by Ulrich Duchrow
What should Christianity be saying about global capitalism? The World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation have begun a significant exploration of that question.
It's a discussion I hope you will bring into the churches of North America. The conversation doesn't have to be limited to Christianity, either. What should Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism be saying about global capitalism? It's a debate to bring into your synagogues, mosques, ashrams, and schools of theology and divinity, and into local secular communities as well, since the issues bear on the entire human race and the survival of the planet. After you develop a perspective on capitalism within your own religious group, you can then -- as a community -- share your views in the international debate now taking place. The global religious community could play an important role in challenging the growing materialism and selfishness that have characterized the growth of a global capitalist worldview.
Not surprisingly, the process of creating a joint statement has sparked a rather striking debate among Christians about how explicitly we ought to challenge global capitalism. A group of us European theologians have put forward what we believe to be a rather strong statement of a Christian perspective -- one that goes much further than many of our fellow Christians in the Northern hemisphere would choose. The perspective we articulate in "Life in Just Peace," the joint statement reprinted below, better reflects the views of many Christians in the Southern hemisphere. To speak to some of the concerns that our visionary statement commonly raises among skeptics from the global North, I have constructed a response to an imagined criticism from a North American pastor (see page 78) that channels the type of energy and analysis more common among Christians from the global South.
Read more here
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BLACK CHURCH?
Posted by ♫Musique♫: Monday, November 28, 2011
What is going on with the Black Church? I need an answer.
Over the last couple months I've seen so much and have been apart of establishing a church and seeing it blossom. However, through out that process I've experienced rumors, false prophets, jealousy, even discrimination because I'm young. I grew up in a church where sometimes the young people were prevented from serving due to the old heads being stuck in their ways and wanting to hold on to tradition. Tradition is the number one killer of the Black Church. People get so used to things being done this way and any change is deemed "UnGodly." There is nothing wrong with singing "I am a Friend of God," or "Let the Word to the Work." I love those hymns and forever will, but come on God is a progressive God. Sing unto the Lord a new song. That's why we can't grow. We stay in the comfort zone too much. Whenever someone else has an idea people don't want it either because it pushes them to a new place in God or they didn't come up with idea themselves. Let the jealousy go and get it together.
There is so much jealousy not just among members but among pastors. We have people getting mad, leaving churches, and starting churches but know they are in the wrong spirit. Why can't we get along? We want to hold Sis. Promise back because we see her potential and don't want her to get ahead of us. That's not cool. God don't like ugly. Your time is coming. You just have to shut up and wait!!!
Read more here
What is going on with the Black Church? I need an answer.
Over the last couple months I've seen so much and have been apart of establishing a church and seeing it blossom. However, through out that process I've experienced rumors, false prophets, jealousy, even discrimination because I'm young. I grew up in a church where sometimes the young people were prevented from serving due to the old heads being stuck in their ways and wanting to hold on to tradition. Tradition is the number one killer of the Black Church. People get so used to things being done this way and any change is deemed "UnGodly." There is nothing wrong with singing "I am a Friend of God," or "Let the Word to the Work." I love those hymns and forever will, but come on God is a progressive God. Sing unto the Lord a new song. That's why we can't grow. We stay in the comfort zone too much. Whenever someone else has an idea people don't want it either because it pushes them to a new place in God or they didn't come up with idea themselves. Let the jealousy go and get it together.
There is so much jealousy not just among members but among pastors. We have people getting mad, leaving churches, and starting churches but know they are in the wrong spirit. Why can't we get along? We want to hold Sis. Promise back because we see her potential and don't want her to get ahead of us. That's not cool. God don't like ugly. Your time is coming. You just have to shut up and wait!!!
