Progressive Christianity
Encyclopedia
Progressive Christianity is the name given to a movement within contemporary Christianity
characterized by willingness to question tradition, acceptance of human diversity with a strong emphasis on social justice
or care for the poor and the oppressed (see Minority groups) and environmental stewardship of the Earth. Progressive Christians have a deep belief in the centrality of the instruction to "love
one another" (John 15:17) within the teaching of Jesus Christ. This leads to a focus on compassion
, promoting justice
and mercy
, tolerance, and working towards solving the societal problems of poverty
, discrimination
, and environmental issues.
This movement is by no means the only significant movement of progressive thought among Christians (see the 'See also' links below), but it is currently a focus of such issues in many parts of the world.
Progressive Christianity draws on the insights of multiple theological streams including: 19th century evangelicalism
, 19th and early 20th century Christian liberalism, 20th century neo-orthodoxy
, and late 20th and 21st century liberation theology
. The characteristics of Progressive Christianity, and its distinction from Liberal Christianity
, have been articulated in an article by Hal Taussig. These can be summarized as:
ic tradition inherited by Christianity
. This has been reflected in many later Christian traditions of service and ministry
, and more recently in the United States of America through Christian involvement in political trends such as the Progressive Movement and the Social Gospel
.
Throughout the 20th century, a strand of progressive or liberal Christian thought outlined the values of a 'good society
'. It stresses fairness, justice, responsibility, and compassion, and condemns the forms of governance that wage unjust war
, rely on corruption for continued power, deprive the poor of facilities, or exclude particular racial or sexual groups from fair participation in national liberties. It was influential in the US mainline churches, and reflected global trends in student activism
. It contributed to the ecumenical movement, as represented internationally by the World Student Christian Federation
and the World Council of Churches
internationally, and at the national level through groups such as the National Council of Churches
in the USA and Australian Student Christian Movement
.
in the US, particularly in its more socially conservative forms, challenged many people in mainline churches. Recently, a focus for those who wish to challenge this ascendancy has been provided by Jim Wallis
of Sojourners, who described himself as a progressive evangelical Christian. This has enabled many Christians who are uncomfortable with conservative evangelicalism to identify themselves explicitly as "Progressive Christians." At the onset of this new movement to organize Progressive Christians, the single largest force holding together was a webring
, The Progressive Christian Bloggers Network, and supporters frequently find and contact each other through dozens of online chat-rooms.
Notable initiatives within the movement for progressive Christianity include The Center for Progressive Christianity
(TCPC) in Cambridge, MA, [The Beatitudes Society]http://beatitudessociety.org/, the campaigning organization CrossLeft, the technology working group Social Redemption.
CrossLeft joined with Every Voice Network and Claiming the Blessing in October 2005 to stage a major conference, Path to Action, at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Among the speakers were E. J. Dionne
, Richard Parker
, Jim Wallis
, Senator Danforth
, and David Hollinger
.
Examples of statements of contemporary Progressive Christian beliefs include:
...Progressive Christianity is an approach to the Christian faith that is influenced by post-liberalism and postmodernism and: proclaims Jesus of Nazareth as Christ, Savior, and Lord; emphasizes the Way and teachings of Jesus, not merely His person; emphasizes God’s immanence not merely God’s transcendence; leans toward panentheism rather than supernatural theism; emphasizes salvation here and now instead of primarily in heaven later; emphasizes being saved for robust, abundant/eternal life over being saved from hell; emphasizes the social/communal aspects of salvation instead of merely the personal; stresses social justice as integral to Christian discipleship; takes the Bible seriously but not necessarily literally, embracing a more interpretive, metaphorical understanding; emphasizes orthopraxy instead of orthodoxy (right actions over right beliefs); embraces reason as well as paradox and mystery — instead of blind allegiance to rigid doctrines and dogmas; does not consider homosexuality to be sinful; and does not claim that Christianity is the only valid or viable way to connect to God (is non-exclusive). p. 63
. Many, if not most, Progressive Christians believe that the Bible is not the literal word of God
. While all Progressive Christians recognize Jesus Christ, some view him not as the only way to God, but one of many ways, continuing the Christian modernist paradigm. Inclusiveness and acceptance is the basic posture of Progressive Christianity.
