PLT Alum Tim Hartman Celebrates Lived Theology Course and Sabbatical Plans

Tim HartmanReflecting on Class Takeaways and Future Studies

PLT alum Tim Hartman of Columbia Theological Seminary recently taught a class entitled “Theology and Community: A Lived Theology Approach,” which studied the social consequences of religious belief by examining famous historical figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bonhoeffer. The class delved into past movements as well as more current ones in order to get a more nuanced perspective of lived theology.

Reflecting on his course, Professor Hartman stated:

“My students are hungry to see how theology makes a difference in the world. In Theology & Community: A Lived Theology approach, students explore the social consequences of religious belief through four case-studies: the Civil Rights movement in the U.S., Nazi Germany, the Rwandan genocide, and contemporary ‘stand your ground’ culture in the U.S. to learn some ways that the Christian faith has been used for both oppression and liberation.”

Since having taught this course, Professor Hartman was awarded a grant from the Louisville Institute which will allow him to study Christianity from a non-western perspective. His main project will be writing a book that is a theological introduction to Ghanaian theologian Kwame Bediako. He plans to spend the first six months of his sabbatical in Cape Town, South Africa, as a visiting scholar in the Department of Religion and Theology at the University of the Western Cape prior to visiting other African countries.

To read the full announcement detailing Professor Hartman’s sabbatical grant, click here.

Fellow travelers are scholars, activists, and practitioners that embody the ideals and commitments of the Project on Lived Theology. We admire their work and are grateful to be walking alongside them in the development and dissemination of Lived Theology.

For more news from PLT fellow travelers, click here. To engage in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, @LivedTheology, please use #LivedTheologyReads. For more recommended resources from our fellow travelers, click here, #PLTfellowtravelers. To sign up for the Lived Theology monthly newsletter, click here.

On the Lived Theology Reading List: The Radical King

The Radical King, Cornel West and Martin Luther King Jr.A revealing collection that restores Dr. King as being every bit as radical as Malcolm X

In the introduction to The Radical King, Cornell West declares that this new collection of King’s writings presents “a radical King that we can no longer sanitize.” West argues that King was a revolutionary figure, one who called for “a reevaluation of our values, a reinvigoration of our public life, and a fundamental transformation of our way of thinking and living that promotes a transfer of power from oligarchs and plutocrats to everyday people and average citizens.” Containing twenty-three selections of King’s writing and oratory, the collection shows how King’s message of radical love was simultaneously political and religious. The collection makes clear that King’s prophetic nonviolent witness was not just intended to advance civil rights, but also aimed to address poverty, inequality, war, antisemitism and colonialism.

Reviews and endorsements of the publication include:

“King’s skills as a preacher and rhetorician are amply in evidence, as is his profound empathy with others.”—Publishers Weekly

“This useful collection takes King from the front lines of Southern segregation to a national movement for economic equality to an international condemnation of imperialism and armed intervention.”—Kirkus Reviews

For more information on the publication, click here.

Fellow travelers are scholars, activists, and practitioners that embody the ideals and commitments of the Project on Lived Theology. We admire their work and are grateful to be walking alongside them in the development and dissemination of Lived Theology.

For more of “On the Lived Theology Reading List,” click here. To engage in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, @LivedTheology, please use #LivedTheologyReads. For more recommended resources from our fellow travelers, click here, #PLTfellowtravelers. To sign up for the Lived Theology monthly newsletter, click here.

Charles Marsh and John Perkins Speak at Pepperdine University

Keynote speaker Rev. John PerkinsOn the Question of God and Justice

On Tuesday, March 27th, Charles Marsh and PLT contributor John M. Perkins presented a feature entitled “Does God Care About Justice?” at the Veritas Forum at Pepperdine University. The Veritas Forum is an organization that facilitates conversations between students and faculty on a range of beliefs and life’s hardest questions in pursuit of truth.

Marsh spoke of Bonhoeffer’s reflections on the church while in prison, comparing the Nazi’s appropriation of the Christian church to the way white southern churches of his youth distorted the word of God in their own prejudice. In his talk, he noted:

“My own culture and my own taste had constructed a God that had very little to do with the gospel… the church… exists fundamentally beyond national boundaries, political boundaries, social boundaries, racial boundaries… Those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord are quite necessarily… members of the global fellowship.”

