S5E46 Barmen Today - Standing Strong in Contemplative Action with Dr. Scott McClelland

When a young man gets bored during the sermon in a starched Presbyterian Church on a Sunday morning, he pages through the Hymnal. That was Scott barely twelve years old who found, of all things, a Swastika at the top of the page at the end of the book he found in the church pew. The Swastika was crossed out. A cross appeared beneath it, indicating a clear Christian protest against the symbol that has lived in infamy ever since. The heading spelled out the historic Barmen Declaration of 1934. It was written then by German Clergy (led by theologian Karl Barth) who protested the State Church’s endorsement and embrace of Nazi ideology. It was a potent and risky rejection of the “Furher’s” influence in the Church. Years later, 2018, now Dr. McClelland, a student of The Living School (founded by Fr. Richard Rohr) sat in a discussion group with his fellow students as they considered the political turmoil two years into the Trump Presidency. He brought a copy of the Barmen Declaration to the group. Together they determined that this document to be surprisingly relevant. They all agreed, it must be updated and reintroduced to all Americans. From a broad spectrum of faith traditions, it’s a call to all of us who share a commitment to contemplative action for “love and compassion, healing of division, promotion, and protection of human dignity, and the stewardship of creation.” The new version is called BARMEN TODAY: A CONTEMPORARY CONTEMPLATIVE DECLARATION. Father Richard Rohr gave his hearty endorsement, calling it a summary of the Living School’s reason for being. While some 18,000 signed the original declaration in the 1930s, over 31,000 have signed Barmen Today. Ken and Scott unpack the history and application of the declaration - and prepare to encourage many more to sign.

READ AND SIGN the BARMEN TODAY document by clicking here.

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