Jim Burklo to Speak
UMC Santa Cruz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information:

Reverend Michael Love – 831.429.6800

revmichaellove@smcsantacruz.org

Jim Lucas – 831.464.1359

Worldchamp1@hotmail.com

Santa Cruz, Calif. – Jim Burklo, renown author and speaker, will lead a discussion at the New United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz – First Church, located at 250 California Avenue in Santa Cruz – on Friday, April 30 at 7pm.

The discussion will be an exploration of the progressive Christian movement with Burklo, author of “OPEN CHRISTIANITY: Home by Another Road.” Burklo is the minister of Sausalito Presbyterian Church and is on the Executive Council of The Center for Progressive Christianity, an international network of congregations and individuals. His book is a 'primer' on the progressive Christian movement and invites the reader into an expression of "full-strength" Christianity that is pluralistic, inclusive, non-literalistic, and focused more on deeds than on creeds. The discussion will highlight faith that reclaims the Bible and Christian tradition for people who have felt alienated from it in the past.

Burklo’s talk is a challenge in that he brings a Christian message to a wide variety of people who may be of different or no religion. As a result, his discussion focuses on separating the message of Christianity as Jesus lived it from the ideological trappings that have accumulated over the past 2000 years.

“Open Christianity makes room for all sorts of followers of Jesus,” said Burklo. “It takes the Bible seriously, but it doesn’t take it literally. To follow Jesus you don’t have to give up being a Jew or a Buddhist or a Muslim.”

Burklo presents the Christian message in an informal, everyday language, peppered with anecdotes drawn from his own ministries. He relishes the parables and metaphors that connect the Bible with ordinary people.

Burklo, author of “Open Christianity – Home By Another Road”, is the minister to Sausalito Presbyterian Church and an Executive Council Member for The Center for Progressive Christianity. Burklo is also a former United Campus Christian Ministry Campus Minister at Stanford University, a Vice-Chair of the Community Working Group, Inc., and has a long history of serving the homeless in the Palo Alto area. Born in San Jose, CA, raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Columbiana, OH and Soquel, CA, Burklo received his Bachelor of Science degree in Social Relations from UC Riverside and his Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Founded in 1848, the New United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz is dedicated to trusting in God's life-changing power, embracing all people compassionately, educate and prepare all people to serve faithfully, and offer open minds, open hearts, and an open door. Located at 250 California Avenue, Santa Cruz, the church Pastor is Reverend Michael Love. Nursery child care and Sunday School are available every Sunday from 9am until Church conclusion. Services start at 10:30am. www.umcsantacruz.org

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