Progressive Christians tend to focus on issues of social justice, rather than proselytizing efforts to convert others, as conservatives and mainstream Evangelicals tend to emphasize.
, the liberal wing describe themselves as "progressive Adventists
". They disagree with some of the traditional teachings of the church. While most are still of evangelical persuasion, a minority are liberal Christians.
Central to this recovery of awe in the cosmos is the Epic of Evolution
, the 14-billion-year history of the universe. Scientists (Edward O. Wilson, Brian Swimme
, Eric Chaisson
, Ursula Goodenough
and others) initiated this story which has been perpetuated with a religion component by some liberal theologians (Gordon D. Kaufman
, Jerome A. Stone
, Michael Dowd
, etc).,
Evolutionary evangelist and progressive minister Michael Dowd
uses the term Epic of Evolution or Great Story to help construct his viewpoint of evolution theology. His position is that science and religious faith are not mutually exclusive (a form of Religious Naturalism
). He preaches that the epic of cosmic, biological, and human evolution, revealed by science, is a basis for an inspiring and meaningful view of our place in the universe and a new approach to religion. Evolution is viewed as a religious spiritual process that is not meaningless blind chance.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
characterized by willingness to question tradition, acceptance of human diversity with a strong emphasis on social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
or care for the poor and the oppressed (see Minority groups) and environmental stewardship of the Earth. Progressive Christians have a deep belief in the centrality of the instruction to "love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
one another" (John 15:17) within the teaching of Jesus Christ. This leads to a focus on compassion
Compassion
Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
, promoting justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and mercy
Mercy
Mercy is broad term that refers to benevolence, forgiveness and kindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social and legal contexts.The concept of a "Merciful God" appears in various religions from Christianity to...
, tolerance, and working towards solving the societal problems of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
, and environmental issues.
This movement is by no means the only significant movement of progressive thought among Christians (see the 'See also' links below), but it is currently a focus of such issues in many parts of the world.
Progressive Christianity draws on the insights of multiple theological streams including: 19th century evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, 19th and early 20th century Christian liberalism, 20th century neo-orthodoxy
Neo-orthodoxy
Neo-orthodoxy, in Europe also known as theology of crisis and dialectical theology,is an approach to theology in Protestantism that was developed in the aftermath of the First World War...
, and late 20th and 21st century liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
. The characteristics of Progressive Christianity, and its distinction from Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
, have been articulated in an article by Hal Taussig. These can be summarized as:
- A spiritual vitality and expressiveness, including participatory, artArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
s-infused, and lively worshipWorshipWorship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
as well as a variety of spiritual ritualRitualA ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
s and practices such as meditationMeditationMeditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit.... - Intellectual integrity including a willingness to question
- An affirmation of human diversity
- An affirmation of the Christian faithFaithFaith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
with a simultaneous sincere respect for other faiths - Strong ecological concerns and commitments
Origins
A priority of justice and care for the down-trodden are a recurrent theme in the Hebrew prophetProphet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
ic tradition inherited by Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. This has been reflected in many later Christian traditions of service and ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
, and more recently in the United States of America through Christian involvement in political trends such as the Progressive Movement and the Social Gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
.
Throughout the 20th century, a strand of progressive or liberal Christian thought outlined the values of a 'good society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
'. It stresses fairness, justice, responsibility, and compassion, and condemns the forms of governance that wage unjust war
Just War
Just war theory is a doctrine of military ethics of Roman philosophical and Catholic origin, studied by moral theologians, ethicists and international policy makers, which holds that a conflict ought to meet philosophical, religious or political criteria.-Origins:The concept of justification for...
, rely on corruption for continued power, deprive the poor of facilities, or exclude particular racial or sexual groups from fair participation in national liberties. It was influential in the US mainline churches, and reflected global trends in student activism
Student activism
Student activism is work done by students to effect political, environmental, economic, or social change. It has often focused on making changes in schools, such as increasing student influence over curriculum or improving educational funding...
