If you have even glanced at the list of contributors to, Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, you will have some idea of the joy I had in bringing this group together. Each one is a deeply devoted Christian with enormous talents. Some of them are extremely well known and the others should be. Dr. Jimmy Allen was one of the first to give me the thumbs up and a very enthusiastic response. His chapter dealing with putting the New Baptist Covenant Meeting together is wonderful reading. Now Jimmy is the subject of a new book, Loving Beyond Your Theology, published by Mercer University Press. What a wonderful title, but better still what a wonderful description of a man who has dedicated his life to creating a better world and a better religious climate. Jimmy Allen is a giant among giants. I first met him in 1986 when I went to Fort Worth, Texas to be interviewed about my book, Speaking in Church Made Simple. Today they would have just skyped me. Jimmy was the brains and heart behind the ACTS Network. In the new book Jimmy Carter gives a great deal of credit to Jimmy Allen for his election as president. These are two Christian leaders that we can trust.
I am grateful to God for Bringing Jimmy Allen to me. We had a wonderful chance to get together at a meeting on Daniel Island. What a wonderful man. Read his chapter in my book and then read the new book about him, Loving Beyond Your Theology: The Life and Ministry of Jimmy Raymond Allen by Larry McSwain published by Mercer University Press.
The Rev. Jerry Wagner used an excerpt from, Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, in a sermon at Picture Rock United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania on July 04. The section he used dealt with my visit to the Crystal Cathedral and the sermon by Robert Schuler. We met Pat and Jerry at Chautauqua several years ago through our friends Jane and Bob Russell. Jerry is a great punster and has a wonderful sense of humor.
The Brown Bag Lunch discussion at the Baptist House at Chautauqua on July 14 went extremely well. There was a good group eager to discuss the problem and to begin to find a solution. There were many questions and even more examples of how bad the situation really is. The program was co-sponsored by the United Church of Christ Association. Pat Brown the hostess of Baptist House was helpfulness itself. The idea is to do it again next year and to keep the discussion going. On Friday afternoon there was a session, “Is Civility Only for the History Books/” It was presented by Robert E. Bullock, president of the Archives’ Partnership Trust of New York. He chose five examples of public civility as examples for his presentation. There was a discussion to which I contributed after someone raised a very disturbing question. “Are religious hard liners adding to or helping to create the atmosphere of incivility in our culture?” This session was also very well attended. There seems to be a real desire to turn down the rhetoric and to make our communication more Christ like. There is a place for everyone to get involved. Join us. Resolve not to become a part of the harshness, and to spread a message of peace
I will lead a brown bag lunch discussion on Christian Civility at the Baptist House at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State at 12:15 on July 14. The United Church of Christ House is also a partner. The event is open to everyone. Rev. Bud Brown, resident chaplain of Baptist House, said, “This is certainly a topic that is very appropriate at Chautauqua. Rev. Laverne Gill, chaplain/administrator, of the UCC Society, said that they were happy to be a part of the discussion. Copies of, Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, will be available at the Chautauqua Bookstore. The Chautauqua Institution began in 1874 and has grown from there. It is on the banks of Lake Chautauqua and is a beautiful Victorian community.
The Challenge, the oldest evangelical non-denominational newspaper in the UK, says that churches all across the UK were celebrating Say Something Nice Sunday on the first Sunday in June. The article is in their on-line edition. This is a very promising development. The celebration was first mentioned when the Baptist Times of the UK invited churches to participate. We want all churches everywhere to join us. Help us promote this celebration of Christian communication. If you have contacts with churches of any denomination anywhere, use your influence to enlist them. There is nothing to join and nothing to buy.
Bishop Guglielmone of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston is especially concerned with the effect all of the mean rhetoric is having on children. We would like for parent groups and youth groups to join us. Teenagers could form networks by texting their friends. We can turn the atmosphere of mean speech around, but it will take all of us. Remember to let your communication be filled with grace.
