Anonymous Comrade submits:

"Powers, Principalities and the Church:

Christianity and Anarchism"

June 21, 2003 New York City

Friends Meetinghouse,

15th Street and Rutherford Place

(between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

Contact:
conferencenyc@jesusradicals.com

This world and our churches are broken and wounded by powers that seek to

break our communities into fragments, dominate and reach into the core of

humanity and destroy us. In it's first conference, jesusradicals hopes to

respond to the challenge of remaining one body in the face of the obstacles

society presents us.Through lectures, discussions and table fellowship (eating together) we will

explore what resources we have to become a people able to build a social body

capable of not only resisting the powers, but also capable of being a rival,

distinct social body that invites everyone to join with us.

Special attention will be given to these themes: (1) naming the powers and

principalities that are subverting our church and enslaving society; (2)

finding ways to confront these powers and break their strength.

The following is a list of the confirmed speakers and discussions:

Registration: 9:00-9:30 am

1st Discussion (9:30 am): Scripture and Anarchism: The Myths That Bind or

Blind Us. (Andy Baker)  This session will deal with one power, the

nation-state, and the myths that it uses to legitimate itself, focusing on

the use of Scripture to legitimate this power and principality.

2nd Discussion (11:00 am):  Workable Alternatives to Capitalism and the

Nation-State. (Wayne Price of the Northeastern Federation of

Anarcho-Communists)  This session will discuss the negative image people hold

about anarchism. There will be a focus on workable alternatives to capitalism

and the state, such as cooperatives and mediation.

Lunch: 12:30-2:00 @ Menno House  

3rd discussion (2:00 pm):  Restorative Justice vs. Retribution. (Fred

Boehrer, PhD Syracuse Catholic Worker, and Dennis Sullivan, PhD author and

professor of Criminal Justice at SUNY ? Albany, NY).  This session will focus

on working to build restorative community rather than retribution.

4th Discussion (3:30 pm):  Christian Social Body as Rival to the

Nation-State.  (Pete Mommsen.)  Pete Mommsen will discuss converegence of

anarchism and Christianity in the common vision of humanity living together

communally, sharing work, resources and fellowship without coercion or

domination. The presentation will focus on these themes, and on the question:

"How can we make this vision a reality today?". The thinkers Pete will draw

from are the Blumhardts, Eberhard Arnold, and Gustav Landauer.

(all are invited to worship with Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, the next day

(Sunday June 22, 2003) at 5 pm at the Meeting house where Rob Burns, student

at Westminster Theological Seminary, will help us explore these themes

through our worship)

For more information visit
http://conferencenyc.jesusradicals.com  and

register.  (Registration is needed so we can provide adequate lunch for

everyone.)