Bishop Spong to Speak in Bloomington on February 14

WHAT: “Can a Citizen of the 21st Century Still Believe in Life After Death?”

WHEN: 2 p.m. Feb. 14 lecture

WHERE: First United Church, 2420 E. Third St.

MORE: Free and open to the public.

John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal bishop, noted theologian and author, and a leader in
progressive Christianity, will speak twice at First United Church, 2420 East Third Street,
Bloomington, on Sunday, February 14.
Bishop Spong’s presentations will be of particular interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender, and questioning individuals because he has been an outspoken proponent of full
inclusion of all persons of faith, GLBT civil rights, and gay marriage.
The first opportunity to hear him will be during First United’s customary morning worship
service, when he will present a sermon titled “Are You a Fallen Sinner or an Evolving Person?”
In the afternoon Bishop Spong will lecture at 2:00 p.m. at First United on “Can a Citizen of
the 21st Century Still Believe in Life After Death?” He will participate in a book-signing at this
event.
Both events are free and open to the public.
John Shelby Spong’s books have sold more than a million copies. Bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of Newark, New Jersey, for 24 years before his retirement in 2001, Spong is viewed as a
teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology accessible to the layperson. He is an
advocate of change, preaching a message of life based on love, not hate; inclusion rather than
exclusion; opportunity, not discrimination; and an intelligent, questioning faith rather than blind
belief.
Bishop Spong’s books include:
Eternal Life: A New Vision - His most recent book.
A New Christianity for a New World - Why traditional faith is dying and how a new faith is
being born.
Jesus for the Non-Religious - Bringing the pious and the secular into meaningful dialogue.
Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism - Rethinking the meaning of Scripture.
The Sins of Scripture - Exposing the Bible’s texts of hate to reveal God’s love.
Why Christianity Must Change or Die - Speaking to believers “in exile.”