In 2003, as a response to our Mennonite congregation’s discussions of Christianity and politics, the first anarchism and Christianity conference was organized and held in New York City. But instead of a local congregational discussion, the gathering turned into something that people came from as far as the Midwest to attend. This grew into an annual conference and was primary connecting point for Christian anarchists for a decade. In 2013 the last Jesus Radicals conference was held in Elkhart, Indiana and has since gone on indefinite hiatus. Below are audio files and videos of past conference plenary sessions and workshops.
Conference Audio Archive
2005
Practically Speaking: Anarchism and Christianity Word and Deed
Practically Speaking: Anarchism and Christianity Word and Deed
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Anarchism and Christianity Primer
What is Anarchism? Can a Christian be anarchist? This session explores the multiplicity of ideas of organization of society of anarchists and it's relations to Christianity. Speaker: Charley Earp Economic Resistance
Catholic social teaching is a rich resource for understanding and practicing "economic disobedience." This session draws on various, often overlooked teachings, such as Aquinas' "theft through stress of need," as ways of resisting the capitalist economic order. Please note: A very brief portion of this session was cut off at the beginning. Speaker: Todd Whitmore Ellul and the Political and Christian Left
This session reviews Betrayal of the West and False Presence of the Kingdom—two books in which Christian and anarchist Jacques Ellul points out mistakes made by many of us on the radical left. Speaker: Andrew Mandell |
2006
Here In This Place: Anarchism and Christianity in Our Context
Here In This Place: Anarchism and Christianity in Our Context
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Education: An Anarchist Approach
Cultural assumptions try to enforce understandings about education relative to age segregation, grading, separation of religion from the rest of the learning process, etc. Radical allegiance to Jesus' way obliges us to reckon with a richer, more complicated and demanding perspective on education. A.K.M.A will discuss the education system as a part of both church and seminary institutions, and as a home-schooling parent. Speaker: A.K.M.A Living in Community 101
Learn from the experiences of people who have lived in and/or helped organize a community. Brenna Cussen (South Bend Catholic Worker), Abigail Kahler (Psalters) and Eric Edgin will reflect on the ups and downs of community life, the logistics involved, the obstacles posed by the authorities and practical considerations for sustaining it. They will also share the theological/ideological reasons that make living in community worthwhile. Speakers: Brenna Cussen, Abigail Kahler, and Eric Edgin The Problem of Policing
What might a Christian response to crime that seeks to be peacemaking and rejects the state as a viable tool look like? This session includes an overview and critique of some Christian reflections on the police, a historical survey of the rise of the police and suggestions ways to think about matters of policing. Please note: The second half of this session was not recorded due to technical difficulties. Speakers: Andy Alexis-Baker Workers of the World Unite!
The Industrial Workers of the World (a.k.a Wobblies) are the most radical union in the United States. Since the beginning, women, immigrants, and people of color were welcomed and many have been prominent in the organizing. They are the only union that officially opposes all industrial warfare and their anarcho-syndicalism has been a powerful force in the history of labor in the US, peaking in the early 20th century at hundreds of thousands of members such as Dorothy Day. This session will deal with the history of this anarcho-syndicalist movement, the relationship of labor issues with social issues, and more. |
2007
Swords into Plowshares: Anarchism and Christianity and Principles of Peace
Swords into Plowshares: Anarchism and Christianity and Principles of Peace
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Anarchism and Christianity Primer
What is anarchism? Can a Christian be anarchist? How can these two concepts fit together? This session explores the connections between anarchist ideology and practice, and Christian faith. Speakers: Nekeisha Alexis-Baker and Jason Barr Consensus Training
Consensus is a cooperative, nonviolent, dynamic process for group decision-making. It takes into account everyone's concerns, and fosters an environment where all are respected and all contributions are valued. Anarchists often opt to use the consensus process as it addresses power-dynamics inherent in most organizations through specific techniques. This session introduces the basic skills needed for this important practice. Please note: the group exercise at the end could not be recorded. Speaker: Brenna Cussen Peace with Animals: Co-existing with all of Creation
In addition to sharing his own transformation from animal farmer to vegan animal advocate Harold Brown of Farm Sanctuary will discuss the impact of factory, "free range" and organic farming on animals and the environment. Michelle Loyd Paige, professor at Calvin College and co-leader of the session, will also share her story, and help participants make the connection between unequal food distribution, social inequalities and our diets. Together, they will help attendees see why what we eat is a pressing peace issue. Speakers: Harold Brown and Michelle Loyd Paige Study War No More: Choosing the Path of Peace
