Ched Myers

Career

Since the late 1970s, Myers has been involved in numerous issues including movement work for racial justice, economic equity, indigenous sovereignty, anti-nuclear activism and ecological justice and restoration. He has traveled as an "old-school" itinerant teacher for over twenty years teaching in homes, churches, retreat centers and more.

In 1988, Myers published Binding the Strong Man – A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus, which was influential in the Radical Discipleship Movement, particularly within the Catholic Worker Movement. The book was one of the earliest commentaries to take an empire-critical view, a view that was marginal in the 1980s, but is now widely accepted within the academy. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Myers devoted much of his teaching to what he calls Sabbath economics.

He works alongside his wife, Elaine Enns, as part of Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries, where the emphasis is on education for restorative justice, biblical literacy, ecological discipleship and radical economic sharing.

Bibliography

Books Authored

2008/1988 Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus. Maryknoll: Orbis Books. 20th anniversary edition with new front matter. 1989 Catholic Press Association Book Award in scripture. Translated into Portuguese as O Evangelho de Sao Marcos, Grande Comentario Biblico series, São Paulo:Edicoes Paulinas, 1992.
2001 “…and distributed it to whoever had need.” The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics. Tell the Word, Washington, DC: Church of the Savior.

1996 Proclamation 6, Year B, Pentecost 1. Minneapolis: Augsburg/Fortress.

1994 Who Will Roll Away the Stone? Queries for First World Christians. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

Books Co-Authored

2012 Our God Is Undocumented: Biblical Faith and Immigrant Justice. With Matthew Colwell. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

2011 Liberating Biblical Study: Scholarship, Art and Action in Honor of the Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice. With Laurel Dykstra. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

2009 Ambassadors of Reconciliation, Vol. I: New Testament Reflections on Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. With Elaine Enns. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
Ambassadors of Reconciliation, Vol. II: Diverse Christian Practices of Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. With Elaine Enns. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

1996 “Say to This Mountain”: Mark’s Story of Discipleship. With Stuart Taylor, Cindy Moe-Lobeda, Joseph Nangle, OFM and Marie Dennis. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

1991 The American Journey, 1492-1992: A Call to Conversion. With Stuart Taylor, Cindy Moe-Lobeda, and Marie Dennis. Eerie, PA: Pax Christi Press.

1990 Resisting the Serpent: Palau’s Struggle for Self-Determination. With Robert Aldridge. Baltimore: Fortkamp Press.

Chapters and Articles

2012
“Everything Will Live Where The River Goes: A Bible Study On Water God And Redemption.” Sojourners, April.
“Introduction to Part VI: Confronting the Powers.” In Eerdmans Reader in Contemporary Political Theology, Ed. by W. Cavanaugh and C. Hovey, Eerdmans, pp. 337– 341.
“Sea-Changes: Jesus’ Call to Discipleship as Resistance to Colonizing Economics” and “Re-Imagining Exodus Liberation as an ‘Exorcism’ of Imperial Militarism.” In Challenging Empire: God, Faithfulness And Resistance. Ed. by N. Ateek, C. Duaybis and M. Tobin. Jerusalem: Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, pp. 107-125.
“The Gospel and the Politics of Food.” Conspire, Fall, pp. 28–31.
Foreword to Mark Van Steenwyck, That Holy Anarchist: Reflections on Christianity and Anarchism. Minneapolis: Misseo Dei.

2011
“Land Sunday.” In The Season of Creation: A Preaching Commentary. Ed. by N. Habel, D. Rhoads, H. Santmire. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, pp. 83–99.
Introduction to Widening the Circle: Experiments in Christian Discipleship. Ed. By J. Shenk, Harrisonburg, PA: Herald Press.
“Biblical Interpretation as Political Practice.” In Essays in Honor of Lee Cormie, Ed. by Jeff Nowers, Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
“Transfiguration Sunday, Years A, B and C.” In Preaching Social Justice and Transformation: A Lectionary Commentary, Westminster John Knox Press.
“Exodus Midrash in the Gospel.” With Russell Powell. In Freedom Journeys: The Tale of Exodus and Wilderness Across Millennia. Ed. by A. Waskow and P. Berman, Philadelphia: Jewish Lights. pp. 203–210.
“A People Who Remember.” Intotemak/My Friends (Mennonite Church Canada), November.

