“Clarence Jordan and the God Movement”

Al Staggs

2/27/13

Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church will host actor Al Staggs, who will perform “Clarence Jordan and the God Movement” on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

Duncan Memorial is located at 201 Henry Street in Ashland, Virginia, on the campus of Randolph-Macon College.

For more than 20 years veteran actor Al Staggs has brought to life notable 20th century persons of faith such as scholar and social activist Clarence Jordan, Christian theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Trappist monk Thomas Merton, theologian Henri Nouwen, Social Gospel proponent Walter Rauschenbusch, and Salvadoran martyr Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Staggs will bring Clarence Jordan to life during his performance. In addition to his portrayal of Jordan, Staggs will also present brief vignettes of other notable persons of faith.

Clarence Jordan (1912-1969) was a farmer, Baptist minister and biblical scholar who, in 1942, founded Koinonia, an interracial Christian community in South Georgia. Jordan’s life and theology were a radical embodiment of the teachings of Jesus, especially those from the Sermon on the Mount. Habitat for Humanity traces its roots to this community, as does The Cotton Patch Gospel, which Jordan authored. In this unique work, written by Jordan in southern parlance, southern towns (Birmingham, Atlanta, Selma) replace biblical communities and the New Testament’s Jewish/Gentile conflict is presented in terms of the South’s racial conflict.

This performance is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be received; all proceeds above the cost of the evening will support the youth ministry of Duncan Memorial UMC. For more information, contact the church at office@duncanmemorialumc.org or (804) 798-7224.