Which happens when we slide back in to “normal†modes of operation. It happpens at every renewal in church communities and movements. It’s a glimpse we get when we discover or experience the power of “social†and then try to package it. The church has fallen into this trap (again) as it attempts to pick up the ball and run Continue Reading
Here’s a good tribute article from Colleen Dudley, Executive Director,Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee: Ermon Wayne Capps Lature July 4, 1932 – December 25, 2011 Memorial Service 5:00 pm – Wednesday, December 28, 2011 Visitation will be 2:00-5:00 pm Williamson Memorial Funeral Home 3009 Columbia Avenue Franklin, TN 37064 Ermon Lature came into this world on the 4th of Continue Reading
It really hasn’t sunk in , yet. Christmas Day, about 5:00 Central Time I got a call at my wife’s mother’s in Cincinnati from my older brother David in Brentwood TN. “Dad just had a heart attack and died”. It happened in just seconds. My younger brother Mike and his family had just arrived at my Mom and Dad’s, and Continue Reading
http://lambswar.blogspot.com/
When I first hit on the idea to get a domain, occupychurch.org was my first choice. But to my dismay, I found it inhabited by a church group that used the domain as a catchphrase, capitalizing (and “distorting”) the meme into a cheap PR scheme that thumbs its nose at the occupy movement by dissing political protest (and “Occupy” with Continue Reading
I have seen and RTd a few from Jereny John ( @glassdimlyfaith ) before, but I have found this one from a couple weeks ago that is a great piece of #occupytheology: I believe that Christians are called to occupy in two ways, as priests, and prophets. Christians must also play the role of prophet, both to the powers, and to the movement itself. To the Continue Reading
Wow. This was the first article I read today. Agree with all except the assessment of Campolo and Wallis. Both are well aware of “systems” that must be dismantled and challenged. But also, there is a disturbing lack of actual particpation, support, and aid to the Occupy movement that I think is needed from the churches who are not asleep. And due Continue Reading
Thought I’d include this item, from the Fundamentalist World Net Daily, as an example of the Low rung of the church response I blogged about earlier. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=368841 I especially like this: Wallis reportedly is a spiritual adviser to Obama and has known the president for years. That just seals it doesn’t it? Any association with Obama, and God forbid, a Continue Reading
This quote from a UMC pastor re: Occupy in Christianity Today has me thinking about the scale of church responses to Occupy: At bottom, is outright rejection and demonization (ala Fox and The Tea Party), 2) condescension expressed in comments like ” irrelevant” and “naive” 3) total ignoring 4) Skepticism about it’s ultimate effectiveness 5) Hopefulness about it but dampened Continue Reading
We in the Christian community are also asking how the movement’s message coheres with our theological precepts. Should the church be for or against OWS? Should the church offer spiritual support? Should the church lend physical and material support to movement members? http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/jesus_and_the_99_percent_20111202/?ln When the history of this second decade of the new millennium is written, we don’t want it Continue Reading
Senior Minister at Judson Memorial Church, Donna Schaper explains what she called the “edifice complex” some congregations have, and what Judson Church is offering to those without a space for worship. http://www.judson.org/occupywallst (These guys don’t have a twitter account? Why?)
When the Occupy Wall Street movement began in September, Judson was one of the first churches to openly support and join with protesters. The church works with other denominations in providing multi-faith services on Sunday afternoons. On Oct. 9, Judson joined with other clergy in carrying a golden calf named Greed around Wall Street. The calf was meant to remind people of the Continue Reading
These people at Judson Memorail Church are on top of things re: Occupy: http://www.judson.org/occupywallst
That “evil atheist”, Christopher Hitchens, expressing a healthier theology than do most of those in the Christian Right: The Occupy movement is the force that will revitalize traditional Christianity in the United States or signal its moral, social and political irrelevance. The mainstream church, battered by declining numbers and a failure to defiantly condemn the crimes and cruelty of the corporate Continue Reading
@MicahBales: Prosperity knits us to the world. We think we’re finding our place in the world when actually the world is finding its place in us. #CSLewis http://twitter.com/#!/micahbales/statuses/147731395270287360