By Ched Myers Priests & People (UK). 8 pp. “LOOK, WHAT MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURES!” (Mk 13:1). Jesus’ disciples cower fascinated, before the Jerusalem Temple edifice. It is indeed a magnificent structurebigger than life, architectural symbol of their social project. But Mark’s Jesus refuses to be impressed, for he understands what they do not. This House must…
By Ched Myers Talk given to the Episcopal Urban Caucus, spring 2002. Published by The Witness online. 12 pp. Not too far from where we sit today, hidden at the heart of post-modern Los Angeles, surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers built by and for Big Capital, lies the placita, once the center of the old Mexican…
By Ched Myers Reflections on and study material prepared for a mission program on Aboriginal justice hosted by The Uniting Church of Australia, 2002. 14 pp. Sunrise in a caravan park in Deniliquin in northeast Victoria, Australia. I awaken to a cacophony of screaming cockatoos and galahs, a manic morning-song chant of praise. Outside the…
By Ched Myers Ministerial Formation (WCC, Geneva) . 5 pp. This brief reflection proceeds from the conviction that the goal of theological education in the North American context today should be to equip everyday disciples to overcome their sense of disempowerment and denial in order to engage in the evangelical works of mercy and service,…
By Ched Myers Herald Press. 2 pp. The authors of Set Free: A Journey Toward Solidarity Against Racism advocate that we must all contribute to the struggle to “melt the iceberg of racism.” Similarly, Christina Pacosz concludes her reflection on the shattering impact of lies: “We must chase them to the sun, again and again,…
By Ched Myers Priests and People (UK). 6 pp. IT IS A FEW NIGHTS BEFORE Christmas, 1994. A small group of us are singing thinly, clutching candles against a chilly drizzle. We slowly make our way up a muddy hill. Below us an orange glow floats like fog above the border checkpoint at San Ysidro,…
By Ched Myers Sojourners. 2 pp. Article link – this will take you to this free article on the Sojourners website (in a new window). The 1996 dismantling of the welfare system has engendered the most thorough reassessment concerning the role of the religious community in the delivery of public social services since the New…
By Ched Myers With Elaine Enns. A section in Making Peace with Conflict: Practical Skills for Conflict Transformation, edited by C. Schrock-Shenk & L. Ressler. Herald Press/Pandora Press. 8 pp This chapter looks briefly at the biblical commitment to equality, then examines three aspects of gender conflict today: equal hearing, equal opportunity, and equal respect….
By Ched Myers Toronto: Malcolm Lester Books, Crossroads Press. 3 pp There is an old Bible story about King Josiah of Judah, who is told of “a book of the Law” that has been discovered in the basement of the Temple (2 Kings 22). The king summons all his advisors to interpret the meaning of…
By Ched Myers Priests and People (Cambridge, England). 8 pp. Trying to identify the “major themes” of the Bible can be a treacherous undertaking, given the vast breadth, depth and diversity of the scriptures. It is not, however, an impossible task. Christians quite naturally look to the Jesus story for help, rightly believing that this…