For those of you who don't know Rieger, he is an internationally-recognized theologian, academic, and speaker at numerous church conferences (emergent, progressive, and oldline). He's led the effort to reexamine issues of class and power from a Christian context. Personally, I first encountered Rieger when I was a student at Claremont School of Theology. He was with a group of other liberation theologians debating with process theologians like John Cobb on the relationship of empire and America. It was an impressive gathering for a first semester student, and I subsequently internalized some of his language throughout my work and dissertation (I'm probably one of only a few process theologians who regularly mentions "privilege" and "power differentials," for example!)
What really excites me is that while Rieger is the leading theologian of issues of class in the United States today, he will be connecting ecological devastation and climate change to the economic systems he's spent a lifetime critiquing and helping others think theologically about (spoilers: our dominant economic system functions as an idol demanding sacrifices). Besides hearing an exciting presentation from Rieger, we will also have a chance this Monday to see many old and new faces of the PCU network during our reception to follow. Plus we'll have plenty of information on ways you or your friends can get involved in practicing our faith alongside oppressed people and the planet; I really hope you can make the effort to come!
See you soon,
Timothy Murphy
Executive Director