[Dialogue] Letter from Michael Lerner

[KarenBueno at aol.com]

(This is long, but scan it so you have this information!  Karen Bueno)

 I would like your help in getting word out to the largest email lists to 
which you have access (both personal and organizational) about the Spiritual 
Activism conference that will be held in Washington, D.C. May 17-20, 2006. The 
conference is the first East Coast appearance for the Network of Spiritual 
Progressives, co-chaired by me, Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, and professor of 
African American studies and Religion at Princeton U. Cornel West. I'm sorry 
I have to reach you through this impersonal note--but I don't know how else to 
do this.

The Network of Spiritual Progressives has 3 goals: 

1. to challenge the misuse of God and religion by the Religious Right to 
justify war and militarism, cuts in programs for the poor and powerless in order 
to justify cuts in taxes for the rich, assaults on human rights and civil 
liberties, and destruction oaf the separation of church and state; 

2. to challenge the religio-phobia and hostility toward religious and 
spiritual people that appears in some sections of liberal and progressive culture, 
and to help the Left distinguish
between reactionary forms of religion and the progressives forms that it took 
with Martin Luther King, Jr., William Sloan Coffin, Abraham Joshua Heschel 
and many others. and to build a new spiritual progressive politics not only for 
religious people, but also for those who do not believe in God but are “
spiritual but NOT religious” 

3. to seek a New Bottom Line in the Western world so that institutions get 
judged efficient, rational or productive not only to the extent that they 
maximize money or power, but also to the extent that they maximize love and caring, 
kindness and generosity, ethically and ecologically sensitive behavior, and 
enhance our capacities to respond to other human beings as manifestations of the 
sacred and inherently valuable and to be respected, and enhance our 
capacities to respond to the universe with awe, wonder and radical amazement at the 
grandeur of all that is.

This is the ground floor of building a new kind of paradigm for progressive 
politics, and it could have a major impact in making the liberal and 
progressive forces far more successful in healing and transforming American society.

As I’ve shown in my new book The Left Hand of God: Taking Back our Country 
from the Religious Right, many people agree with the Left on specific issues but 
still end up feeling that their greatest pain is the deprivation of love, a 
sense of meaning in work, and a feeling that they are surrounded by 
materialism, selfishness, and moral insensitivity, that their children are subjected to 
sexual pressures before they are old enough to handle them, and that the Left 
seems oblivious to these kinds of issues and only addresses economic 
entitlements and political rights. 

We in the NSP (the Network of Spiritual Progressives) care very much about 
eliminating poverty, fighting for equal rights, ending the war in Iraq and the 
militarist assumptions that led to it, but that these important struggles will 
not be won until the Left also seems to care about these other “meaning” 
issues in the lives of many Americans. We believe that our strategy presented in 
The Left Hand of God is a way to strengthen the separation of church and state, 
and we certainly are not trying to convert anyone to believe in God or any 
particular religion. We are an interfaith venture (also for people who are “
spiritual but not religious”) and our goal is to address the spiritual needs of 
people that are today so central that those who fail to address them will never 
succeed in winning the mandate needed for the other peace and social justice 
goals.

Unfortunately, the Left is more clear on what it is against, but rarely has 
it communicated clearly what it is for. That’s why we are taking our demand for 
a New Bottom Line to the Congress and the media May 17-20—along with a 
detailed SPIRITUAL COVENANT WITH AMERICA that is meant to provide a positive vision 
of what a progressive spiritual politics is about (you can read it fully 
explicated in The Left Hand of God, which, I’m happy to say, has become a national 
best-seller since it was published by Harpers in February). 

