During the weeks of Lent, we’ll read through James Cone’s important book about the experience of the Black Church in America, especially during the Jim Crow South (the late 1870’s to mid 1960’s) and the terror of lynching.  He is known as the Father of Black Liberation Theology and in this book Cone explores how at the very heart of the Christian faith is the reality of Jesus tortured and hung from a tree at the hands of those who hold social power.  And with honesty, passion and deep insight Cone shows how the cross speaks to the experience of lynching AND how lynching speaks to what the cross must mean for Christians.  

In this book club, we will let James Cone be our teacher, giving us new eyes to see and a new mind to understand the familiar symbol of Christ’s cross and what it means to worship the crucified Jesus.  

We will meet each Tuesday evening for five weeks beginning February 17.  We will meet from 6:15-7:15pm in the Wesley Prayer Chapel.  We will read a chapter each week.  You’ll need to come having already done the reading for that week and you’ll be asked to bring a quote or passage that resonated with you or stood out to you as the starting point for our discussion.  Paige and I will take turns leading the discussion.  

READING/DISCUSSION SCHEDULE - 
Feb. 17 - Intro and Chapter 1
Feb. 24 - Chapter 2
March 3 - Chapter 3 
March 10 - NO MEETING - SPRING BREAK
March 17 - Chapter 4 
March 24 - Chapter 5 and Conclusion