. It contributed to the ecumenical movement, as represented internationally by the World Student Christian Federation
World Student Christian Federation
The World Student Christian Federation is a federation of autonomous national Student Christian Movements forming the youth and student arm of the global ecumenical movement...
and the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
internationally, and at the national level through groups such as the National Council of Churches
National Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
in the USA and Australian Student Christian Movement
Australian Student Christian Movement
The Australian Student Christian Movement is a Christian group with an ecumenical focus working with university students.ASCM fosters liberal and progressive religious and social views and has been associated with the social gospel, Christian socialist and environmentalist movements and is...
.
The contemporary movement
The ascendancy of EvangelicalismEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
in the US, particularly in its more socially conservative forms, challenged many people in mainline churches. Recently, a focus for those who wish to challenge this ascendancy has been provided by Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis is an American evangelical Christian writer and political activist. He is best known as the founder and editor of Sojourners magazine, and of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community of the same name....
of Sojourners, who described himself as a progressive evangelical Christian. This has enabled many Christians who are uncomfortable with conservative evangelicalism to identify themselves explicitly as "Progressive Christians." At the onset of this new movement to organize Progressive Christians, the single largest force holding together was a webring
Webring
A webring is a collection of websites linked together in a circular structure, and usually organized around a specific theme, often educational or social...
, The Progressive Christian Bloggers Network, and supporters frequently find and contact each other through dozens of online chat-rooms.
Notable initiatives within the movement for progressive Christianity include The Center for Progressive Christianity
Center for Progressive Christianity
The Center for Progressive Christianity was founded in 1996 by, retired Episcopal priest, James Rowe Adams in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is possibly the most progressive established Christian group within American Christianity...
(TCPC) in Cambridge, MA, [The Beatitudes Society]http://beatitudessociety.org/, the campaigning organization CrossLeft, the technology working group Social Redemption.
CrossLeft joined with Every Voice Network and Claiming the Blessing in October 2005 to stage a major conference, Path to Action, at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Among the speakers were E. J. Dionne
E. J. Dionne
Eugene Joseph "E.J." Dionne, Jr. is an American journalist and political commentator, and a long-time op-ed columnist for The Washington Post...
, Richard Parker
Richard Parker
-People:*Richard Parker , American economist and member of The Nation Editorial Board*Richard Parker , British sailor and leader of the Nore Mutiny*Richard A...
, Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis is an American evangelical Christian writer and political activist. He is best known as the founder and editor of Sojourners magazine, and of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community of the same name....
, Senator Danforth
John Danforth
John Claggett "Jack" Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican United States Senator from Missouri. He is an ordained Episcopal priest. Danforth is married to Sally D. Danforth and has five adult children.-Education and early career:Danforth was born...
, and David Hollinger
David Hollinger
David Hollinger is the Preston Hotchkis Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley. His specialty is in American intellectual history. His source book, The American Intellectual Tradition, is amongst the most widely used textbooks in college undergraduate courses focusing on...
.
Examples of statements of contemporary Progressive Christian beliefs include:
- the Eight Points produced by TCPC: a statement of agreement about Christianity as a basis for tolerance and human rights;
- the Phoenix AffirmationsPhoenix AffirmationsThe Phoenix Affirmations is a set of twelve principles originally penned by a group of clergy and laypeople from Phoenix, Arizona, in an attempt to articulate clearly the broad strokes of the emerging Christian faith. Pastors, theologians, and biblical scholars from every mainline denomination ,...
produced by Crosswalk (Phoenix, AZ) - include twelve points defining Christian love of God, Christian love of neighbor, and Christian love of self. - the article, "Grassroots Progressive Christianity: A Quiet Revolution" by Hal Taussig published in 'The Fourth R,' May–June 2006.