The spiritual activism conference will be a unique blending of progressive 
religious people with progressive “spiritual but not religious” people. Among 
the presenters, besides me, Cornel West and Sister Joan Chittister: Jim Wallis 
(progressive Evangelical editor of Sojourners and author, God’s Politics), 
Cindy Sheehan (mother of U.S. solider killed in Iraq war), Episcopal ArchDeacon 
Michael Kendall, Marie Denis (Fellowship of Reconciliation), Rev. William 
Sinkford (national president, Unitarian Universalist Association), 
Rev. Joan Campbell (Chautauqua Institute), Harry Knox (Human Rights 
Campaign), Rev. Penny Nixon (Metropolitan Church, San Francisco), Rabbi Brain Walt 
(national chair, Rabbis for Human Rights), Seyyed Hossein Nasr (author, The Heart 
of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity), Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (chair, 
Progressive Caucus, U.S. House of Representatives), Shaikh Kabir Helminski (Sufi 
teacher), Svi Shapiro (author of Beyond Liberalism and Excellence: 
Reconstructing the Public Discourse on Education), Rev. Ama Zenya (United Church of 
Christ), John Dear S.J. (Catholic non-violence activist), Rev. Lennox Yearwood 
(Progressive Democrats of America), Robert Thurman (Buddhist teacher and author 
The Jewel Tree of Tibet), Jonathan Granoff (chair, American Bar Association 
committee on disarmament), Rev. Lynice Pinkard (United Church of Christ), Bill 
Meadows (national chair, Wildlife Association), Enola Aird, Katrina Vanden 
Heuvel (editor, The Nation), Christopher Hedges (former NY Times reporter and 
author: War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning), Peter Gabel (associate editor of 
Tikkun and professor of law, New College of California), Thea Levkowitz (Religion 
and the Environment), Rev. Tony Campolo (Evangelical teacher), Holly Near 
(progressive music), Michael Bader (psychoanalyst), Michael Posner (human 
rights), Arthur Waskow (Shalom Center), Rev. Donna Schaper, Nanette Schorr, Rabbi 
Debora Kohn, Barbara Coombs Lee, Enola Aird, Rev. Bob Edgar (chair, National 
Council of Churches), Rev. Debora Johnson, John Seed, Paul Wapner, Mary Darling, 
Rev. Donna Schapper, Harvey Cox, Janet Chisholm, Roshi Bernie Glassman, Rev. 
Glenn Harold Stassen, Rev. Paul Smith, Çharlene Spretnak, David Abrams
Rev. Robert Hardies & Rev. Louise Green (All Souls Unitarian church), and 
many more.

Even if you can’t come to the conference, you can join as a dues paying 
member the Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP) and help us out financially, or 
even help us build a local chapter in your area. For information on 
registering for the conference or joining the NSP: www.spiritualprogressives.org or 510 
644 1200 (between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time). 

I hope you personally will come, or join, and I’d particularly appreciate it 
if you’d send this note to everyone you know, and in your own name urge them 
to come as well.

Many blessings,

Rabbi Michael Lerner
Editor, Tikkun, rabbi of Beyt Tikkun synagogue in San Francisco, and author, 
The Left Hand of God: Taking Back our Country from the Religiious Right
RabbiLerner at Tikkun.org 




THE TENTATIVE PROGRAM:

Tentative Agenda
Wednesday, May 17
8:00 am Registration
9:00 am Opening Religious/Spiritual Rituals.

10:00 am Introduction to the Conference: Rev. Ama Zenya, Deb Kory, and Rev. 
Robert Hardies

10:30-12:00 am Understanding Spiritual Politics: Sister Joan Chittister, 
Peter Gabel and Harvey Cox

12:00-12:30 pm Introduction to Small Groups: 
12;30-1:30 pm Lunch with small groups

1:30-3:15 pm Keynote Plenary: Rabbi Michael Lerner 

3:30-5:15 pm Trainings focused on the Spiritual Covenant with America to 
prepare participants for presenting these ideas to their elected representatives 
Presentation by Joe Volk of the Friends Committee on National Legislation

1. Create a society that promotes loving relationships and families

2. Take Personal Responsibility for Ethical Behavior (including sexual 
behavior) Facilitator: Rev. Tony Campolo and Rev. Ama Zenya

3. Build Social Responsibility into our economic and political institutions
Facilitator: Peter Gabel

4. Reshape education to teach love, caring, generosity, nonviolent 
communication, cooperation, compassion, environmental responsibility, awe and wonder, 
respect and thanksgiving. Facilitator: Svi Shapiro and Ralph Wolf (W.A.S.C.) 