Read more here
Getting to Zero on World AIDS Day
Posted by on December 1, 2011 at 3:02 PM EST
President Obama today marked World AIDS Day, speaking at an event called "The Beginning of the End of AIDS" where he outlined the progress that has been made in the global fight against the pandemic:
Because we invested in anti-retroviral treatment, people who would have died, some of whom are here today, are living full and vibrant lives. Because we developed new tools, more and more mothers are giving birth to children free from this disease. And because of a persistent focus on awareness, the global rate of new infections and deaths is declining. So make no mistake, we are going to win this fight.AIDS has claimed 30 million lives over the past three decades, and while the rate of new infections is going down in many countries, the President acknowledged that it is not declining in America:
The infection rate here has been holding steady for over a decade. There are communities in this country being devastated, still, by this disease. When new infections among young black gay men increase by nearly 50 percent in 3 years, we need to do more to show them that their lives matter. When Latinos are dying sooner than other groups, and when black women feel forgotten, even though they account for most of the new cases among women, then we’ve got to do more. So this fight is not over. Not for the 1.2 million Americans who are living with HIV right now. Not for the Americans who are infected every day. This fight is not over for them, it’s not over for their families, and as a consequence, it can’t be over for anybody in this room -- and it certainly isn’t over for your President.Read more here
Nation’s oldest black church to reopen Dec. 7 in Boston
Step into the sanctuary of the African Meeting House and you will walk on the same ancient floorboards where Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison and other prominent abolitionists railed against slavery in the 19th century, and where free black men gathered to shape the famed 54th Massachusetts Civil War regiment.
Following a painstaking, $9 million restoration, the nation’s oldest black church building is set to reopen to the public on Dec. 7. Beverly Morgan-Welch, who has spent more than a decade spearheading the project, calls the three-story brick building the nation’s most important African American historic landmark.
“This space has the echo of so many of the greats of their time ... who were trying to figure out a way to end slavery,” said Morgan-Welch, executive director of the Museum of African American History.
Read more here
Following a painstaking, $9 million restoration, the nation’s oldest black church building is set to reopen to the public on Dec. 7. Beverly Morgan-Welch, who has spent more than a decade spearheading the project, calls the three-story brick building the nation’s most important African American historic landmark.
“This space has the echo of so many of the greats of their time ... who were trying to figure out a way to end slavery,” said Morgan-Welch, executive director of the Museum of African American History.
Read more here
Getting in Front of Jesus: The Politics of Progressive Christianity (Part II)
By Brad Braxton
Huffington Post
How can progressive Christians "get in front" of Jesus by using the gospel forward to address pressing social dilemmas? In response to this question, I will discuss two moments from Jesus' story and "remix" them. A remix occurs when fresh elements are introduced into an old framework, thereby creating a new story.
The Birth of Jesus: A Progressive Remix
According to the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was born in a social context where a cruel king worked on behalf of Rome to ensure Caesar's sovereignty. After learning of Jesus' birth, King Herod plots to kill Jesus. An angel warns Joseph of Herod's wicked intentions. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus become immigrants, fleeing the harsh conditions of their homeland to secure safety and a better future in Egypt. Unable to locate Jesus, Herod sends a decree to murder all children in and around Bethlehem who are two years old and under.
Every Christmas, Christians look back to the birth of Jesus. We even replicate the sentimental parts of the story with pageants and live nativity scenes. My progressive remix focuses on the more tragic elements of the story. Instead of looking back and adoring the "sweet little Jesus boy" in the manger, the story can be a launching pad for prophetic discipleship and twenty-first-century social justice activism.
Read the rest here
Huffington Post
How can progressive Christians "get in front" of Jesus by using the gospel forward to address pressing social dilemmas? In response to this question, I will discuss two moments from Jesus' story and "remix" them. A remix occurs when fresh elements are introduced into an old framework, thereby creating a new story.
The Birth of Jesus: A Progressive Remix
According to the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was born in a social context where a cruel king worked on behalf of Rome to ensure Caesar's sovereignty. After learning of Jesus' birth, King Herod plots to kill Jesus. An angel warns Joseph of Herod's wicked intentions. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus become immigrants, fleeing the harsh conditions of their homeland to secure safety and a better future in Egypt. Unable to locate Jesus, Herod sends a decree to murder all children in and around Bethlehem who are two years old and under.
Every Christmas, Christians look back to the birth of Jesus. We even replicate the sentimental parts of the story with pageants and live nativity scenes. My progressive remix focuses on the more tragic elements of the story. Instead of looking back and adoring the "sweet little Jesus boy" in the manger, the story can be a launching pad for prophetic discipleship and twenty-first-century social justice activism.
Read the rest here
Getting in Front of Jesus: The Politics of Progressive Christianity (Part I)
by Brad Braxton
Huffington Post
Parishioners in the church of my childhood often sang the hymn, "I have decided to follow Jesus...No turning back, no turning back." The hymn cautioned disciples about turning away from Jesus. This essay explores the prospect of being disciples by getting in front of Jesus.
To follow a person usually means walking behind that person. Could it be, however, that we follow Jesus most faithfully when we walk ahead of Jesus? I argue for a progressive Christianity that extends the meaning and mission of Jesus into the present and future, rather than promoting an obsession with the past. Defining "progressive Christian" and "prophetic evangelical" (interchangeable terms for me) will facilitate a discussion of the politics of progressive Christianity.
