No Time for Foolishness: On the Prophetic and Progressive Projects of James A. Forbes Jr.

Abstract

No Time for Foolishness: On the Prophetic and Progressive Projects of James A. Forbes Jr. Akintunde E. Akinade I want to use my energy, my voice for spiritual revitalization. Whatever I do next is designed to call the nation to moral sensitivity; to challenge the nation to address the gap between the haves and the have‐nots. ‐James A. Forbes It is not enough to be busy. So are ants. The question is: what are you busy about? ‐Henry Thoreau Introduction: beyond a flash in the pan project An uncanny sense of serendipity hovers over the conception, development, and birth of this article. I have always contemplated writing a piece that will establish the enduring linkages between ecclesiology and social, economic, and political realities in the United States. In my mind, the best approach would be to identify either a case study or a personality that exemplifies this phenomenon. In order words, I have always been drawn to the idea of articulating a new narrative that refocuses the relevance of the sacred and public theology within the American landscape. The reality of secularity has not eviscerated the affinity between religion and America's legacy of freedom, justice, and liberty. Far from being an intellectual accident, I have ruminated about such a project since my graduate school days at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. Union provided the auspicious context to grapple with matters concerning the fluid intersections between matters of faith and justice. The transformative ideas of Bonheoffer, Tillich, Niebuhr, and Cone boldly defined Union's theological landscape. My experience at Union provided the necessary foundation for engaging the intersections between theology and social concerns. On December 20, 2015, the fourth Sunday of Advent, this nascent idea received a bold baptism of affirmation. On this Sunday of love, I was sitting in silent meditation at Riverside Church, gently trying to transcend the stress associated with a fourteen‐hours non‐stop flight to New York the previous day and James Forbes quietly walked in and sat in the pew directly in front of me. I jumped out of my short reverie and thought to myself: sitting in front me is a man that quintessentially exemplifies the writing project that has tugged away at my soul for two decades. Lo and behold, it dawned on me that here is a man whose odyssey, ministry, and vocation embody an idea that I have been wrestling with for a long time. Finally, a respite from a subject that had been simmering in my mind and soul. I gently leaned forward to convey my greetings and best wishes for the holidays. “Coincidence” is a pessimist lingo for “providence.” God's grace has a way of making all things cohere together. It was liberating to realize that an idea that had lurked in the deepest crevices of my mind for many years finally became real and tangible. It was gratifying that this eureka moment came within a few yards from Union, the center of progressive Protestantism in the USA, and it reconnected me with one of my mentors from the school. Once again, my association with this fine institution enabled me to fully develop an important intellectual thought with ease. With time, an issue that constituted itself as a conundrum was finally resolved. Although over the years, because of other professional demands, other assignments have taken precedence over this idea, it has never been totally expunged from my “to‐do list.” This paper therefore focuses on an important voice in contemporary American Christianity: that of James A. Forbes, the Senior Minister Emeritus of The Riverside Church in New York City. For eighteen years, he captivated, rejuvenated, and inspired America with his profound prophetic insights on peace and the common good. The pulpit is the ideal home for James Forbes. His messages and vision go beyond mere theological emotionalism or sophistry; they are deeply rooted in the religious, social, cultural, political, and economic realities of America in particular and the world as a whole. The legacy of riverside church The Riverside Church has always been identified with freedom, peace, and liberation, but it is my contention that James Forbes redefined and refined the mission...