2010
Review of Richard Horsley, ed., The Bible and Empire, Theology Today, April (67:1).
Review of Jim Douglass, JFK: Why He Died and Why It Matters. Tikkun, November–December.
“Spoils of the Poor.” Conspire, Summer, (2:3), pp. 36–38.
“If a Bible Story Could End a Culture War: John 8 and Prop 8.” Brethren Life and Thought, Winter (54:4).

2009
“Pay Attention to the Birds: A Bible Study on Luke 12, Ecology and Economics.” Sojourners, Dec (38:11), pp 29ff.

“Sociopolitical Criticism.” In Searching for Meaning: An Introduction to Interpreting the New Testament, ed. by Paula Gooder, Westminster John Knox/SPCK.

“‘Ambassadors in Chains’: Evangelizing the Powers—Ephesians 2-3 and M.L. King’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail.” With Elaine Enns. The Conrad Grebel Review (Fall, pp 4-27).

“Women Clothed with the Sun: Sophia Facing the Beast.” With Elaine Enns. The Conrad Grebel Review (Fall, pp 28–44).

“The Radical Nonviolent Witness of Jesus.” Friends Journal (55:5, May), pp 8ff.

2008
“Jesus and the Prophetic Vision of Shalom.” In Leitfaden für ein künftiges Engagement für gerechten, levensförderlichen Frieden—Optionen zur Umstezung der Beschlusse von Freising und Porto Alegre, ed. by Ulrich Duchrow and Martin Gück, Kairos Europa.

2007
“’The Cedar has fallen!’ The Prophetic Word vs. Imperial Clear-cutting.” In Earth and Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet, ed. by David Rhoads, Continuum.

Foreword to Daniel Berrigan, Exodus: Let My People Go, Cascade Books.

“Epiphany Under Empire.” America, Jan 1-8, pp 16ff.

2006
“Easter Faith and Empire: Recovering the Prophetic Tradition on the Emmaus Road.” In Getting on Message: Challenging the Christian Right form the Heart of the Gospel, ed. by Peter Laarman, Boston:Beacon Press, 2006.

“Mark 13 in a Different Imperial Context.” In Mark, Gospel of Action: Personal and Community Responses, ed. by John Vincent, London:SPCK.

Foreword to James W. Douglass, The Nonviolent Cross, Wipf&Stock (reprint).

“Baptism and Dying: In Memory of Jeanie Wylie Kellermann.” Sojourners, July.

“The Blood of the Martyrs: Tom Fox’s Nonviolent Witness.” Sojourners, June.

“’A House for All Peoples’? Embracing the Immigrant.” Sojourners, March.

“Two Martyrs Reflect on Anger and Justice.” In Tom Fox was My Friend, ed. by Chuck Fager. Fayetville, Kimo Press.

2005
“The Gospel of the Cross Confronts the Powers.” In Consuming Passion: Why the Killing of Jesus Really Matters. Ed. by Simon Barow and Jonathan Bartley, London:Darton, Longman and Todd. Forward to Ross and Gloria Kinsler, eds. God’s Economy: Biblical Studies from Latin America. Maryknoll:Orbis.

“Was Jesus a Practitioner of Nonviolence? Reading Mark 1:21-3:19 through Martin Luther King.” Bible in TransMission (U.K.), September.

2004
“’To Serve and Preserve’: The Genesis Commission to Earth Stewardship.” Sojourners, March.

“’All ate and were satisfied’: Fasting, Feasting and Food Politics in the Practice of Jesus.” Priests and People (England), May.

“The Fall” and “Anarcho-Primitivism and the Bible.” Entries in The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature. Ed. by Bron Taylor. NY:Continuum.

