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Christian Ecumenical service. Theologian and Biblical scholar Walter Wink, guest preacher. Sermon: "Without a Vision, the People Perish." Music featuring University Organist Robert Huw Morgan and the combined choirs of Stanford Memorial Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, under the direction of Gregory Wait. Talkback session following the service (Side Chapel). All are welcome.
Walter Wink is professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. He has written numerous books, including “The Powers that Be: Theology for a New Millennium. For his work in Christian nonviolence, he has been distinguished as a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.
"The challenge is to gain justice while bringing an end to the Domination System... Violence can never stop violence because its very success leads others to imitate it... In his nonviolent teaching, life and death, Jesus revealed a God of nonviolence... Nonviolence is not a matter of legalism but of discipleship. It is the way God has chosen to overthrow evil in the world. And the same God who calls us to nonviolence gives us the power to carry it out."
"I can only say that nonviolence is at the very heart of the gospel, and that the church's task is to attempt to spread this leaven into the life of the world... non-violence never fails, because every nonviolent act is a revelation of God's new order breaking into the world... The churches have never agreed that domination is wrong. What a difference they could make in the world if they would only do so!"
— Walter Wink
Part of the Robert McAfee Brown Lectureship Series, inspired by the late theologian and activist, Robert McAfee Brown, funded through a bequest by Ruth English, and presented by the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto.