Dorothy Day was almost a Methodist…

As strange as it may seem, Dorothy Day might have been a Methodist.  I just started reading The Long Loneliness: The Autobiography of the legendary Catholic Social Activist, and what has been surprising is about how often she talks about John Wesley and  her experience with the Methodist Church. 

Ultimatley, one of the most important Chrisitan figures of 20th century America began her faith journey by rejecting the Methodist church. 

…I had to choose the world to what I wanted to belong. I did not want to belong to the Epworth League which some of my classmates joined.   As a little child, the happy peace of the Methodists who lived next door to me appealed to me deeply.   Now, the same happiness seemed to be a disregard of the misery of the world (page 41).

I find this passage important for the future of the United Methodist Church.  The argument has been made and continues to be made that the Methodist Church is in decline because of its liberalism.  Though more of a hunch than a thesis, Dorothy Day’s epxerience tells us that something else is at play; the Methodist’s “disregard of the misery of the world.”

Filed under: bible, chicago, church, emergent church, united methodist , aldersgate, dorothy day, IRD, John Welsey, john wesley, Mark Tooley, methodist, misery, social activist, suffering, The Long Loneliness, united methodist

Press Release: The Gospel According To Vonnegut

 

EARTH HOUSE TO HONOR KURT VONNEGUT’S THEOLOGY–BOTH AS AN AGNOSTIC AND A FAN OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

 

Indianapolis, Ind - October 30, 2009 -Kurt Vonnegut fans will gather to honor the Hoosier author on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at the Earth House Collective, 237 N. East St., located inside Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church, on what would have been  Vonnegut’s 87^thbirthday. 

The third annual Gospel According to Vonnegut celebration will honor the life, theology, politics, humor and local roots of Indianapolis’ most important postwar writer.   There will also be birthday cake.

“Vonnegut focused on the absurd and he found a lot of absurdity in religion,” Mike Oles, organizer for the event, said.  “He comes from a long line of religious skeptics and atheists but his hostility towards religion allowed him to write powerfully-perhaps more so than any other Indiana voice– about the historical Jesus.”

Along with Vonnegut’s riffs on God and Christianity, the gathering will also focus on the writer’s Indiana roots.  It was at Indianapolis’ Shortridge High School where Vonnegut wrote for the only daily high school newspaper in the country.  Meanwhile, Vonnegut attributed much of his moral vision to fellow Hoosier radicals like Eugene Debs and Powers Hapgood. 

Julia Whitehead, President, Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library Foundation, will be giving the keynote presentation.  Attendees will also hear the music of local songwriter Kate Lamont and see a video clip of Vonnegut’s appearance on  The Daily Show wit John Stewart.

Earth House is located inside Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church, on the corner of New Yorkand East Streets in downtown Indianapolis. 

 For more information, please contact Mike Oles, 317-354-3207.

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Filed under: Indiana history, Indianapolis, community, jesus , Indianapolis, Indiana, Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church, church, hoosiers, kurt vonnegut, press release, sermon on the mount, methodist church, vonnegut, eugene debs, powers hapgood, julia whitehead, library, vonnegut memorial library, hoosier, agnostic, earth hosue, gospel according to vonnegut, birthday

The Widow’s mite; the outlaw’s prayer

The Revised Common Lectionary takes the church this week to Mark 12: 38-44, a.k.a. The Widow’s mite.

The story of the Widow’s mite is well translated above by Johnny Paycheck in the Outlaw’s Prayer.

Filed under: Uncategorized , jesus, johnny paycheck, lectionary, Mark, mark 12:34-48, outlaw, outlaw's prayer, Revised Common Lectionary, widow, widow's mite