The Rise of the New Christian Left

For the past 15 years, the so-called Religious Right has hogged the headlines, but the tide has definitely changed. Today, churches, organizations, and individuals of the Christian Left (CL) are growing in number and influence.

Most organizations of the CL describe themselves as progressive, a term that is a synonym for Liberal but with a slightly less political connotation. When James Rowe Adams formed The Center for Progressive Christianity (TCPC) in 1994, it was the first time the word was used in a religious sense. Today, so many groups and churches use the word that its meaning is less precise than before. However, when you see "Progressive Christianity" on a sign or letterhead, you can be sure that it's meant to denote a lifestyle attuned to Jesus' principles for harmonious living, as opposed to one that follows the dictates of a rigid religious order.

In Chapter 10, you'll find a a list of some of the more interesting organizations of the CL in America today, along with their contact information, including names, email and postal addresses, phone numbers, and some helpful notes on what these groups are all about.

The list includes:

• Catholics United
• Common Dreams.org
• Common Sense Christianity
• Eco-Justice Ministries
• Emergent
• Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
• Pax Christi USA
• Progressive Christian Witness
• Progressive Christians Uniting
• Protestants for the Common Good
• Sojourners
• The Center for Progressive Christianity
• The Human Rights Campaign
• The Center for Progressive Christianity (TCPC) is at the leading edge of progressive Christian thought today. TCPC is the personification of open-mindedness. The organization promotes social and environmental justice with practical action plans and makes it a point to reach out to Christians who are turned off or not welcomed by traditional organized religion.
  
  Rev. Fred Plumer describes the TCPC's positions: "We are opposed to any exclusive dogma that limits the search for truth and free inquiry, and we encourage work that eases the pain, suffering and degradation inherent in many of the structures of society, as well as work that keeps central to the Christian life fair, open, peaceful, and loving treatment of all human beings ."

see www.tcpc.org

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