Pursuing the Spiritual Roots of Protest: Merton, Berrigan, Yoder, and Muste at the Gethsemani Abbey Peacemakers Retreat

In the fall of 1964, Trappist monk Thomas Merton prepared to host an unprecedented gathering of peace activists. "About all we have is a great need for roots" he observed, "but to know this is already something" His remark anticipated their agenda-a search for spiritual roots to nurture sound motives for "protest" This event's originality lay in the varied religious commitments present. Convened in an era of well-kept faith boundaries, members of Catholic (lay and clergy), mainline Protestant, historic peace church, and Unitarian traditions participated. Ages also varied, ranging from twenty-three to seventy-nine. Several among the fourteen who gathered are well known today among faith-based peace advocates: the Berrigan brothers, Jim Forest, Tom Cornell, John Howard Yoder, A. J. Muste, and Merton himself. During their three days together, insights and wisdom from these traditions would intersect and nourish each other. By the time they parted, their effort had set down solid roots and modeled interreligious collaboration for peace work that would blossom in coming decades. Here for the first time, the details of those vital discussions have been reconstructed and made accessible to again inspire and challenge followers of Christ to confront the powers and injustices of today.

Gordon Oyer learned to question priorities that drive Western society early on, reared in the Anabaptist Mennonite tradition. Oyer grew up on a small dairy and grain farm in central Illinois, and received his BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His readings in nonviolence introduced him to writings of Thomas Merton, which in turn led him to appreciate Merton's contemplative reflections and social critique. Beyond these influences, his parents' love of history encouraged him to seek insights into faith and culture through historical inquiry. His professional career in University of Illinois administrative offices offered the occasion to complete his MA in history at its Urbana-Champaign campus. These experiences combined to inform his interest in the 1964 Merton-led retreat of peacemakers and their consultation about spiritual roots to challenge America's embrace of violence and related maladies. Parallel to his professional career, he participated in denominational history projects and leadership. This included serving on various regional Mennonite historical committees, assisting with aspects of Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center programming, and serving on the board of the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA, including a two-year term as conference president. He served eight years as editor of Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly and has written various articles on Mennonite history. Oyer lives in Champaign, Illinois. His work, Pursuing the Spiritual Roots of Protest, has heightened his desire to "continue the conversation" Merton and thirteen others began fifty years ago at Gethsemani Abbey.

John Dear is priest, pastor, and peacemaker. He has served as the director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, traveled the war zones of the world, and addressed tens of thousands of people in over a thousand lectures around the country. He has two masters in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in California. His many books include "Living Peace," "Jesus the Rebel," "Disarming the Heart," and "The Questions of Jesus." He lives in the desert of New Mexico.