Our goal is an ambitious one: to rekindle powerful Christian theologies that have a transformative effect on church and society. It is widely believed that only the conservative church knows how to speak in a distinctively Christian voice, that only conservatives are qualified to represent Jesus' message and mission. We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is far more complex, far more interesting, and far more relevant than what the Religious Right has offered for consumption in recent years.

   By forming a broad alliance between leaders in mainline churches, progressive evangelicals, and the emerging church, we aim at nothing less than a rebirth of Christian theological reflection and proclamation among these groups. Movements are already active in various churches, denominations, schools, and cohorts. Up to this point, however, what has been missing is the sense that these various groups are part of a single movement, a "big tent" Christianity, that can be both deeply Christian and have a transformative effect on church and society. We believe that progressive Christain voices can be deeply theological and vibrantly Christian.

   We are not optimistic that the conservative Evangelical groups will join us in this network of networks, though we warmly invite them to join us. As the highly publicized "Evangelical Manifesto" of 20008 shows, theology in that context tends to be about building walls to determine who is "in" and who is "out." Our goal is not to exclude, but instead to show that the life and teachings of Jesus continue to speak strongly to the political and existential crises of contemporary men and women.

   Beliefs orient communities; they create a sense of common cause; and frequently they motivate persons to sacrificial action. Outside the church, motivating beliefs of this sort go by many names: ethical principles, rationales for action, ideologies, and worldviews. Within the church they are called "theologies." They express our world-and-life-view, our beliefs about the past and future of the universe, about the human condition, and about God's redemptive will for the world.

   We believe that the loss of theological reflection represents a major crisis for the identity for the church and for its effectiveness as an agent of redemption and social transformation -- the kind of transformation that Jesus called "the kingdom of God." It's time to take radical steps to support new kinds of theological reflection. 

   It is crucial to emphasize that this proposal does not have the goal of establishing narrow parameters for what is true and false in Christianity. The network is broadly interdenominational rather than partisan; it is interested in fostering and supporting theological work in multiple denominations, across the whole span of the church. Participants are theologically and racially diverse, representing a broad range of approaches to theology. We are as much activists as we are scholars. All of us recognize that the grounds for powerful action in the church and in the world have been obscured. Progressive Christians have suffered a sort of laryngitis; many find it difficult to voice the deeper Christian reasons for their beliefs and actions. All of us are committed to reintroducing theological discourse into contemporary American Christianity, and we are optimistic that significant progress can be made.

   The goal is not to talk about beliefs for belief's sake. Yet our beliefs will inevitably play a crucial role as we struggle with what it means to be Jesus' disciples in the 21st century. Likewise, the goal is not theory for theory's sake. But some theoretical framing is required if Christians are to have the vision and the sustained commitment to make a difference in the world. In the past, prophetic Christianity was able to move fluidly from theological models to transformative action, and from praxis in the world to new and richer theological models. We believe it is time to rekindle this organic interplay of Christian thought and action. Renewing the justification for action will have general impact on local congregations, denominations, and Christian organizations. We aim for nothing less than a renewed Christian voices and new forms of missional Christian presence in the world.