After reading Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is Within You, Nate Wildermuth left his path to the military. Committed to peace and justice, Michele Naar-Obed has actively resisted militarism sometimes at the cost of her freedom. In this session, these speakers reflect on their journey toward peacemaking. Please note: a portion at the start of Nate's session was not recorded. Speakers: Nate Wildermuth and Michele Naar-Obed The Problem with Prisons
In the year 2002 the prison population exceed 2 million people. Three years later that number increased by 200,000. With more people spending their lives behind bars, questions surrounding incarceration and challenges to the "justice" system are also on the rise. This panel will address issues surrounding the prison-industrial complex with speakers from the anti-prison movement, a former inmate, a former prison chaplain and others. Speakers: Brian Terrell, Orson Davis, Thomas Hereford and Jessica Hoskins |
2008
Another World Is Necessary: Anarchism and Christianity and the Race From the White House
Another World Is Necessary: Anarchism and Christianity and the Race From the White House
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Anarchism and Christianity Primer
Introductory session on the connections between anarchist politics and Christian faith at the 2008 Jesus Radicals conference, Another World is Necessary: Anarchism, Christianity and the Race from the White House Speaker: Nekeisha Alayna Alexis Christianity, Anarchism, and Black Liberation
Session on the intersections between Christianity, anarchism and abolitionism, and the Black anarchist movement in the present. Speakers: Nekeisha Alayna Alexis, Tawd Bell, and Sarah Thopson Dorothy Day: Portrait of a Catholic Worker
Session on the life, times and thought of Dorothy Day at the 2008 Jesus Radicals conference, Another World is Necessary: Anarchism, Christianity and the Race from the White House Speaker: Martha Hennessey Jesus' Beatitudes: A Blueprint for Anarchists
Session on the "blessed" statements from Jesus' sermon on the mount as describe a process of both individual and social transformation. Speaker: D. John Lee Opting Out: Refusing to Vote as Political Resistance
Session on conscientious objection to voting at the 2008 Jesus Radicals conference, Another World is Necessary: Anarchism, Christianity and the Race from the White House. Speaker: Mark VanSteenwyk Remedying an Unhealthy System of Care
Session that challenges current approaches to health care and suggests holistic alternatives. Speakers: Brian Volck, and Alana L. |
2009
New Heaven, New Earth: Anarchism and Christianity Beyond Empire
New Heaven, New Earth: Anarchism and Christianity Beyond Empire
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Anarchism and Christianity Primer
Catholic Workers Brenna Cussen and Eric Anglada explore the connections between anarchist ideology and practice, and Christian faith. Speakers: Brenna Cussen and Eric Anglada How to Transform the Industrial military Corporate Complex
Ethan Hughes of the Possibility Alliance shares concrete advice from his over 18 years of direct experimentation with utilizing the gift economy; applying the Sermon on the Mount; living car-free, computer free, and electricity-free; and developing a faith that hands everything over to God. Please note: This session was recorded in two parts therefore a short portion of the recording is missing toward the middle of the audio. Speaker: Ethan Hughes Gospel and Nonviolent Anarchism—Logos & Emmunah
Since it is clear from the Gospels that Jesus calls no one to part-time discipleship, baptism being the Greek word for total immersion, one cannot be the Gospel anarchist equivalent of a Sunday morning Christian. One cannot be a Gospel anarchist on Monday, a Democrat on Tuesday and then back to a Gospel anarchist on Wednesday, a Tony Blair devotee on Thursday, etc. Likewise one cannot just be a Christian anarchist, and ignore the remainder of Jesus teachings (truths) in the Gospel. Speaker: (Rev.) Emmanuel Charles McCarthy Seeing What Greenspan Couldn´t: A New Partnership Economy
Alan Greenspan, former chair of the Federal Reserve Bank, testified before the U.S. Congress in September, 2008, that no one could have seen the economic collapse coming. Yet, many did. What each of us sees depends on the paradigm or lens through which we are viewing events. The paradigm of this session is that of a partnership or jubilee economy. It focuses on the importance of the non-imperial structures of the commons and commonwealth as expressed by Jesus, by the followers of the Way (Acts of the Apostles), and by contemporaries building and reclaiming the commons even as empire nibbles and bites at it to privatize it for profit and dominance. Speaker: Lee Van Ham Open Forum with Layla AbdelRahim and John Zerzan
The Open Forum is a time for people to gather for conversation based on shared interests at the Jesus Radicals conference. This year, speakers Layla AbdelRahim and John Zerzan took the opportunity to further engage attendees who were interested in their presentations and in their work on anti-civilization philosophy, alienation, domestication and anarcho-primitivism, among other topics. Speakers: Layla AbdelRahim, and John Zerzan Revealing the Kingdom in the Midst of Empire
Revealing the Kingdom in the Midst of Empire: Reimagining Citizenship, Reimagining Economics explores Jubilee economics and its relationship to Kingdom citizenship re-imagining a world of co-operation and co-liberation beyond and without empire. Please note: Unfortunately, a portion of Gene's presentation was not recorded. Speakers: Gene Davenport and Jeannie Alexander |
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