tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90746082008-10-06T13:46:35.612-05:00William Sloan Coffin once said, "We are called on not to mirror but to challenge culture, not to sustain but to upend the status quo, and if that to some sounds overly bold, isn't it true that God is always beckoning us toward horizons we aren't sure we want to reach?" Faithful Agitation explores those horizons with weekly reflections on faith, culture and politics during the age of American Empire.Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comBlogger333125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-55918701012452454952008-10-03T15:41:00.003-05:002008-10-03T15:44:47.198-05:00

I buried an Obama voter yesterday morning at Arlington National Cemetery. Now I have to find at least two new ones here in Virginia to honor the one we lost. Well, actually it's more accurate to say that I officiated at the commital service and, later in the afternoon, at the memorial service for a 95-year-old woman who lived one of the richest and fullest lives I could imagine. Her name was

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-70023314051570107272008-10-01T20:10:00.004-05:002008-10-01T20:13:54.861-05:00

So we've begun saving Jesus at Clarendon. We've tossed him a life-ring of conversation and a rope of discussion. Lots of fun. You should join us.

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-4254195442071899472008-09-29T20:22:00.003-05:002008-09-29T20:44:03.621-05:00

Yesterday at worship during the prayers of the people a man (who I'll call 'Joe' for the sake of a bit of privacy) prayed for a bit of peace and comfort. His wife, who serves on our session -- Presbyterian-speak for church board -- was with her father who was dying. In addition to that heavy burden, they had lost their 17-year-old dog earlier in the week. They'd also had a couple of family 'highs

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-3217464790459199912008-09-25T08:14:00.001-05:002008-09-25T08:21:05.777-05:00

I'll grant that snarky songs don't make for good policy, but still this old Tom Paxson song, performed here by Arlo Guthrie, has been running through my mind this week. Oh to be born with the right name! At the end of the day, it's better to laugh and sing than to sit quietly and stew. As Emma Goldman said, "if I can't dance I don't want to be part of your revolution." So, stop checking the polls

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-62658480145208259462008-09-24T16:33:00.004-05:002008-09-24T16:38:50.515-05:00

John Bell is coming to town next month and will be doing an evening of songs at my church. I sent out an e-mail blast to invite folks around the area, and one of my good Unitarian friends sent back this note: "I believe that Emma Goldman said, 'If I can't dance at your revolution, I'm not coming.' If we allow ourselves to feed fears, bathe in despair, and join the chorus of those who know-all,

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-74434166532035733722008-09-23T15:45:00.002-05:002008-09-23T15:49:39.880-05:00

I spent the day at a meeting of National Capital Presbytery, and witnessed one of those moments when we prove to ourselves that we are, indeed, Presbyterian. An item of new business was introduced by an ad hoc group of pastors coming from various points along the theological/political spectrum of the church. They recommended that Presbytery suspend its normal mode of operating for one year and

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-27886280320339872692008-09-21T19:16:00.001-05:002008-09-21T19:17:46.068-05:00

Today is the International Day of Prayers for Peace. Here's one that we used this morning in worship, and again this afternoon at the Lafayette Park Peace Witness. It comes from the Philippines. Grant us peace that will BREAK our silence in the midst of violence then prophetic voices shall resonate Grant us peace that will PULL US DOWN from the steeple of our pride then we’ll learn to wash each

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-74964971146653365442008-09-12T16:15:00.002-05:002008-09-13T09:53:21.253-05:00

I sent this to the Washington Post today after reading one of their op ed pieces. I love Michael Gerson. Only a former Bush speechwriter could so artfully speak out of both sides of his mouth at the same time. In an essay ostensibly taking liberals to task for mocking the religious beliefs of evangelicals he mocks Episcopalians! I suppose it must be simply a matter of whose ox – or sacred cow –

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-39735978506650789512008-09-09T13:03:00.004-05:002008-09-09T13:32:35.724-05:00

I was at my favorite coffee shop this morning solving all the problems of the world with a colleague when the young man at the table next to us chimed in with a couple of comments on our problem-solving skills. We were talking about music and shared with him James McMurtry's CHENEY'S TOY (which you can find at McMurtry's MySpace page but which will not link here for some reason). None of which is

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-24234577323248448142008-09-05T18:53:00.003-05:002008-09-05T19:00:57.847-05:00

Hanna is on her way tonight, so we've pulled in the flag, brought in the Obama sign, battened the hatches. As the storm, which is not expected to do much more than bring a lot of rain and 35 mph wind our way, heads up the coast I can't help thinking about the times I have traveled to coastal areas to participate in clean-up efforts following previous storms. So I'm thinking about those in harm's

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-57493080192343310032008-09-02T20:24:00.004-05:002008-09-02T20:44:22.363-05:00

Like many Americans, I'm trying to learn a bit about Gov. Palin beyond the stories about her pregnant daughter. I ran across this video of her preaching that has me scratching my head just a bit. I am wondering what others make of it. You would have guessed, rightly, that I have many concerns about her policy positions because I am a progressive and she is a conservative. But I also know that

