The Justice Conference Gathers Thousands

Joshua Grace reporting.

I'm not sure of the final count, but a few thousand people convened at the Convention Center last weekend for The Justice Conference.  The organizers describe it as "a movement of students, teachers, business people, parents, artists, social entrepreneurs, pastors, advocates and academics all of whom are discovering the paradox that true life is found when we give our lives away on behalf of others."  Ken Wytsma began organizing in 2010 and this year the conference went beyond Portland, OR to Philadelphia.

I attended with a heavy heart.  My friend Richard Twiss, who convinced me to attend, was set to speak and hang out but suddenly and tragically died from complications after a massive heart attack a few weeks ago.  There was a brief but meaningful acknowledgement of him on Friday night but more importantly his family and legacy were on the hearts of all of us who knew him and those who were learning about him for the first time.

Howard, Molly, and I were naming some of the people from our church who were there on our Facebook Page.  We got to thirty people pretty fast.  There were probably more that we haven't named yet.

I've enjoyed the Facebook and Twitter chatter yesterday and today about highlights.  I would add three of my own.

1.  Brenda Salter McNeil on Friday night.  I got to meet her briefly after her talk at CCDA a few years ago.  She gave us a great gift about how to identify and be moved by our compassion.  She put her neck out there advocating for gun control, particularly that which would reduce the number of gun violence in urban areas.







2.  It was pretty fun to see my boy Shane Claiborne get the rowdiest welcome.  He was brilliant as usual and showcased the creativity of RAWtools, Mennonite blacksmiths from Colorado Springs, CO who intend to "partner with communities in an effort to repurpose weapons for productive lifelong purpose."  They did a demonstration of taking a donated AK-47 and turning it into useful and beautifully made garden tools.



3.  PhillyBloco got a few thousand people dancing on Saturday night.  Martha, Jay, and about 20 of my other friends blew the place up with "Brazilian Music to shake your body and soul!"  Dozens (hundreds?) crammed the front to learn the moves, the isles were filled, and people jammed from their seat.  I told one of the security guards, a nice lady named Sharon that it was my wife's band.  She told me afterwards that she wants to go to the next show.