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by Walt Wiltschek<\/p>\nChurch of the Brethren Newsline
\nMay\u00a025,\u00a02018<\/b><\/p>\n
by Walt Wiltschek<\/p>\n
More than half a dozen Brethren attended the major \u201cReclaiming Jesus\u201d witness event held at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., on May 24. The event, organized by a variety of progressive-leaning Christian leaders, was centered around a series of declarations against lying, misogyny, authoritarianism, xenophobia, and other issues that recently have dominated cultural discourse.<\/p>\n
\u201cSojourners\u201d editor Jim Wallis, one of the lead organizers, said, \u201cWe face in this nation right now a moral test.\u201d Episcopal presiding bishop Michael Curry called it \u201ca Jesus movement\u201d and a \u201cPentecost moment,\u201d and said it boils down to Jesus\u2019 command to \u201cLove your neighbor. That\u2019s why we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other speakers included author\/theologian Walter Brueggemann, Riverside Church senior minister emeritus James Forbes, author\/spiritual leader Tony Campolo, author and Franciscan friar Richard Rohr, and former president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Sharon Watkins.<\/p>\n
Organizers estimated about 2,000 people in attendance. Following the service at the church, the group processed with candles to the White House about six blocks away for a vigil and prayer. \u201cMay we walk with confidence and clear love in our hearts,\u201d Rohr said.<\/p>\n
The Brethren and many others at the event were in Washington for the week-long Festival of Homiletics, which focused on the theme \u201cPreaching and Politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
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