Dwight J. Friesen April 4, 2010January 12, 2021

unbound conference – seattle – april 16-17

WHEN: April 16-17, 2010 HELD @: University Presbyterian Church in Seattle Hosted by the Freedom Initiative, the UNBOUND Conference features Human Trafficking activists who aim to educate people on the comprehensive factors that contribute to Human Trafficking, to empower individuals

Dwight J. Friesen March 30, 2010January 13, 2021

MLK’s call to be maladjusted

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

Dwight J. Friesen January 18, 2010November 13, 2020

The Clash “London Calling”

I was about 10 years old when London Calling was released, though I won’t hear it or, even of The Clash until I was in high school. But when I finally did, I so resonated with their punk/new wave sound.

Dwight J. Friesen December 14, 2009September 8, 2022

Soong Chan Rah @ Quest 11/14

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

Dwight J. Friesen November 6, 2009January 13, 2021

Humanity Through Community: Healing the Racial Divide

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

Dwight J. Friesen October 29, 2009January 13, 2021

Conversation with Moltmann

One of the thrills of my life – thus far – was to share space with Professor Jürgen Moltmann. It was a great privilege to hear professor Moltmann tell his story of being held as a prisoner of war in

Dwight J. Friesen October 23, 2009January 14, 2021

Green Bean Lost to Fire

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

Dwight J. Friesen October 23, 2009January 13, 2021

Film, Faith & Justice

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

Dwight J. Friesen October 21, 2009January 13, 2021

envision ’09

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

Dwight J. Friesen June 24, 2009January 13, 2021

Thy Kingdom Connected

So my first solo book now has cover art. And is listed on Amazon.com for pre-order. How cool is that? What do you think, is my name big enough? Seriously though, I’m a little concerned about the image of the

Dwight J. Friesen June 12, 2009September 9, 2022

Seattle’s Ecumenical World Café

Peace, dwight

admin May 1, 2009May 8, 2022

faith & justice conversation in & for Seattle

Saturday, May 16th 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM “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

Dwight J. Friesen April 21, 2009May 6, 2022

philbert kalisa

Last night in during Essential Community (a course I team-teach at MHGS) we were privileged to have Philbert Kalisa (pictured in the light colored polo shirt) from Rwanda join us. In the wake of the Rwanda’s genocide in the 1990s

Dwight J. Friesen January 23, 2009June 17, 2022

Envision 2008

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,

Dwight J. Friesen May 6, 2008January 13, 2021