Dietrich Bonhoeffer, William Stringfellow and Ourselves: a Discernment Conversation

Consider three historical moments: Germany in the 30’s, the USA in the 70’s, and “America” amidst rising fascism 2027. Consider three voices: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s, William Stringfellow’s, and even your own in community. This retreat will set those voices in conversation, toward discerning speech and action in this present time. It will also ask, Can the living Word be recognized in this exchange?
Among the commonalities between Bonhoeffer and Stringfellow, which can be entry points for conversation, we will attend to such as these:
*the impact of Harlem on their ecclesial and movement politics;
*their rooting of anti-racist commitments in baptism (Bonhoeffer in the Bethel Confession and Stringfellow in his address to the First National Conference on Religion and Race);
*their costly struggle with predatory imperial states;
*their mutual commitments to underground resistance seminaries;
*the bearing of mutual friendships and pointed exchanges with theologian, Karl Barth;
*their conversions to gospel nonviolence, while refusing doctrinaire pacifism (and so trusting themselves to the judgement and mercy of God);
*the exploration and embrace of religionless faith.
Where, in this historical moment, do we find our own voices in these exchanges?