5. Build a broader understanding of health care while also pursuing a single 
payer national health care plan. Facilitators: Dr.Roy Farrell, Harvey 
Fernbach, and Dr. Bill Benda

6. Be stewards of the environment Facilitator: Thea Levkovitz & Paul Wapner

7. A spiritual foreign policy, homeland security and immigration policy:: 
safety through a strategy of generosity and nonviolence. Facilitator: John Dear

8. Separation of church and state and science while bringing our new bottom 
line into the public sphere Michael Posner

5:30-6:30 pm Workshops on spiritual politics
1. Environmental Crisis: John Seed
2. The Fears of Progressive Social Change by Rev. Debora Johnson
3. Spiritual Economics Alanna Hartzok, John Surr
4. The Spiritual Crisis in Our Lives Generated by the War in Iraq Stacy 
Bannerman
5. How Authentic Spirituality Drives People to be Advocates of Social Justice 
Mary Darling
6. Religion and Faith in the GLBTQ Community Harry Knox and Rev. Penny Nixon
7. Politics of Meaning Peter Gabel and Michael Lerner
8. "Spiritual but not Religious": How to create a movement that has room for 
those whose connection to God and the spiritual wisdom of humanity is done 
outside traditional religious communities and without the theo-centric language 
that suggests hierarchical and patriarchal visions of God?
9. Nonviolence training Janet Chisholm, Episcopal Peace Fellowship
10. The Encounter & Reconciliation of Civilizations (a challenge to the 
"clash of civilizations" world view) Shaikh Kabir Helminski
11. Reconciliation, building Communities and Identities of Inclusive 
Otherness 
12. Human Rights and the Spiritual Crisis: Michael Posner


6:30-8:00 pm Dinner break with your small group

8:00-11:00 pm Concert and speakers on the Role of Spirit and Religion in 
Politics Rev. William Sinkford, Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, Sayyed Hussein Nasr, 
Rabbi Brian Walt, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Rev. Tony Campolo, Marie Denis, 
Michael Bader, Archdeacon Michael Kendall, 

Thursday, May 18

7:30-9:00 am Prayer breakfast to pray for our country and its leadership, and 
to pray for receptivity to the Spiritual Covenant with America 

9:00-1:00 pm Teach-in to Congress on Spiritual Politics at the Capitol 
Building

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Individual meetings with elected representatives by participants

1:00-3:00 pm Pray-in for peace outside the White House: Prayer leaders 
include Bob Edgar, Sheikh Kabir Helminski, Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, Rev. Jim Winkler, 
Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, Rev. Penny Nixon, John Dear S.J., Archdeacon Kendall 
and Taylor Branch and Rabbi Brian Walt. Pledge of Resistance to the Iraq War: 
Ken Butigan. Cindy Sheehan.

3:30 pm Workshops on spiritual politics
B1. 
B2. Theological Perspectives on the Free Market System: Idolatry, Sin and the 
Structures of Evil in Economic Life Stan Duncan
B3. Emancipatory Design Toby Israel 
B4. Environmental Consciousness John Seed
B5. Music and Social Transformation
B6. War as a Source for Meaning Christopher Hedges
B.7 Law as a Vehicle for Sociall Connection or Disconnection. Can law be 
reconstructed in ways consonant with and nurturing to the soul rather than its 
enemy? Peter Gabel and Nanette Schorr
B8. Torture: Building a Spiritual/Religious Campaign Against Torture Rabbi 
Brian Walt
B9. End of Life Decisions: Moral and Spiritual Issues 
Barbara Coombs Lee and Rev. Paul Smith

