Wild Goose

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Privilege is hard to talk about. We can feel confused by the idea, put on the spot, responsible for things we have no control over, fearful, and instinctively defensive. But what if recognizing our privilege (or lack of it) is really about hearing other people's stories? Understanding the ways other people and their lives are different from us and our lives? Stories can take something big, abstract, and systemic and make it specific and personal. They let us see others and ourselves more clearly. And stories of interruption and transformation can make us ask new questions of ourselves and consider new possibilities for our lives.

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Dr. Larycia Hawkins, the first female African-American to be tenured at Wheaton College, was placed on "administrative leave" for posting photographs of herself wearing a hijab in solidarity with Muslims during Advent. The photographs were posted on her personal social media page. Less than a month later Wheaton began the process of terminating her and soon Dr. Hawkins, a tenured faculty member, and the school "decided to part ways."

Barbara Brown Taylor, teacher of world religions, best-selling author, including her most recent Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others, and listed as one of twelve most effective preachers in the English language (CNN, May 2018) will interview Dr. Hawkins.

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While most progressive or post evangelical churches hold egalitarian doctrines, there are still very few women leading in those churches. This session explores how purity culture and complementarianism continue to impact women in faith leadership by looking at the core tenants and history of these two ideas to create context for current gendered struggles in churches.

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Jacqui Lewis and Mathame Sanders discuss what it means to be a Christian vs. what it means to follow Jesus.

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Gun violence is a public health crisis. It is also a spiritual and moral crisis. In the US, We have nearly 5 times more gunshops than McDonald restaurants. More Americans have died from guns in the US in the last fifty years than in all the wars in American history. In the US, we manufacture 9.5 million guns a year, 26,000 a day, 18 per minute, one gun every 3 seconds. With less than 5% of the world's population, the people of the US own nearly half the world's guns. America also has the most annual gun deaths--homicide, suicide, and accidental gun deaths--at 105 per day, or more than 38,000 per year. Some people say it's a heart problem. Others say it's a gun problem. We say it's both. And God changes hearts, but people change laws. The biblical prophets Micah and Isaiah imagine a world where God's people beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning hooks… transforming the tools of death into tools of life, building a world free of violence. This session includes a LIVE weapon transformation with RAW Tools, where a gun will be turned into a garden tool. With special guest Rev. Sharon Risher.

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Mystic and theologian, Howard Thurman (1899-1981) cherished silence and stillness. He found in quietness an opportunity to commune with the Eternal that he believed lies deep within the heart. He shares these insights in his book, Meditations of the Heart.

In this Wild Goose session Lerita Coleman Brown illustrates how our hearts overflow with divine guidance and that there is an invitation to engage in deep inner listening. This session will be punctuated with recorded meditations, silence, discussion, and guided moments of active imagination designed to tap the mystical heart and its wealth of spiritual wisdom.

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The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, a 1000-member multiracial, welcoming, and inclusive congregation in New York City. She is an activist, preacher, and fierce advocate for racial equality, economic justice, and LGBTQ equality. She has also written three books, hosted a television program, been a frequent contributor to MSNBC, and taught at seminaries across the country.

Jacqui earned her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and earned a M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Psychology and Religion from Drew University. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Jacqui is the first African American and first woman to serve as senior minister in the Collegiate Church, which was founded in New York City in 1628.

Diana is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of nine books, including Grounded: Finding God in the World—A Spiritual Revolution (HarperOne, 2015) and the widely influential Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening (HarperOne, 2012). Her other books include A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story (HarperOne, 2009), and the best-selling Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith (2006) which was named as one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly and was featured in a cover story in USA TODAY. Diana regularly writes at The Huffington Post and The Washington Post and comments on religion, politics, and culture in the media including USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, CBS, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR.

dianabutlerbass.com

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I am a mama-activist-contemplative-healer-public intellectual who believes in throwing parties as a key revolutionary strategy. I am a healing justice practitioner, writer, faith-rooted activist & organizer, and speaker. I love bringing people together to explore the intersections of our lives, awaken empathy and fight oppression. I am obsessed with shalom, spend too much time on social media reading articles and making up hashtags. I long to lead in a way that would make Ella Baker proud. I believe with all that I am that my liberation is tied up in yours – so let's get free together.

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for "a new kind of Christianity" – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. Notable among the many books he has authored are: "A New Kind of Christian""A Generous Orthodoxy," "Everything Must Change," "We Make the Road by Walking," and "The Great Spiritual Migration." He co-authored a picture book for all ages called "Cory and the Seventh Story," and his book "The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey" will be released this October. Brian is married to Grace, and they have four adult children and five grandchildren. His personal interests include wildlife and ecology, fly fishing and kayaking, music and songwriting, art, history, and literature. https://brianmclaren.net/

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Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, lecturer and non-profit activist. She has worked with thousands of individuals, as well as large and small groups, in transforming crisis into opportunity. For 35 years she has been helping people heal from problems that in many ways have been created by an irresponsible political establishment. She has an up close and personal understanding of the impact of bad policy on average American's lives.

For three decades Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. Her book about the intersection of spirituality and politics, Healing the Soul of America, was released in 1997 and re-released in a revised edition earlier this year. Her book A POLITICS OF LOVE: Handbook for a New American Revolution, was released in April 2019. In total she has written 13 books, four reaching # 1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Marianne has founded nonprofit organizations such as Project Angel Food, that in 1989 started delivering meals to homebound AIDS patients. The organization has now served over 11 million meals. She has also worked throughout her career on poverty, anti-hunger and racial reconciliation issues. She has advocated for reparations for slavery since the 1990's and was the first candidate in this presidential primary season to make it a pillar of her campaign. In 2004, she co-founded The Peace Alliance and supports the creation of a US Department of Peace. In addition, she advocates a cabinet level Department of Children and Youth to more adequately address the chronic trauma of millions of American children.

Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of nine books, including Grounded: Finding God in the World—A Spiritual Revolution (HarperOne, 2015) and the widely influential Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening (HarperOne, 2012). Her other books include A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story (HarperOne, 2009), and the best-selling Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith (2006) which was named as one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly and was featured in a cover story in USA TODAY. Diana regularly writes at The Huffington Post and The Washington Post and comments on religion, politics, and culture in the media including USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, CBS, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR.

dianabutlerbass.com

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"Going to a new church as a disabled person is a brave act." These words, spoken by Shannon Dingle, are bold truth for her as a person of faith who is disabled and mother to children with disabilities. Often, once a ramp is built many faith communities believe 'access' is complete. Yes, physical accessibility is important - but so much more is needed. What does 'access' mean - especially when it comes to communities of faith? How do faith communities become accessible for people across the physical and neurodiverse disability spectrum? How do issues of economics, race, gender and sexuality impact accessibility needs? The answers to these questions are not simple. We propose these answers come as we listen - and listen deeply - to the stories of those with lived disability and faith experiences. We invite you to join this ongoing, much-needed conversation.