On Tuesday, September 20, Jim Wallis, a bestselling author, public theologian, and social activist, led this year’s Christensen Symposium. Wallis discussed topics from his recent book, America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America.
Members of the Carnival de Resistance provided opening music for the convocation. They are a traveling arts carnival and ceremonial theater company, a village demonstration project exploring ecological practices, and an education and social outreach project; all focusing on ecological justice and radical theology.
Auggies discussing the Bridge to a New America with Jim Wallis! @AugsburgCollege pic.twitter.com/S7XPOznyvh
— ACYTI (@AugsburgACYTI) September 20, 2016
Following Wallis’ address, students Grace Corbin, Winnie Godi, and Nick Stewart-Bloch responded with their own reflections.
Later that day, discussion continued with a community panel, “The Bridge Toward More Just Communities: What Needs to Happen”. The event was moderated by former ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson, and included: Pastor Kelly Chatman, Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Minneapolis; Nora Barr: Augsburg Alumna; Devin Wiggs: Augsburg Student; Fardosa Hassan: Muslim Student Advisor to Campus Ministry, and a response from Jim Wallis.
Many thanks to all of the student respondents, panelists, and Augsburg community for engaging in these important conversations!
Wallis is president and founder of Sojourners, a nonprofit, faith-based organization whose mission statement calls for “putting faith into action for social justice.” He has written for major newspapers and authors regular columns for Huffington Post and TIME.com. Wallis teaches at Georgetown University and has taught at Harvard University. He served on President Obama’s first White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
We have less than two weeks to go until the annual