- the working definition utilized in Roger Wolsey's book Kissing Fish: Christianity for people who don't like Christianity http://www.progressivechristianitybook.com :
...Progressive Christianity is an approach to the Christian faith that is influenced by post-liberalism and postmodernism and: proclaims Jesus of Nazareth as Christ, Savior, and Lord; emphasizes the Way and teachings of Jesus, not merely His person; emphasizes God’s immanence not merely God’s transcendence; leans toward panentheism rather than supernatural theism; emphasizes salvation here and now instead of primarily in heaven later; emphasizes being saved for robust, abundant/eternal life over being saved from hell; emphasizes the social/communal aspects of salvation instead of merely the personal; stresses social justice as integral to Christian discipleship; takes the Bible seriously but not necessarily literally, embracing a more interpretive, metaphorical understanding; emphasizes orthopraxy instead of orthodoxy (right actions over right beliefs); embraces reason as well as paradox and mystery — instead of blind allegiance to rigid doctrines and dogmas; does not consider homosexuality to be sinful; and does not claim that Christianity is the only valid or viable way to connect to God (is non-exclusive). p. 63
Differences between Progressive Christianity and Conservative Christianity
Holding to the ideals of Progressive Christianity sets the movement apart from other forms of traditional ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Many, if not most, Progressive Christians believe that the Bible is not the literal word of God
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
. While all Progressive Christians recognize Jesus Christ, some view him not as the only way to God, but one of many ways, continuing the Christian modernist paradigm. Inclusiveness and acceptance is the basic posture of Progressive Christianity.
Progressive Christians tend to focus on issues of social justice, rather than proselytizing efforts to convert others, as conservatives and mainstream Evangelicals tend to emphasize.
Seventh-day Adventism
Within the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, the liberal wing describe themselves as "progressive Adventists
Progressive Adventism
Progressive Adventists are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who disagree with certain beliefs traditionally held by mainstream Adventism and officially by the church. They are often described as liberal Adventism by other Adventists, the term "progressive" is generally preferred as a...
". They disagree with some of the traditional teachings of the church. While most are still of evangelical persuasion, a minority are liberal Christians.
Environmental Ministries
As Bruce Sanguin writes, "It's time for the Christian church to get with a cosmological program (…). We now know, for instance, that we live in an evolving or evolutionary universe. Evolution is the way that the Holy creates in space and in time, in every sphere: material, biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual. This new cosmology simply cannot be contained by old models and images of God, or by old ways of being the church.".Central to this recovery of awe in the cosmos is the Epic of Evolution
Epic of Evolution
The phrase Epic of Evolution represents an attempt to create a mythic narrative aimed at reconciling religious and scientific views of cosmic evolution, biological evolution, and sociocultural evolution. According to Taylor's Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, it is…-History:The term "Epic of...
, the 14-billion-year history of the universe. Scientists (Edward O. Wilson, Brian Swimme
Brian Swimme
Brian Thomas Swimme is on the faculty of the California Institute of Integral Studies, in San Francisco, where he teaches evolutionary cosmology to graduate students in the humanities. He received his Ph.D. from the department of mathematics at the University of Oregon for work in singularity...
, Eric Chaisson
Eric Chaisson
Eric J. Chaisson is an American astrophysicist and science educator best known for his research, teaching, and writing on the interdisciplinary science of cosmic evolution....
, Ursula Goodenough
Ursula Goodenough
Ursula W. Goodenough is a Professor of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis and author of the best selling book Sacred Depths of Nature...
and others) initiated this story which has been perpetuated with a religion component by some liberal theologians (Gordon D. Kaufman
Gordon D. Kaufman
Dr. Gordon D. Kaufman was the Mallinckrodt Professor of Divinity at Harvard University where he taught since 1963. He lectured widely, and taught at universities across the United States , and also in India, Japan, South Africa, England, and Hong Kong...
, Jerome A. Stone
Jerome A. Stone
Jerome Stone—author, philosopher, and theologian—is best known for helping to develop the religious movement of Religious Naturalism. Dr. Stone is on the Adjunct Faculty of Meadville Lombard Theological School; is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at William Rainey Harper College; is in Preliminary...
, Michael Dowd
Michael Dowd
Michael Dowd is an American evolutionary theologian, bestselling author, and evangelist for Big History and Religious Naturalism....
