HISTORY
Word and World was created in 2001 to carve out alternative spaces for theological formation, bridging the gulf of the seminary, the sanctuary, and the street... Through schools, retreats, and mentoring, Word and World draws faith-based activists from various movements into a community of discipleship focused on social & cultural analysis and biblical reflection for social transformation.
WORD & WORLD'S INSPIRATION AND HISTORICAL PRECEDENCE
The vision for Word and World draws inspiration from such historical precedents as: the Finkenwalde seminary of the Confessing Church of Germany; the Freedom Schools of the Civil Rights movement; the “womenchurch” experiments of Christian feminism; the base community movement animated by liberation theology; the radically biblical “underground seminary” of nonviolent resistance in the 1970s and 80s; and several political models of popular education such as union schools, the Highlander Center and the Center for Popular Economics.
We also seek to work with and extend the reach of current experiments in alternative theological education such as the Servant Leadership Schools, the Alternative Seminary of Philadelphia, the Seminary Consortium of Urban Pastoral Education and other functioning models.
Word and World gatherings are not conferences and are not intended as “entry level” encounters to “taste and see.” They are designed for people already actively committed to movement work (broadly defined as involvement in some significant way with service, advocacy, or organizing for social change). We seek to keep a balance between regional/local and national participants, to ensure that commitment rather than means (time and money) should predominate, and to factor affirmatively for diversity (youth, women, people of color, people living in poverty, gays/lesbians, and disabled people).
We also seek to work with and extend the reach of current experiments in alternative theological education such as the Servant Leadership Schools, the Alternative Seminary of Philadelphia, the Seminary Consortium of Urban Pastoral Education and other functioning models.
Word and World gatherings are not conferences and are not intended as “entry level” encounters to “taste and see.” They are designed for people already actively committed to movement work (broadly defined as involvement in some significant way with service, advocacy, or organizing for social change). We seek to keep a balance between regional/local and national participants, to ensure that commitment rather than means (time and money) should predominate, and to factor affirmatively for diversity (youth, women, people of color, people living in poverty, gays/lesbians, and disabled people).