Al Staggs

What Would Bonhoeffer Say? Al Staggs

The story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. pastor and theologian, is the story of a man who spoke as a prophet to a German church that was more concerned with her own security than she was with doing the work of God in the midst of oppression and human need. This pastor-prisoner challenged the typical expressions of popular Christian piety, a piety that denied the reality of injustice toward innocent people, namely Jews. Bonhoeffer compels us to struggle with him regarding the nature and expression of Christian faithfulness in the context of horrifying injustice. One of his most important contributions to theology and to our understanding of contemporary discipleship came as a result of his experiences as a prisoner of the Gestapo from April 1943, until his death by hanging on April 9, 1945. During his incarceration he learned what it meant to view life, history, and scripture from what he termed ""the view from below, from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the reviled. In short, from the perspective of those who suffer."" Dietrich Bonhoeffer's testimony in word and deed continues to influence people all over the world. His witness has drawn praise from leading theologians and philosopher alike. After Bonhoeffer's death his close friend and biographer, Eberhard Bethge, said of him, ""When he was silenced for good at age 39, he began to speak more loudly than ever before."" ""This is a terrific piece you have done. You invite your audience into big and deep stuff, and it will no doubt be supportive of your oral presentation."" -Walter Brueggmann ""Congratulations on this book. It's a real contribution to Bonhoeffer studies."" -Geffrey Kelly, Former President, English Language Section, International Bonhoeffer Society Al Staggs holds a BA from Hardin-Simmons University, and MRE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a ThM from Harvard Divinity School, and a DMin degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In the spring of 1983 he was honored as a Charles E. Merrill Fellow at Harvard with major emphasis in Applied Theology under direction of Harvey Cox. Al also completed a year of Clinical Pastoral Education at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. After serving as a pastor for 24 years, Al became a full-time performing artist. His repertoire of 12 programs includes characterizations of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Clarence Jordan, and Oscar Romero. He is the author of What Would Bonhoeffer Say?, A Pilgrim in Rome: Cries of Dissent, and another collection of poetry, In Mammon We Trust.