One year after Thomas Merton's passing, the Black American liberation theologian James Cone published Black Theology and Black Power, a reflection on the Black Power movement of the 1960s and the central role that liberation plays in the Christian gospel. As we know, Merton dedicated significant effort considering U.S. race relations broadly and the Black Power Movement specifically as evidenced by an entire chapter in his book Faith and Violence, entitled “From Non-violence to Black Power” but what we don't know is if the two ever met in person. Nonetheless, Merton and Cone inhabited proximate theological and physical geography at pivotal moments in their thinking and praxis (Corpus Christi, the church where Merton was baptized, and Union Theological Seminary, where James Cone taught and wrote, share an intersection). By putting Merton and Cone into conversation with each other, we grasp a deeper understanding of how contemplative practice lends itself to liberation on the margins. If God is Black, then silence is God’s first language.

As a pastor, theologian, and faith-based community organizer, Jordan Jones is interested in exploring what role contemplation has in the Black Radical Tradition by way of building and cultivating Beloved "fugitive" communities. This was his focus as a seminarian at Union Theological Seminary and continues to be as an associate pastor at Metro Hope Church in East Harlem, New York where he lives and also works as a barista.

Jordan was a recent member of the 205 Sojourners Journalism Cohort and a clergy fellow with FASPE (Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics). Prior to moving to New York City for seminary, Jordan lived in Medellín, Colombia, as a Fulbright scholar and journalist. A native to Atlanta and graduate from Morehouse College, Jordan is an avid jazz listener and amateur salsa dancer. He is currently seeking ordination with the Disciples of Christ and plans to pursue doctoral work in the near future.

See future programs and register to join a future discussion live at: https://merton.org/twm/