, etc).,
Evolutionary evangelist and progressive minister Michael Dowd
Michael Dowd
Michael Dowd is an American evolutionary theologian, bestselling author, and evangelist for Big History and Religious Naturalism....
uses the term Epic of Evolution or Great Story to help construct his viewpoint of evolution theology. His position is that science and religious faith are not mutually exclusive (a form of Religious Naturalism
Religious naturalism
Religious naturalism is an approach to spirituality that is devoid of supernaturalism. The focus is on the religious attributes of the universe/Nature, the understanding of it and our response to it . These provide for the development of an eco-morality...
). He preaches that the epic of cosmic, biological, and human evolution, revealed by science, is a basis for an inspiring and meaningful view of our place in the universe and a new approach to religion. Evolution is viewed as a religious spiritual process that is not meaningless blind chance.
Notable Progressive Christians
- James Rowe Adams http://www.tcpc.org/about/bio.cfm?person_id=1
- Karen ArmstrongKaren ArmstrongKaren Armstrong FRSL , is a British author and commentator who is the author of twelve books on comparative religion. A former Roman Catholic nun, she went from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical faith...
http://www.westarinstitute.org/Fellows/Armstrong/armstrong.html - Jay BakkerJay BakkerJamie Charles Bakker is an American Christian pastor and the son of Jim Bakker and the late Tammy Faye Bakker Messner. He ministers to Revolution Church, a church he founded in 1994 in Phoenix, Arizona with Kelli Miller and Mike Wall...
http://www.revolutionchurch.com/ - Diana Butler BassDiana Butler BassDiana Butler Bass, an independent commentator on American religion, is a leader in Mainline and Progressive Christianity. She is the author of six books on American religion, three of which have won research or writing awards. She earned a Ph.D...
http://www.dianabutlerbass.com/ - BonoBonoPaul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
- Marcus BorgMarcus BorgMarcus J. Borg is an American Biblical scholar and author. He is a fellow of the Jesus Seminar, holds a DPhil degree from Oxford University and is Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture, an endowed chair, at Oregon State University, from which he retired in 2007...
http://www.westarinstitute.org/Periodicals/4R_Articles/Borg_bio/borg_bio.html - Walter BrueggemannWalter BrueggemannWalter Brueggemann is an American Protestant Old Testament scholar and theologian.-Life:The son of a minister of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, he was ordained in the United Church of Christ. Brueggemann received an A.B. from Elmhurst College , a B.D. from Eden Theological...
- Delwin Brown http://progressivetheology.wordpress.com/
- Walt BrownWalt BrownWalter Frederick Brown is an American politician and was the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party USA in the 2004 elections. Brown became a socialist in 1948. He served as Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate from 1975 to 1987. Brown also served as a Socialist Party of Oregon...
- William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
- John M. BuchananJohn Buchanan (pastor)Rev. John M. Buchanan is the pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Illinois, the second largest congregation in the Presbyterian Church ....
- Frederick BuechnerFrederick BuechnerFrederick Buechner is an American writer and theologian. Born July 11, 1926 in New York City, he is an ordained Presbyterian minister and the author of more than thirty published books thus far. His work encompasses different genres, including fiction, autobiography, essays and sermons, and his...
- Jim Burklo http://www.sonic.net/~jtburklo/openchristianity.com/burklo.html
- Bart CampoloBart CampoloBart Campolo is an urban minister, speaker, and writer. He is the founder of Mission Year, and the author of several books including Kingdom Works: True Stories of God and His People in Inner City America and Things We Wish We Had Said, which he co-wrote with his father, Tony Campolo...
http://www.bartcampolo.org/ - Tony CampoloTony CampoloDr. Anthony "Tony" Campolo is an American pastor, author, sociologist, and public speaker known for challenging evangelical Christians by illustrating how their faith can offer solutions in a world of complexity. With his liberal political and social attitudes, he has been a major proponent for...
http://www.tonycampolo.org/ - Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
- Shane ClaiborneShane ClaiborneShane Claiborne is one of the founding members of The Simple Way in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This community was featured on the cover of Christianity Today as a pioneer in the New Monasticism movement. Claiborne is also a prominent activist for nonviolence and service to the...
http://www.thesimpleway.org/ - Jarrod Cochran http://www.jarrodcochran.com/
- William Sloane CoffinWilliam Sloane CoffinWilliam Sloane Coffin, Jr. was an American liberal Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ....
