Feb 11 2006
Howard Thurman & the spiritual practice of reconciliation
Recently the Emergent West Michigan cohort asked me to talk about racial reconciliation I’ve been encouraging folks to read the writings of Howard Thurman as a way to broaden their theological framework, a couple have followed through. Thurman was a man before his time. In 1944 Thurman left his position as dean at Howard University to co-found the first fully integrated, multi-cultural church in the U.S. in San Francisco, CA. Thurman is the only writer theologian I am aware of who writes about reconciliation as a spiritual discipline. If there are others out there please let me know. Here’s a quote from his book Disciplines of the Spirit.
"The concern for reconciliation finds expression in the simple human desire to understand others and be understood by others." This is the miracle. One person standing in his own place, penetrates deeply in to the life of another in a manner that makes possible an ingathering within that other life…
So in March I’ll be sharing my thoughts on Towards a Generous Orthopraxis here’s a brief summary of my intent. A few years ago pastor, theologian and author, Brian McLaren challenged us to broaden our thinking about what it means to be a follower of Jesus in his book Generous Orthodoxy. Using the writings of theologian and author Howard Thurman (Jesus and the disinherited, Disciplines of the Spirit) I will challenge us to broaden our way, acting on patterns of life that Jesus lived and taught as we move Towards a Generous Orthopraxis. Specifically what does it mean to "rehearse" Pentecost through the spiritual practice of reconciliation?
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still looks to much like the old conversation, white, male and academic. The dominant culture still dominates. The values behind the conversation aren’t readily expressed in actions. No generous orthopraxis to go with the generous orthodoxy. (see my previous post) The lexicon of the white European theological framework which still dominates. There is very little inclusion of black theologians and the theological framework of people of color. People of color seem to be included in the conversation only if they
[...] The values behind the conversation aren’t readily expressed in actions. No generous orthopraxis to go with the generous orthodoxy. (see my previous post) [...]
[...] Howard Thurman & the spiritual practice of reconciliation [...]