Progressive Christian
According to some accounts, the term "progressive Christian" surfaced in the 1990s and began replacing the more traditional term "liberal Christian." During this period, some Christian leaders wanted to increasingly identify an approach to Christianity that was socially inclusive, conversant with science and culture, and not dogmatically adherent to theological litmus tests such as a belief in the Bible's inerrancy. The emergence of contemporary Christian progressivism was a refusal to make the false choice of "redeeming souls or redeeming the social order."
Read the rest here
Huffington Post
Parishioners in the church of my childhood often sang the hymn, "I have decided to follow Jesus...No turning back, no turning back." The hymn cautioned disciples about turning away from Jesus. This essay explores the prospect of being disciples by getting in front of Jesus.
To follow a person usually means walking behind that person. Could it be, however, that we follow Jesus most faithfully when we walk ahead of Jesus? I argue for a progressive Christianity that extends the meaning and mission of Jesus into the present and future, rather than promoting an obsession with the past. Defining "progressive Christian" and "prophetic evangelical" (interchangeable terms for me) will facilitate a discussion of the politics of progressive Christianity.
Progressive Christian
According to some accounts, the term "progressive Christian" surfaced in the 1990s and began replacing the more traditional term "liberal Christian." During this period, some Christian leaders wanted to increasingly identify an approach to Christianity that was socially inclusive, conversant with science and culture, and not dogmatically adherent to theological litmus tests such as a belief in the Bible's inerrancy. The emergence of contemporary Christian progressivism was a refusal to make the false choice of "redeeming souls or redeeming the social order."
Read the rest here
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Urban Oasis: G'Life Chior Presents a Pre-Christmas Concert Cele...
The Urban Oasis: G'Life Chior Presents a Pre-Christmas Concert Cele...: On December 4, the Gifts of Life Ministries Choir, lead by Min. Shirley Patterson, will produce a Pre-Christmas Concert and Celebration at t...
PREMATURITY AWARENESS MONTH
More than half a million babies are born too soon, very small, and very sick in our country every year. These tiny babies often face serious problems. And some don't make it. November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Support the March of Dimes and the fight for preemies. Help us find the causes of premature births. Help us give every baby a fighting chance. Visit www.marchofdimes.com/fight Submitted by Chi Lambda Zeta-Bartlett,TN
DO YOU HAVE A VALID ID?
Election 2012 is approaching quickly. TN law now requires you to have State/Federal issued ID in order to cast your vote. If you don't have ID, please begin the process now.....If you have any questions, please see First Lady Lisa Jones Johnson.
Black Atheists: Sign of the Times?
By Christine A. Scheller
Black atheism is in the news again and we're wondering: Does this story represent a disturbing new trend or is it a rehash of old news?
African American Atheist might seem like an oxymoron to some people. After all, black Americans are among the most churchgoing folks in the nation. But for those who know the African American community is not a spiritual monolith, the existence of black atheists should come as no surprise. Nevertheless, the notion that there are African Americans who actually do not believe in God still has that “car wreck” quality to it that at once produces a bounty of incredulous rubberneckers. So there’s no wonder that a new article from The New York Times has got people talking. Here’s a roundup of some of the different opinions.
Read more here
Black atheism is in the news again and we're wondering: Does this story represent a disturbing new trend or is it a rehash of old news?
African American Atheist might seem like an oxymoron to some people. After all, black Americans are among the most churchgoing folks in the nation. But for those who know the African American community is not a spiritual monolith, the existence of black atheists should come as no surprise. Nevertheless, the notion that there are African Americans who actually do not believe in God still has that “car wreck” quality to it that at once produces a bounty of incredulous rubberneckers. So there’s no wonder that a new article from The New York Times has got people talking. Here’s a roundup of some of the different opinions.
Read more here
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Supporting women in all levels of leadership
by Eugene Cho
I support women in all levels of leadership in the Church.
I did not always have this “view” but after years of praying, wrestling, discussing, listening, fasting, and praying some more, I came to this conviction some time ago and while it has been questioned, pushed back, and tested, I remain convicted. It is a view that endears me to some and umm, makes me a quasi-heretic to others.
Read the rest here
I support women in all levels of leadership in the Church.
