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William Stringfellow saw through the lies of empire, and his warning feels even sharper now. If you care about justice, theology, activism, or the future of Christian witness, today’s episode of Good on Wood reveals why Stringfellow’s words still cut through our moment of collapse, confusion, and false hope.
Bill Wylie-Kellermann joins Jarrod McKenna and Steve Schallert to trace Stringfellow’s life, thought, and witness from Harvard Law to East Harlem, from civil rights work to Block Island, from deep friendship with Daniel Berrigan to his confrontations with the powers. Along the way, they uncover the radical coherence of a man who refused careerism, challenged racism as a principality, and believed change ultimately comes from God.
You’ll discover why Stringfellow insisted that America must be read biblically, not the Bible Americanly. You’ll hear how his theology of the principalities and powers shaped everything from anti-war resistance and women’s ordination to his critique of technocracy, scientism, and the violence hidden inside institutions that claim to be neutral.
Bill Wylie-Kellermann shares the personal stories that make Stringfellow unforgettable: his move from privilege to the margins, his partnership with poet Anthony Towne, his comradeship with the Berrigans, his advocacy for Black freedom and women’s leadership, and his chronic pain and disability, which deepened rather than diminished his theology. We also explore his spiritual disciplines, his practice of discernment, and why he believed the Christian task is not optimism but hope with eyes open.
Stringfellow names what many of us still miss: the systems shaping our lives are not just political or economic, but spiritual. And if you want a faith that can survive empire, speak truth to power, and still trust resurrection, this is an essential insight.
ABOUT BILL WYLIE-KELLERMAN
Bill Wylie-Kellermann is a nonviolent community activist, author, teacher, and retired United Methodist pastor, most recently serving St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit.
A native Detroiter with a place-based vocation, he has been a member of the Homich 9, prosecuted for blocking water shut-off trucks in the Detroit Water Struggle, and a direct action point person for the Michigan Poor Peoples campaign. In Jesus, he bets his life on gospel non-violence, good news to the poor, Word made flesh, and freedom from the power of death.
Bill is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in NYC and a longtime contributing editor for Sojourners magazine. He is author most recently of Celebrant’s Flame: Daniel Berrigan in Memory and Reflection, (Cascade, 2021).
He served as series editor for the republication of William Stringfellow’s works at Wipf and Stock Publishers. He is co-founder of Word and World: A Peoples’ School, and is adjunct faculty at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. His writing and teaching are most often framed by a theology of the powers.
Bill is partner to the Rev. Denise Griebler, father to Lydia and Lucia, and grandfather to Isaac, Cedar, Ira, and Mabel.
CHECK OUT BILL’S BOOKS & ARTICLES
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This episode was edited and produced by Steve Schallert.
Episode Chapters:
00:22 Introduction to William Stringfellow’s Legacy
02:04 Stringfellow’s Critique of American Politics and Religion
03:03 Deep Listening and Hermeneutics in Scripture
04:03 His Life and Major Influences
06:58 Listening as an Act of Resistance to Babel
10:02 Engagement with Principalities and Powers
11:50 Discernment of Spirits and the Power of Death
16:00 Exorcism as a Political and Pastoral Act
17:00 His Involvement in Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements
19:54 Stringfellow’s View on Change and Divine Action
22:01 Personal Spirituality and Disciplines
24:56 Theology of Powers and the Creatureliness of the Powers
29:53 His Advocacy for Women Ordination and Social Justice
30:09 Stringfellow’s Engagement with Politics and Society
34:56 Living with Integrity and Authenticity
36:02 Health, Suffering, and Autobiographical Reflections
40:07 Legacy and Contemporary Relevance
40:08 The Hope and Pessimism of Stringfellow
45:04 The Ongoing Relevance of Stringfellow’s Work
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