Brett Fuller and Jim Wallis: Two Prophetic Voices for America today
Brett Fuller’s Dreaming in Black and White[1]
In his book Bishop Brett Fuller shares how racism impacted his own family and how their response helped them to rise above the feelings of anger associated with it. Fuller shares how racism is systemically built into our nations systems. Fuller makes a call for reconciliation and how that needs to begin within the church. However, Fuller talks about the rarity of a truly multiethnic church and the struggles pastors and their churches face in attempting to practice reconciliation and become a mirror of the multiethnic scene surrounding the throne of God in Revelation. He does not condemn churches who choose to stay predominantly White, Black, Hispanic, etc.
I would absolutely love to sit down with Bishop Brett Fuller and ask him several questions. First Fuller is very loving yet blunt with people who come to him for advice. With his bluntness, I in turn feel that I could be open in asking him questions that I struggle with regarding issues surrounding diversity and specifically Black culture. Fuller discusses the importance of getting to know and getting input from Blacks, working in conjunction with them to address racial issues. My first question would be, as I White Male living in a rural Midwest area, how do I myself or my students get to know Black people so that we can be an instrument of reconciliation? Another question I would like to ask relates to Chapter 3 in which he references 1619 as the year black America began. The United States of America did not exist until 1776 so in 1619 this land would have still been considered the New World and encompassed all of North, Central and South America. Does focusing on 1619 negate the experience of the Africans who were brought to America starting in the early 1500’s?[2]
Brett Fullers High Ceilings: Women in Leadership[3]
Fuller in his book argues that Bible verses that discuss a man’s authority over a women and a women’s submissive state need to be viewed within the context of marriage and family. Verses that suggest a woman’s role outside the family need to be understood within the cultural context that existed within the churches at that point in time.
I appreciated Fuller’s interpretation of the Scriptures and found it refreshing in a world where women still struggle to be accepted in position of leadership. In his chapter “Moms, Ministry, and Church Government” Fuller argues that church leadership should make accommodations for women in ministry who are also mothers. Next, he argues that Paul in I Timothy 3:1-2 is arguing that a polygamist cannot be an elder in the church when he states that and elder must be a husband of one wife and this verse does not exclude women from serving as leaders. My question would be in light of J D Vance’s childless cat lady comment[4] and Paul’s admonition in verse 4 that an elder “must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect,”[5] do you feel that in order to be an effective leader within the church, man or woman, you should be a parent?
Jim Wallis’s God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It[6]
When Wallis published his book in 2005, America was in the midst of a war on terror, one that lasted approximately 20 years. Reading Wallis’ book makes me wonder if things could have been different. However, when we look at the topics Wallis primarily addresses one can easily wonder if the church can really influence society and government in a Godly manner. Wallis answers my question by stating “The politics of God is often not the same as the politics of the people of God. The real question is not whether religious faith should influence society and politics but how.”[7] Throughout his book Wallis uses scripture to address some of the biggest issues facing not only American society but also the world. Wallis uses examples of the prophets, such as Micah, Amos and Isaiah to suggest a better way to address today’s issues. Like ancient Israel, Wallis gives examples of national sins and like the prophets, Wallis gives examples of people who are speaking out against those sins advocating a better way. He asks the question “To whom will Christians be loyal today?”[8] Will we be loyal to the government or to Christ and the global church? Wallis concludes his book with a chapter titled “The Critical Choice.”[9] Wallis suggests we have two choices, to either be cynical about the world and the church today or to be hopeful.
Wallis writes “The conventional wisdom still says that liberal Christians have a social conscience and evangelicals do not, preferring to focus only on the personal morality of issues such as abortion and homosexuality. The media in particular keeps that perception alive. But the big story that most of the press (including religious press) continues to miss is how much that reality is changing. On at least three key social issues—poverty, race, and environment—evangelicals are exhibiting a growing conviction and conscience. In local congregations, poor neighborhoods and legislative halls, a new evangelical activism and advocacy is emerging.[10] My question is twenty years after writing this, does Wallis still believe this statement to be true?
