Part I of an essay published in: Essays in Honor of Lee Cormie, edited by Jeff Nowers, Wilfrid Laurier University Press. 7pp.

There have been few North American theologians in the past three decades who have seriously attempted to bridge the longstanding gulf that exists between the seminaries, the sanctuaries and the streets. Of those few, Lee Cormie stands out as one of the most passionate and exemplary. As our paths have crossed at conferences, demonstrations and ecumenical services, I have always appreciated conversations with Lee, whose grounded theological perspectives and active commitments to social analysis and strategic action are encouraging and clarifying. It is in this integrative spirit, and in deep appreciation for Lee’s work and witness, that I offer the following reflections on the uses of scripture for engaging social change.

During the 1970s, Christian liberation theologies percolated throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as among Third World communities within First World countries. These diverse theologies generally shared three characteristics:

• a grounding in practices of popular education and pastoral work among the poor;
• reflection generated from contexts of violence, poverty and oppression;
• alignment with social movements of service to the marginalized, advocacy and sometimes revolutionary engagement.