- John Dominic CrossanJohn Dominic CrossanJohn Dominic Crossan is an Irish-American religious scholar and former Catholic priest known for co-founding the Jesus Seminar. Crossan is a major figure in the fields of biblical archaeology, anthropology and New Testament textual and higher criticism. He is also a lecturer who has appeared in...
http://www.johndominiccrossan.com/ - Hugh Dawes - author of Freeing the Faith http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0281045801
- Michael DowdMichael DowdMichael Dowd is an American evolutionary theologian, bestselling author, and evangelist for Big History and Religious Naturalism....
http://thankgodforevolution.com/ - Harry Emerson FosdickHarry Emerson FosdickHarry Emerson Fosdick was an American clergyman. He was born in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Colgate University in 1900, and Union Theological Seminary in 1904. While attending Colgate University he joined the Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1903 at the...
- Becky GarrisonBecky Garrison-Education:Garrison earned a bachelor's degree in theater arts at Wake Forest University.She received an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and an M.S.W. from Columbia University.-External links:...
http://www.beckygarrison.com/ - Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/additional_resources/articles/gospel.htm - Robert F. KennedyRobert F. KennedyRobert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
- Peter Laarman http://www.progressivechristiansuniting.org/
- Anne LamottAnne LamottAnne Lamott is a novelist and non-fiction writer. She is also a political activist, public speaker and writing teacher. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, her nonfiction works are largely autobiographical...
http://www.barclayagency.com/lamott.html - James Lawson-life long community leader and advocate for social justice
- Phil Lawson-lifelong pacifist and leader of non-violence, associate of Dr. M.L. King, Jr.
- Brian McLarenBrian McLarenBrian D. McLaren is a prominent, controversial evangelical pastor. He was recognized as one of Time magazine's "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America" in 2005, and is the founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, Maryland.-Biography:Born in 1956, Brian McLaren...
http://www.brianmclaren.net/ - Brian P. Moore - US Presidential candidate for the 2008 Presidential elections
- Carrie NewcomerCarrie NewcomerCarrie Newcomer is an American singer and songwriter.-Early life and education:Carrie Newcomer was born in Dowagiac, Michigan, and raised in Elkhart, Indiana. She attended Goshen College and received a B.A...
http://www.carrienewcomer.com/ - John C. O'Keefe http://www.johncokeefe.com author, pastor, speaker
- Scott Paeth http://scottpaeth.typepad.com/main/
- Fred Plumer http://www.tcpc.org/
- Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/content/speakers/rev_osagyefo_uhuru_sekou.html
- Timothy F. Simpson http://www.christianalliance.org/
- Barbara Brown TaylorBarbara Brown TaylorBarbara Brown Taylor is an American Episcopal priest, professor, and theologian and is one of the United States' best known preachers....
http://www.barbarabrowntaylor.com/ - Charles H. Toy II http://www.thechristianleft.org/
- C.T. Vivian http://www.speakoutnow.org/userdata_display.php?modin=50&uid=152/
- Gretta Vosper http://progressivechristianity.ca - author, United Church of Canada minister, founder of the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity
- Wynn Wagner IIIWynn Wagner IIIWinfield "Wynn" Wagner is a computer programmer, former broadcast journalist, clergyman and author.-Early career:During the 1980s and 1990s, Wagner was as the author and maintainer of Opus-CBCS, a computer bulletin board system...
http://www.OldCatholicChurch.com (author and archbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Old Catholic ChurchOld Catholic ChurchThe term Old Catholic Church is commonly used to describe a number of Ultrajectine Christian churches that originated with groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over certain doctrines, most importantly that of Papal Infallibility...
