Institute on Religion and Democracy Media Advisory
July 6, 2016
Contact: Jeff Walton office: 202-682-4131, cell: 202-413-5639, e-mail: jwalton@TheIRD.org
“No matter how modern the story-telling or in vogue the yoga classes, Progressive Christianity remains unfashionable as its leading denominations continue in decline.”
-Chelsen Vicari, IRD Evangelical Program Director
Who: Jim Wallis, Frank Schaeffer, Shane Claiborne, Doug Pagitt
What: Wild Goose Festival
Where: Hot Springs, NC
When: July 7-10, 2016
Washington, DC—Evangelical and Religious Left groups will gather on a North Carolina camp ground in Hot Springs this weekend for a four-day festival of music, story-telling, “mystical action,” and dance meditation. The Institute on Religion and Democracy’s Chelsen Vicari will provide on-site coverage.
The openly pro-LGBTQ “Wild Goose” festival will showcase Sojourners chief Jim Wallis, pacifist activist Shane Claiborne, self-described “Christian-Atheist” Frank Schaeffer, the son of Evangelical writer Francis Schaeffer and other “justice activists and status-quo disrupters.” Story-telling sessions will highlight “Gender, Justice and Palestine,” “Nature as a Scared Text,” and “Queer the Church.” “Wild Goose” is patterned on Britain’s Greenbelt festival, Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, and SXSW.
IRD Evangelical Program Director Chelsen Vicari commented:
“Wild Goose is a bizarre attempt to refashion Christianity for disgruntled Progressive Christians attracted to postmodern sexual relativism, paganism, and New Age.
“For some young Evangelicals, Wild Goose’s experimentation with mysticism and vague spirituality is alluring. This explains why members of the failed Emergent Church movement harness the festival to target Evangelical youth in their push for leftist political advocacy and biblical criticisms.
“No matter how modern the story-telling or in vogue the yoga classes, Progressive Christianity remains unfashionable as its leading denominations continue in decline. Young Evangelicals would be wise take notice.”
Comment by Mike Ward on July 7, 2016 at 6:36 am
Please let us know how many people actually attend this thing. I’ve always been curious. The speakers list always reads like a who’s who of emergent leaders, but I can never find actual numbers on how popular the event is.
Comment by Gregg on July 7, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Mike, not sure the speakers are a list of “who’s who,” but more like a group of “who was.” While Wallis is still relevant to the Left and the MSM, Frankie Schaeffer??? Come on! He is so yesterday. And, no doubt, 80% of attendees while be “white hairs.”
Comment by MarcoPolo on July 8, 2016 at 5:44 pm
Now, now! Be respectful of your elders.
I realize the Festival just got underway, so may we assume Chelsen will continue to continue posting as the weekend evolves?
Although the reference to Burning Man was made, I won’t assume it to be a clothing optional event?
Comment by localhistorywriter on July 8, 2016 at 6:36 pm
Go for it. They need some comedy relief.