Reflections Over the Long Haul: A Memoir

Here we have happily the memoirs, incomplete, of the great American theologian Robert Macafee Brown, who, like Forest Gump, appeared at every major religious event worldwide in his lifetime, yet unlike Gump approached them all with the greatest brilliance and Christian insight and gratefully received reportage. As we approach the seventh anniversary of his passing, let us enter the vast body of his written work through this parting portal, written in his final time and completed by his family, supplemented with a photographic and historical record. Here we may read this model of ecumenism as an Observer in Rome;: A Protestant report on the Vatican Council as well as presenting Elie Wiesel, messenger to all humanity. Mr Wiesel personally adds a most touching and true endorsement to this book. The great friend William Sloane Coffin contributes the Introduction. We find here Pastor Brown's reflections on his service on the Holocaust Commission as well as work for peace in Vietnam and Nicaragua and in Selma. His family contributes their experiences living through those difficult times as their father and husband formed such powerful and violent enemies in the Christian name of peace. This in itself shows why priests remain without a blood family; would that this liberation from fear of family retaliations would strengthen their Christian witness as prophetically and clearly and coherently and Faithfully as Brown's. Himself a well trained theologian, Brown contributed much to the research in theology, including his helpful and objective Gustavo Gutierrez: An Introduction to Liberation Theology as well as his Unexpected News: Reading the Bible With Third World Eyes. Please learn how we as well may hope to become one day Christians even within the walls of these United States, and how we may work to realize that most sacred ambition, by reading the excellent and gentle and insightful and compassionate words of Robert Macafee Brown, beginning with his parting shots in this collection. We yet have much to learn from him and his strong and clear witness to America.