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-21538852277974340332008-09-01T14:14:00.003-05:002008-09-01T14:21:04.401-05:00

He's back! After a month off line resting and rehabbing one wing, I'm sufficiently healed to hammer away at the keyboard relatively pain free. It's been an interesting month. Losing the use of an arm for a while teaches you a lot -- like, there's a reason we have two of these standard issue on most models. Try tying your shoes with one hand. It's a skill that I did not master. So, I learned a lot

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-54723627019402805752008-07-29T13:43:00.002-05:002008-07-29T13:43:36.390-05:00

For some reason, as I consider the shootings Sunday morning at the Unitarian church in Knoxville, I keep thinking back to the late Jerry Falwell, and his remarks after September 11, 2001 when he blamed liberals for the terror attacks. I don’t want to sound like Jerry Falwell, but I can’t help wondering if he bears some responsibility for the Knoxville shootings which apparently were motivated in

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-29596151011756604812008-07-28T15:20:00.000-05:002008-07-28T15:21:05.235-05:00

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-8326862260213199172008-07-28T15:07:00.002-05:002008-07-28T15:10:47.603-05:00

Your somewhat faithful occasional blogger is going dark for a while following shoulder surgery scheduled early Wednesday morning. When my arm gets out of its sling, then I'll be back. Meanwhile, pray and act for peace.

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-68261302213223090982008-07-28T08:49:00.002-05:002008-07-28T09:06:31.696-05:00

Yesterday morning during the talk-back time after the sermon, someone brought up a section of the scripture that I had not touched on. After a series of sayings about the kingdom of God, Jesus says, "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-36907428444260160242008-07-27T16:55:00.004-05:002008-07-27T20:14:51.523-05:00

Last Sunday evening down at Lafayette Park, my friend Noah Budin sang what I’ve long considered a kind of hoary old folk song: Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream. Last night I had the strangest dream I'd ever dreamed before I dreamed the world had all agreed To put an end to war As Noah sang, a crowd of tourists gathered to watch and listen to our small band of folks who had come together

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-37130961327620765382008-07-18T10:12:00.002-05:002008-07-18T10:16:10.341-05:00

Do you usually need a vacation after your vacation? One week is not enough, except to disrupt sleep patterns. And the piles of messages and e-mails. And the stuff left undone that looms even larger now. And the note that you find when you dig to the bottom of the pile that reminds you of something you were supposed to do yesterday. And it's 97 degrees with 200-percent humidity. I can't even find

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-50892687207954519012008-07-09T15:16:00.001-05:002008-07-09T15:17:50.914-05:00

I'm happily on vacation! I hope to not have a serious thought for at least a week, and if I pick up a church-related book, someone please slap me silly.

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-1931259893718940212008-07-05T07:16:00.002-05:002008-07-05T07:18:41.324-05:00

I saw purple mountains once. I will never forget it. We were driving up Interstate 81 through the Shanandoah Valley at dusk on an early spring evening, and the fading sunlight hit the mountains just right and they were deep purple. So I can truly say, I have seen purple mountains majesty. I’ve seen the amber waves of grain, too, on drives across the Illinois prairie. I have seen the prodigious

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-63659446833940612812008-07-03T16:11:00.004-05:002008-07-03T16:20:26.712-05:00

I've been spending a good deal of time over the past week and a half at the Virginia Theological Seminary at a program for pastors of small congregations. Much good fun and learning to be sure, but the highlight for me came this morning when I had the opportunity to join John Bell in accompanying the closing worship. He and I played one of his hymns for worship. As one who has long admired the

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-8543143770205231472008-06-27T14:13:00.002-05:002008-06-27T14:14:40.661-05:00

It is with joy and humility that we receive the news, via streaming video, that the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has just voted (54%-46%) to send to the Presbyteries an amendment to the Book of Order, the church's constitution, that will replace G-6.0106b with this language: Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-27482490427162924482008-06-26T21:24:00.003-05:002008-06-26T21:44:55.308-05:00

I am either a total GA geek, weird church geek, or, perhaps, simple a "L" loser, but here it is 10:30 p.m., and I'm happily sitting at the kitchen table with cheese, crackers and a glass of white wine waiting for the 10:30 e.d.t. beginning of the evening plenary session of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to go live on streaming video! It's like I'm waiting for

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-48869280450959731332008-06-25T12:26:00.002-05:002008-06-25T12:35:34.467-05:00

You can count on empire's defender to be lousy theologians. The spat between Pat Dobson and Barack Obama is a case in point. Whatever your politics, this is a classic case of imperial "Christianity" speaking in support of empire and, not surprisingly, getting its Biblical citations confused as well.Don’t get me wrong here. I am not suggesting that Sen. Obama brings some profoundly anti-imperial

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074608.post-462802005134520672008-06-20T15:39:00.001-05:002008-06-20T15:41:13.083-05:00

I was asked to record a comment for NPR's Tell Me More on California's sanction of same-sex marriages. Check it out.

Christian Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404166082971649728noreply@blogger.com