I did not always have this “view” but after years of praying, wrestling, discussing, listening, fasting, and praying some more, I came to this conviction some time ago and while it has been questioned, pushed back, and tested, I remain convicted. It is a view that endears me to some and umm, makes me a quasi-heretic to others.
[Insert 'Farewell Eugene Cho' joke here...]
But wherever we stand, kneel, or sit on the “issue”, we should all agree that our convictions and beliefs are not formed for the pleasing and pleasure of people. We seek to faithfully serve the Lord. And while it may tempting, we should also agree to never vilify or demonize those who have different views – even while acknowledging and contending for our convictions. For such reasons, I would never disavow a Christian or a colleague for having a different view and would hope that they would extend ‘egalitarians’ that same grace. Ultimately, we serve the same Lord and preach the same Gospel!Read the rest here
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Occupy Wall Street And Homelessness: Millions Spent To Evict Camps, While Cutting Shelter Funds
As cities around the country have swept Occupy Wall Street camps from their plazas and parks in recent weeks, a number of mayors and city officials have argued that by providing shelter to the homeless, the camps are endangering the public and even the homeless themselves.
Yet in many of those cities, services for the homeless are severely underfunded. The cities have spent millions of dollars to police and evict the protesters, but they've been shutting down shelters and enacting laws to prohibit homeless from sleeping overnight in public.
Read the rest here
Yet in many of those cities, services for the homeless are severely underfunded. The cities have spent millions of dollars to police and evict the protesters, but they've been shutting down shelters and enacting laws to prohibit homeless from sleeping overnight in public.
Read the rest here
Young Masters Looking for Boosters and Parents
Poverty has taken root in suburbs
Five years ago, Deidra and David Vaughn were proud, new owners of a $119,000 two-story, five-bedroom Shaler home, complete with a swimming pool.
He made about $30,000 as a social worker for nonprofits, and she collected Social Security medical disability benefits. They weren't rich, but with three children at home, they got by -- until he lost his job not long after they became homeowners.
As David Vaughn, 38, tried for years to find work in his field, the family struggled to save their home from foreclosure. They finally found a buyer for it in September. Now, they rent from her sister.
"We're looking to see how we can get things back to normal," Deidra Vaughn, 31, said last week as she stocked up on groceries at the North Hills Community Outreach food pantry. "I'd like to see my husband back in his field, hopefully, when the economy gets better. Every day is a struggle."
Read more here
He made about $30,000 as a social worker for nonprofits, and she collected Social Security medical disability benefits. They weren't rich, but with three children at home, they got by -- until he lost his job not long after they became homeowners.
As David Vaughn, 38, tried for years to find work in his field, the family struggled to save their home from foreclosure. They finally found a buyer for it in September. Now, they rent from her sister.
"We're looking to see how we can get things back to normal," Deidra Vaughn, 31, said last week as she stocked up on groceries at the North Hills Community Outreach food pantry. "I'd like to see my husband back in his field, hopefully, when the economy gets better. Every day is a struggle."
Read more here
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Mark 13:24-37: Advent -- One of Those Dangerous Religious Ideas
Here comes Black Friday, even earlier than usual. Bell-ringers are appearing outside stores. Advertisers are shifting the consumerism-as-therapy machine into high gear. And Christians say: This is a good time to think about the world falling apart.
We're not trying to be morose. We're starting Advent.
The season of Advent (four Sundays preceding Christmas) traditionally begins, not with backward-looking remembrances of circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth, but with eerie images of cosmic mutations and grand promises of a future in which Jesus plays -- to put it mildly -- a noticeable role. Don't wear the tacky Christmas sweater just yet; track shoes and a hazmat suit may capture the mood better.
Advent's watchwords are preparation and waiting. It's about looking outward and ahead. It's time for Christians to declare that God's previous incursion into human affairs through Jesus Christ is not the end of the story but the foundation for a future hope of God bringing ultimate promises to fruition.
Read the rest here
We're not trying to be morose. We're starting Advent.
The season of Advent (four Sundays preceding Christmas) traditionally begins, not with backward-looking remembrances of circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth, but with eerie images of cosmic mutations and grand promises of a future in which Jesus plays -- to put it mildly -- a noticeable role. Don't wear the tacky Christmas sweater just yet; track shoes and a hazmat suit may capture the mood better.
Advent's watchwords are preparation and waiting. It's about looking outward and ahead. It's time for Christians to declare that God's previous incursion into human affairs through Jesus Christ is not the end of the story but the foundation for a future hope of God bringing ultimate promises to fruition.
Read the rest here
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