) - Jim WallisJim WallisJim Wallis is an American evangelical Christian writer and political activist. He is best known as the founder and editor of Sojourners magazine, and of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community of the same name....
http://www.sojo.net/ - Daniel Wise (former editor of Zion's Herald, which later became The Progressive Christian magazine)
- Roger Wolsey http://www.progressivechristianitybook.com - author, United Methodist pastor
- Br. Karekin M. Yarian, BSGBr. Karekin M. Yarian, BSGKarekin Madteos Yarian is an author and social activist from San Francisco. He is a member of the Episcopal religious community known as the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory. He is the author of In Love and Service Bound: The First Forty Years of the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory; The Skillfulness of...
http://www.punkmonksf.com/index.php/ - Frank P. ZeidlerFrank P. ZeidlerFrank Paul Zeidler was an American Socialist politician and Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving three terms from April 20, 1948 to April 18, 1960. He was the most recent Socialist mayor of any major American city, although U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was the mayor of Burlington, the largest...
See also
- California Council of Churches
- Catholic Worker movementCatholic Worker MovementThe Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities of Catholics and their associates founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. Its aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ." One of its guiding principles is hospitality towards those on...
- Christian leftChristian leftThe Christian left is a term originating in the United States, used to describe a spectrum of left-wing Christian political and social movements which largely embraces social justice....
- Civil Rights MovementCivil rights movementThe civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
for racial justice in the American South - Evangelical leftEvangelical leftEvangelical left is a term used to describe those who are part of the Christian evangelical movement in the United States but who generally function on the left wing of that movement, either politically or theologically, or both...
- Liberal ChristianityLiberal ChristianityLiberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
- Liberation TheologyLiberation theologyLiberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
- Living the Questions, curriculum resources for Progressive Christians
- Postmodern ChristianityPostmodern ChristianityPostmodern Christianity is an outlook of Christianity that is closely associated with the body of writings known as postmodern philosophy. Although it is a relatively recent development in the Christian religion, some Christian postmodernists assert that their style of thought has an affinity with...
- Patheos
- Progressive Christian Alliance
- Progressive National Baptist ConventionProgressive National Baptist ConventionThe Progressive National Baptist Convention, Incorporated is a convention of African-American Baptists emphasizing civil rights and social justice....
- Red Letter ChristiansRed-Letter ChristianRed-Letter Christians constitute a movement within Christianity. They believe that Evangelicalism has been exploited by both right-wing and left-wing political movements, and they endeavor to create an Evangelical movement that focuses on the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in regard to...
- Social justiceSocial justiceSocial justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
- Sojourners
- The Center for Progressive ChristianityCenter for Progressive ChristianityThe Center for Progressive Christianity was founded in 1996 by, retired Episcopal priest, James Rowe Adams in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is possibly the most progressive established Christian group within American Christianity...
- Engaged SpiritualityEngaged SpiritualityEngaged Spirituality refers to religious or spiritual people who actively engage in the world in order to transform it in positive ways while finding nurturance, inspiration and guidance in their spiritual beliefs and practices. The term was inspired by Engaged Buddhism a concept and set of values...
External links
- The Center for Progressive Christianity
- LiberationSpirituality.Net retreats in integrating contemplative practice and justice work
- The Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity
- The Progressive Christian Network of Victoria
- Christians for Justice and Peace
- The Christian Left -- An Open Fellowship of Progressive Christians
- The Progressive Christian Alliance
- The Christian Alliance for Progress
- CrossLeft organizing the Christian Left
- CrossWalk America
- Britain - The Progressive Christianity Network for Great Britain
- The Living Hour & Lord's Prayer Progressive Christian Meditations
- Living the Questions resourcing Progressive Christians
- National Catholic Reporter - A progressive Catholic newsweekly
- Social Redemption
- Transcript of Spirit Wars: American Religion in Progressive Politics, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life December 6, 2005
- Christian Peacemaker Teams
- Every Church a Peace Church
- Tribal Church
- The Progressive Christian magazine
- Centre for Progressive Religious Thought
- Forum on Religion and Ecology
- The Young Library for Progressive Theology
- The Progressive Christian Network of Ireland
- The Beatitudes Society
- Different Voice resourcing progressive Christian educators