This book represents a collaboration of theologians, writers, and editors over two successive years in Charlottesville and Chicago, who were seeking to retrieve and celebrate the tradition of Christian social progressives in the United States. The editors are grateful to each of the contributors for bringing this rich cast of characters to life and for answering the question “Can I get a witness?” with a resounding yes.
We owe huge thanks to Jessica Seibert, the project manager at the University of Virginia’s Project on Lived Theology. Her brilliant organizing made the meetings happen, and she continued to offer limitless support and smart editorial advice in the months since. Koonal Patel and Gosia Czelusniak, the excellent team at Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies, assisted Jessica in invaluable ways in preparation for our meeting at the Water Tower Campus.
Editor extraordinaire Lil Copan shepherded us through the drafting and first revision of the manuscript with her sharp eye and generous intelligence. We are grateful to David Bratt, Anita Eerdmans, Holly Knowles, Jeremy Cunningham, Leah Luyk, Alexander Bukovietski, and the whole Eerdmans team for their attentive and encouraging partnership. We are delighted this book landed in their exceedingly capable hands.
The Project on Lived Theology exists thanks to the generosity of the Lilly Endowment and theological vision of Jessicah Duckworth and Chris Coble. We are ever so grateful to count them among our cloud of witnesses.