5:00-6:30 pm The Struggle for the Hearts & Minds of Traditional Religious 
Communities Rev. Paul Sherry. Rev. Jim Winkler, Glen Harold Stassen, Mary 
Darling, Andrew Weaver and more

6:30-7:30 pm Dinner break with small groups,

7:30-8:15 pm Song and Inspiration from Holly Near and All Souls Choir

8:15-9:30 pm Iraq and New Visions for Foreign Policy Cindy Sheehan

9:30-10:30 pm Evening Plenary: How to Make the Liberal World Diverse Not Only 
in Race, Sex and Gender, but also in Class and Religious Orientation Rabbi 
Arthur Waskow, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Rev. Glen Harold Stassen, Rev. Joan Brown 
Campbell, Rev. Debora Johnson

10:30-12:00 pm Young People's concert and discussions

Friday, May 19

7:30-9:00 am Spiritual and Religious Practices

9:00 am Plenary on the Challenges of Spiritual Progressives Jim Wallis plus 
response from Michael Lerner

10:30 am Plenary on Spirituality and Sexuality Rev. Ama Zenya, Rev. Donna 
Schaper, Rabbi Debora Kohn, Enola Aird

12:00 Noon Small group meetings and lunch

1:30 pm Plenary on How to Bring a Spiritual Politics into the Heart of the 
Democrats and into the Liberal and Progressive Social Change Movements. 
Directions for 2006, 2008 and beyond. Christopher Hedges, Congresspeople, and many more

3:30 pm Workshops focused on the Spiritual Covenant with Americans

5:00 pm Workshops on Spiritual Politics
C1. Spiritual and Religious Experience of Peoples of Asian and Pacific 
Islanders Jeffrey Kuan 
C2. Spirituality and Religious Experience for African Americans
C3. Spirituality and Religious Experience for Latinos
C4. Trade Justice Elizabeth Carty 
6:30 pm Dinner Break

7:30 pm Shabbat Service

8:00 pm Evening Plenary: Spiritual Progressives Facing The Globalization of 
Selfishness (the globalization of capital, the environmental crisis) Charlene 
Spretnak, Jonathan Granoff, Robert Thurman, Christopher Hedges, Bill Meadows, 
David Beckman, and David Abrams (Music with Sharon Abreu, Michael Hurwicz, and 
Stephen Fisk)

Saturday, May 20

9:oo am Spiritual Practices:
Protestant,
Catholic, 
Buddhist, 
Muslim,
Hindu, 
Native American 
WICA
Jewish Shabbat Services Rabbi Michael Lerner and Rabbi Arthur Waskow
Zen Peacemaker: Bernie Glassman on “Not Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Loving 
Actions”

9-10:30 am Other Spiritual workshops
D1. Progressive spiritual media Jochen Strack


10:30-11 am Small group meetings

11 a.m. Plenary: The War in Iraq and the Spiritual Contribution to an Antiwar 
Movement. Speaker: Arun Gandhi

12:15 pm Small groups and lunch

2:00 pm Summaries of discussions on the Spiritual Covenant with Americans

3:30 pm Strategies for the NSP in the coming year

5:30 pm Dinner break

7:30 pm Poetry

8:00 pm Human Rights, Spiritual Wisdom and Planetary Sanity: Roshi Bernie 
Glassman, Rev. Debora Johnson, Jim Garrison, Thea Levkovitz, speaker from What Is 
Enlightenment, and Pamela Taylor Evening Concert Performance from the play 
"Motherblood” by the Omega Theatre (with Saphira), humor from Swami Beyondonanda 
and music from Michael Franti.





For more information about upcoming Beyt Tikkun events please check our 
website 
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=113929784&url_num=1&url=http://www.beyttikkun.org or call 415-575-1432. 
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