He has been the minister of Fairlawn West United Church of Christ since 1995.
Mentors
Folks who David has had personal relationships with:
Walter Brueggemann Walt was professor of Old Testament at Eden Theological Seminary when I was there, but I have probably learned more from in the years since I left Eden in 1975 than while I was there through his writings and various experiences/lectures/seminars I have been with him in.
Brian McLaren I met Brian about four years ago spending a week with him at the church he served then as part of a group of folks from the emerging church group. Brian spent a few days with us at our church in 2004. I have been with him in various settings including a present 9 mo online seminar. In the fall of 2005 Brian brought together a group in Atlanta to share in conversation with Walt Brueggemann which I was grateful to be part of. Brian today is a prolific writer and speaker on the reality of the Christian church in a postmodern world.
Erwin McManus Martha and I spent a few days with Erwin and his wife a about 10 other couples at Leonard Sweet's home on Orcas Island in the Puget Sound in the spring of 2004. I first had heard Erwin in person about a year before. Er twin and Brian are friends and two peas in a pod. I consider the two of them two of the most important teachers of our time.
Those through writings and recordings:
Here's a link to the June 4, 2006 The Diane Rehm Show on NPR. It starts off with the "DeLay Resignation", but keep scrolling down, you will see she interviewed Buechner and you can listen to it.
Buechner is THE person through whom I see the presence of God in my life and in the world around me more than anyone else.
Myles Horton and the Highlander Center in Newport, TN
Horton developed along with Paolo Freire teaching and learning that helps change peoples lives through taking control of their own lives and communities. The Highlander Center is where Martin Luther King learned about non-violence as a strategy and first heard sung "We Shall Overcome."
The preeminent community organizer. In the vein of the Apostle Paul, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez and Dorothy Day.
A Christian priest who is a Palestinian. He is building bridges of peace for Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Middle East.
Northland College in Ashland, WI
The "environmental liberal arts college" that is related to the United Church of Christ. I love this place.
The Center for Non-violent Communication started by Marshall Rosenberg
I first met Marshall in 1971 at Eden Seminary when he was just starting out as a psychologist. He has helped change the wider world in immense ways.
I was a poster child for the old Heifer Project back in the early 1950's. My Dad was involved with them in shipping grain and hogs to Europe after the war and to South America in the '50's helping poor people to have a means to get a leg up on their own self-sufficiency. HI today has grown to be the premier effort around the world in providing folks with opportunity not just a hand-out.
A young woman killed at age 28 in Iraq where she was helping Iraqi families to learn of their loved ones who were killed. An amazing story.