Listen here:
This week I sit down with the Rev. Fritz Gutwein, field coordinator for climate and energy policy for the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice programs.
This was a very exciting interview. One thing I have often disliked about "liberal justice types" in the church is their propensity to keep saying the same thing that every one else is saying. I'll admit, I love Nobel Laureate Al Gore for the awareness he has brought to the discussion on global warming, but if I hear one more church person mimic his talking points I'm gonna scream.
Fritz is a different kind of cat.
Our conversation naturally broke itself into two parts. During the first part we spoke of "justice theory" - about what it means for people of faith to be prophetic and out front on the one hand, and to be effective and build consensus on the other. Fritz brings his many years of wisdom to bear on this subject, and is able to communicate the value of faith based action well.
In the second part of our discussion we look specifically at the document "Faith Principles on Global Warming." This document outlines four principles of faith - justice, stewardship, sustainability, sufficiency - and explores how we can be better stewards of our earth home. Living up to my hope, Fritz was able to bring these principles alive in a theologically and spiritually mature manner, and connect the pieces that many have been struggling to connect.
Friends, this interview is a real treat. I know you'll like it.
Landon
0:01: Intro
2:07: Introduction to interview with Rev. Fritz Gutwein
4:05: Gutwein on basics of NCC eco-justice programs; on people of faith speaking to elected officials
5:55: Gutwein on the beginnings of his understanding of the relationship with faith and politics; Africa and the experience of faith encouraging politics;
9:20: Gutwein on "thinking the church was more ready than they were"; no every issue is worth going to the mat over
10:38: Gutwein on building effective coalitions
12:20: Gutwein on the church taking up cause they no they will lose; "Some changes do need to happen over night, but most of them don't";
13:12: Gutwein on the difference between legislative action and prophetic voice;
14:45: Gutwein on the need for specificity in legislative action
15:51: Gutwein on his justice "conversion"; exposure to Baptist Peacemaker and Sojourners magazines;
18:48: Gutwein on the development of the "Faith Principles on Global Warming"
20:14: Gutwein on the need for acknowledgement and awareness in justice work; the poor feel the impacts of natural disasters in a larger way
23:03: Gutwein on what calls us to to justice action
24:05: Gutwein on Jesus being where 2 or 3 are gathered
25:15: Gutwein on working for justice as a spiritual discipline; justice as a path to a relationship with God; transformation through an encounter with the living Christ in justice work
27:35: Gutwein on the need for justice work on the macro level
28:26: Gutwein on the critique that "we're not here for long, so why care for the earth"
30:39: Gutwein on the value of stewardship; the parable of the talents
31:56: Gutwein on sustainability; the connection of stewardship and sustainability
34:47: Gutwein on the principle of sufficiency; we can choose to plunder the earth; "we need to live as if we expect everyone to have an abundant life"; circling back to justice
39:19: Gutwein on the theological call to sacrifice; "It was GOOD that God sacrificed"
39:53: Gutwein on justice action on the individual, village, and global village levels
46:38: Outro; Promo for next week's show with Tony Jones, national director of Emergent Village and author of The New Christians: dispatches from the Emergent Frontier
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