Thread by @jackmjenkins

At “Reclaiming Jesus” event by @Sojourners and others—which features first major address from Bishop Michael Curry since his Royal Wedding sermon.

Oh also the Reclaiming Jesus declaration says “America First” is a theological heresy.

Oh ALSO there are more than 1,000 folks here

The church is so packed there are people out front in vests directing folks to overflow areas across the street.

(The 1,000+ figure comes organizers, who say the church holds around 1,000 people)

Packed house.

As Curry ascends to the pulpit with Jim Wallis, the crowd bursts into spontaneous applause.

They rise to their feet in a standing ovation before he even speaks.

Both Curry and Wallis appeal to bipartisanship as they speak.

Curry insists it’s a “procession, not a protest.”

Wallis insists that this is “not about Donald Trump.”

Crowd applauds.

Wallis still speaking, saying instead of bringing “politics to faith,” they’re bringing “faith to politics.”

Choir singing now. Crowd loving it.

Reporter’s notebook aside: the contrast — both in terms of rhetoric and energy — between this gathering (and the festival on Tuesday) and more conservative gatherings like the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast is striking.

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner speaking now, condemning racism.

Williams-Skinner closes: “Whatever we do to those marginalized by systemic racism, we’re doing to God.”

Tony Campolo speaking now.

A progressive evangelical, he was a big part of the recent Lynchburg Revival, which criticized evangelicals who back Trump (including Jerry Falwell Jr. at Liberty University). religionnews.com/2018/04/09/at-…

Campolo: “I know it’s easy to get discouraged now ... but I’ve read the Bible — I know how it ends...”

:: raised hands in the air ::

“We win!”

:: crowd erupts ::

As Campolo leaves the pulpit, Curry high-fives him.

Theologian Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann takes to the pulpit.

Crowd again rises to its feet again, exploding in applause.

In other words: there are clearly a lot of mainline Christians in the audience.

Brueggemann: “We know this: as long as we dwell in this culture of lies, we shall never be the land of the free and the home of the brave. We will continue to be a land of the frightened and the home of the anxious.”

Rev. Dr. Richard Hamm offering a prayer for the people now.

Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins specifically condemns oppression of LGBTQ people as she begins talking, to resounding applause.

Watkins: “there is no gender identity better than another...”

Also talks about “not being sent back to an abuser,” which seems like a not-too-subtle reference to ongoing Southern Baptist Convention woes.

Bishop Carroll A. Baltimore: “this feels more like a revival!”

Now discussing their rejection of “America First!”

(Sorry Jim Wallis but that’s definitely about Trump)

Rev. Dr. James Forbes Jr. now speaking.

Forbes, who I believe is reading from the statement: “We support human democracy not because we believe in human perfection, but because we do not.”

Forbes cites MLK’s Drum Major Instinct, rousing the crowd as his voice rises: “We are in the atmosphere of Pentecost...”

Hard to make out the rest, because the crowd is on its feet applauding and yelling loudly.

This is like a master class on the short sermon.

Fr. Richard Rohr closes things out with a prayer telling participants to walk with love “into the empire.”

Wallis then calls on attendees to “take their faith to the streets” — I.e., processing to the White House.

(The choir, btw, is the Howard Gospel Choir)

Just one chunk of the emerging crowd

Assembly now marching to White House.

It’s quite a crowd.

Group largely walking in silence.

Woman walks by the crowd with a thumbs up. Other bystanders filiming as they pass.