“Show Me What Theology Looks Like”: The Intersection of Faith and Activism

R3 managing editor, Dr. Andre E. Johnson, Associate Professor of Rhetoric & Religion and African American Studies at Memphis Theological Seminary will offer a one week intensive immersion class for the Summer term titled, Church in the City: “Show Me What Theology Looks Like”: The Intersection of Faith and Activism. Dr. Johnson will co-teach the class with R3 Contributor Rev. Renita Lampkin, on the campus of Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, June 15-19, 2015.

Classes in urban theology explore and focus on the current dynamics found in urban society that call and challenge the church to re-examine ways of ministry. In addition, it allows students to examine their own theological positions as they specifically relate to urban situations of poverty, addiction, racism, sexism, violence, unemployment, environmental toxicity, prison, and inadequate education. The course description and required texts for the class are below.  For more information, please email Dr. Johnson at [email protected]

This reading and practical application course will explore and focus on the current dynamics found in the “city” that call and challenge the church to re-examine ways of ministry. Drawing from their particular ministry location and realizing that any authentic ecclesiology must be contextual, I further expect students to examine their own ecclesiological positions through the contextual lens of what I call the Ferguson Fiasco. In this class, among other things, we will ask the question of what does it mean to be church after Ferguson and how does the church begin to address the issues and problems that continue post Ferguson Fiasco. Classes will consist of class lectures and fieldwork in Ferguson, Missouri. The class makeup will consist of students from both MTS and Eden Theological Seminary.

The “Show Me What Theology Looks Like” project seeks to identify and describe different aspects of the emerging movement from a theological perspective.

The goals of this project are to

• illuminate the presence of God in activist activities and actions as demonstrated throughout history;
• equip faith community leaders with language and information to talk about activism in their local settings;
• empower faith communities with strategies for activism

The curriculum will consist of

Workshops

• Theology of Protesting—including history
• Theology of Lamenting—including chanting, memorials, wailing
• Theology of Resisting—including claiming space, marching
• Theology of Standing—including ministry of presence, crisis response

Activities

• Activism through art
• Community history tour
• Conversations with local businesses impacted by/engaged in community crisis
• Conversations with local churches who responded to community crisis
• Panel discussions with young adult activists, clergy activists
• Introduction to micro-organizations which emerged in the crisis
• Conversations with local Law Enforcement and political leaders
• Importance of self-care in crisis