About the Presentation

Most mainline Protestant congregations are a mixture of red (conservative) and blue (progressive) members, both theologically and politically. When you mix red and blue, you get purple. Congregations are greatly afraid of conflict. While congregations can agree on charity (tsunami or hurricane relief), doing justice (seeking systemic change) causes conflict in purple congregations. This makes purple congregations resistant to doing justice.

We will more fully explore this problem and identify how clergy and lay leaders can work together to lead their congregations to do justice in purple congregations.

About the Presenter

Rev. Dr. Jim Ryan, Council Executive, Colorado Council of Churches, Denver, CO. The statewide collaborative effort of twelve denominations living out the unity and mission of Christ’s Church in Colorado.

PREVIOUS POSITIONS
Central Christian Church, Denver, CO
Associate Minister for Program and Administration

Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
Executive Director

First Christian Church, Des Moines, IA
Senior Minister

International Corporation, Akron, OH
Systems Analyst

EDUCATION
Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, MO
Doctor of Ministry, 1990

Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, KY
Master of Divinity, 1974

University of Akron, Akron, OH
Bachelor of Arts, 1971

PREVIOUS ECUMENICAL CONSULTATIONS

Kansas Ecumenical Ministries
Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska
Colorado Council of Churches
Indiana Partners for Christian Unity and Mission
Community of Churches in Utah
Wyoming Church Coalition

(Ryan’s complete Resume pdf)

Additional Resources

Rev. DR. JAMES R. RYAN
7823 S. Logan Dr.
Littleton, CO  80122-2817

(h) 303-794-8937 (w) 303-825-4910  (fax) 303-744-8605

[email protected]