Perkins reflected on the great societal changes he had seen in his life, particularly in the church, and how those related to the historical changes in the church started by Martin Luther and Bonhoeffer. In his discussion of of the current state of society, he expressed his conviction that the church, and indeed society as a whole, could become more equal and accepting, explaining:

We might be at a sacred moment in history… I believe that we can form multicultural churches. I believe that we can be intentional in our love.”

To watch the talk in its entirety, along with the following Q&A, click here. For more information on the Veritas Forum, visit their website here.

John M. Perkins is a leader and major figure of the civil rights movement of the 1960s who founded Voice of Calvary Ministries, a Christian community development ministry, with his wife, Vera Mae. 

Charles Marsh is the Commonwealth Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia and the director of the Project on Lived Theology. His research interests include modern Christian thought, religion and civil rights, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and lived theology.

PLT event updates can be found online using #PLTevents. To browse our PLT resource collection, click here. Updates on our resources can be found online using #PLTresources. To get these updates, please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @LivedTheology.

In Commemoration of MLK: Clayborn Temple to Present “Union”

Historic Memphis Temple Plans Theater Tribute to King

In 1968, Clayborn Temple was home to the Memphis Sanitation Workers during their strike for economic justice. Within its sanctuary they organized their efforts, and from its steps they marched daily into the streets of Memphis. As they went, they carried the iconic “I AM A MAN” signs that bore witness to the very meaning of the movement: the pursuit of human dignity.

Today, fifty years later, Clayborn Temple is developing “Union,” a musical play that inspires audiences with the powerful story of the Sanitation Workers and continues their journey toward social justice.

Set to debut in 2019, this production will tour cities across the United States and invite audiences into active conversations about the ongoing need for equity, the enduring power of community, and the future possibilities of democracy.

On April 4th, 2018, the eyes of the world turned to Memphis as thousands gathered to remember, embrace, and advance the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination.

As part of this commemoration, Clayborn Temple presents three preview performances of “Union: A Musical” and a community conversation that that brings together community members, activists, artists, influencers, and civic leaders to discuss the ongoing work of democracy in our city and in our nation.

Friday, April 6th, 2018

On opening night, we feature narration of local pastor. Friday night will be a VIP night and will be a fundraiser for “Union”.

Saturday, April 7th, 2018

On Saturday night, we feature narration of actress, Jurnee Smollett and performance by singer/songwriter Josiah Bell.

Sunday, April 8th, 2018

On Sunday afternoon, we will turn our attention toward the young people of Memphis.The show will feature narration of Erica Perry and Patrick Ghant and a youth led post-show conversation featuring young people (middle school – college) from communities and organizations all over Memphis. (we are working on a special appearance by members of The Invaders). Before the show we will be conducting a community organization workshop for members of the community that want to be more involved in the work for racial and economic justice.

For event information and ticket purchase, visit Clayborn Temple’s website here.

Fellow travelers are scholars, activists, and practitioners that embody the ideals and commitments of the Project on Lived Theology. We admire their work and are grateful to be walking alongside them in the development and dissemination of Lived Theology.

For more news from PLT fellow travelers, click here. To engage in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, @LivedTheology, please use #LivedTheologyReads. For more recommended resources from our fellow travelers, click here, #PLTfellowtravelers. To sign up for the Lived Theology monthly newsletter, click here.

PLT Contributor Patricia Hampl to speak at UVA

Patricia Hampl posterThe Art of the Wasted Day

On April 24th, 2018, Professor Patricia Hampl will be giving a lecture at 2:00 pm in Nau Hall 211, with a Q&A to follow. Afterwards, at 5:00 pm, she will be discussing her book, The Art of the Wasted Day, at the Bonhoeffer House at 1841 University Circle. There will also be a book signing following the talk. Admission is free for both events, and the public is invited to attend. Parking for the Bonhoeffer House event is available at the International Center. Additional parking is available at the Culbreth Road Parking Garage.

For more information on additional resources and occasional lectures, click here.

Patricia Hampl is a Regents Professor and the McKnight Distinguished Professor in the English department at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches creative writing.

For more event details and up-to-date event listings please click here to visit the PLT Events page. We also post updates online using #PLTevents. To get these and other news updates, please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @LivedTheology. To sign up for the Lived Theology monthly newsletter, click here.