[1] Brett Fuller, Dreaming in Black and White, (United States: Brett E. Fuller), 2021
[2] Mark Charles and Soong -Chan Rah, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, (Downers Grove, IL: IVP), 2019, 18.
[3] Brett Fuller, High Ceilings: Women in Leadership, United States: Brett E. Fuller), 2021.
[4] Rachel Treisman, “JD Vance went viral for ‘cat lady’ comments. The centuries-old trope has a long tail,” NPR, July 29, 2024, https://www.npr.org/2024/07/29/nx-s1-5055616/jd-vance-childless-cat-lady-history.
[5] I Timothy 3:4 (NIV).
[6] Jim Wallis, God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It, (New York, NY: Harpers Collins), 2005.
[7] Wallis, 56.
[8] Wallis, 151.
[9] Walls, 343.
[10] Wallis, 352-353.
About the Author
Jeff Styer
Jeff Styer lives in Northeast Ohio's Amish Country. He has degrees in Social Work and Psychology and currently works as a professor of social work at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Jeff is married to his wife, Veronica, 25+ years. Together they have 4 beautiful children (to be honest, Jeff has 4 kids, Veronica says she is raising 5). Jeff loves the outdoors, including biking, hiking, camping, birding, and recently picked up disc golf.10 responses to “Brett Fuller and Jim Wallis: Two Prophetic Voices for America today”
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Hi Jeff, I’m curious if there was a specific idea in one of these readings that you felt impressed to incorporate into your teachings for the future. Do you currently address any of these topics in your curriculum?
Kari,
In my Cultural and Human Diversity class, I believe that I promote the idea of reconciliation through the use of educating students about the cultures in order to challenge their existing biases. I also try to promote empathy by having them hear from guest speakers about their own experiences of being from a different culture in America. Last year Nancy spoke about her experiences being Korean American. I would love to require the class to engage in an activity where they are a minority. Due to policies and our location that really is not feasible, but I do highly suggest it.
Hi Jeff, You wrote that Wallis said people have two choices, to be cynical or hopeful. Where would you see yourself on Wallis’ continuum?
Great question Diane, I would say it depends on the day. I believe that I am hopeful and trust in God. Yet, there are days where I am a bit cynical, especially when I look at our political landscape. May God help me to continually find hope in Him
Jeff,
I love the childless cat lady reference. I do think that there is something to being a parent that is very refining in nature. I say this as I try to keep my son engaged in school right now. It is indeed very refining. How would you answer the question you pose for Fuller?
Adam,
I do believe that parenting allows you to develop essential leadership skills. For example, the art of effective discipline and putting aside your own interests so that others can grow and flourish. So I would say that as much as possible, a leader in the church should have experience in parenting.
Hi Jeff
In chapter 21, Wallis that captures the essence of his message on hope:
“Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, and then watching the evidence change.”
This reflects Wallis’s emphasis on choosing hope over cynicism, a central theme in this chapter.
Does this resonate with your current thoughts or experiences in leadership or politics?
Shela,
There are days I can be cynical when it comes to politics. I don’t hold a lot of hope that people will put aside partisanship and make decisions based on what’s best, not what will get them reelected. However, I do know that God is working behind the scene and he is accomplishing things in his time, which is not my time. So that is where my hope is.
Jeff, what do you think Wallis might say about some of the political issues of today? I know it’s conjecture… but based on your reading, what do you think he might advocate for now?
Debbie,
That is a great question and one I hope he talks about. I think he may hold some of the same attitudes that his book subtitle suggests, we are either getting it wrong or not at all. Transgender is a new issue, global poverty has almost halved prior to COVID, same sex attraction is still dividing churches. I think he would say we need to get back to the basics, Love God, Love Neighbor