Towards a Theology of Organizing

Posted on December 27, 2015 by PLT Staff

Transcript of a panel discussion between Mark Gornik, Russell M. Jeung, Rydell Payne and Lee Stuart at the Conference on Lived Theology and Civil Courage in Charlottesville, Virginia, in June 2003. Stuart begins the presentation discussing the theological building blocks of her background, emphasizing that the main goal of community organizing is to move power to action — to change the world that is into the world that should be. She aims to redeem power as the greatest theological virtue by considering three models of power: the power of the image of God, the power of relationships, and the power expressed by social services. Payne and Jeung respond by examining the role of power in Charlottesville and Oakland, California, the communities where they serve.

Excerpt: “At its best, community organizing is the anti-trickle down of the powers. It’s the anti-trickle down of the board rooms and the settings that control communities and lives. It’s about a grass-roots revival of what is right and good. And it is theological drama.”

  • Paper Information
  • Author: Lee Stuart, Russell M. Jeung, Mark Gornik, Rydell Payne
  • Creation Date: June 12, 2003
  • PDF: View / Download File »
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