“Review of Thomas Yoder-Neufeld’s Ephesians.” Conrad Grebel Review.

“The Manna Story: A Challenge to Affluenza.” Memphis Theological Seminary Journal.

2003
“All the Words of the Scroll: A Eulogy for Daniel Berrigan.” Catholic Agitator, November.

“‘As a Child’: Jesus’ Solidarity with the Least of the Least (Mk 10:13-16).” The Living Pulpit, Oct-Dec.

“Estranged Relatives: Mediation and Nonviolent Direct Action.” With Elaine Enns. Conciliation Quarterly (Mennonite Conciliation Services, Akron, PA), Winter (22:1).

“Why Sabbath Economics?” The Living Pulpit, April–June.

2002
“Mark’s Gospel: Invitation to Discipleship.” In The New Testament: Introducing the Way of Discipleship, ed. by Sharon Ringe and Wes Howard Brook. Maryknoll:Orbis

“Seek First the Kingdom: The Life and Death of Ladon Sheats.” Catholic Agitator, November.

“Word and World: A People’s School.” The Clergy Journal. September, 2002, pp 8ff.

“Pentecost as New Economy.” In Colloquium 2000: Faith Communities and Social Movements Facing Globalization. Ed. By Ulrich Duchrow. Geneva, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 2002.

“Tearing Down the Walls of Our Own House: Theological Reflections on Structural Racism.” Priests and People, May.

“Praise the Mutilated World: Reflections on the War.” The Catholic Agitator, February.

“The Gift Must Always Move: An Interview with Ched Myers on Sabbath Economics.” Inward/Outward (Church of the Savior, Washington D.C.), Winter, pp 1ff.

“Proclaiming Good News in Hard Times: Reflections on Evangelism and the Bible.” In Prophecy and Passion: Essays in Honour of Athol Gill, ed. by David Neville. Adelaide:Australian Theological Forum.

2001
Forward to R. Stoltzfus, I. de-Leon Hartshorne and T. Shearer, Set Free: A Journey Toward Solidarity Against Racism. Scottdale:Herald Press.

“Beyond the ‘Addict’s Excuse’: Public Addiction and Ecclesial Recovery.” In The Other Side of Sin, ed. by Susan Nelson and Andrew Sung Park, NY:SUNY Press.

“Mixed Blessing: A Biblical Inquiry into a ‘Patriotic’ Cant’.” The Other Side, December.

“Are they Bombing Disneyland?” Catholic New Times (Toronto), 10/21/01, p. 9.

“A Few of My Favorite Things.” Sojourners, Sept/Oct, p. 54.

“Between the Seminary, the Sanctuary and the Streets: Reflections on Alternative Education.” Ministerial Formation (Geneva:WCC), July.

“A Transforming Circle of Story: Recovering Economic Justice in Luke’s ‘Wilderness Feeding’.” Celebration (National Catholic Reporter), June.

2000
“Reclaiming the Marketplace: Tim Corney and Dave Collis Interview Ched Myers.” Zadok (Australia), summer, pp 11ff.

“The Church, Stories and ‘Lower Education’,” and “Embodying the Great Story: An Interview with James W. McClendon.” The Witness, December.

“Nothing From Outside Can Defile You.” Priests and People (England), May, 2000.

“Stories to Live By: Reading the Bible in the New Millennium.” Sojourners, March–April.

“Pulpo en su tinta.” The Other Side, March–April.

“Seventy Times Seven: A Theology of Reconciliation.” In Mediation and Facilitation Training Manual, 4th ed., Mennonite Conciliation Services, Akron, PA. With Elaine Enns.

1999
Forward to Ross and Gloria Kinsler, The Biblical Jubilee and the Struggle for Life. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

Forward to Joanna Manning, Is the Pope Catholic? A Woman Confronts Her Church. Toronto: Malcolm Lester Books, Crossroads Press.

“Power, Gender and Conflict.” In Making Peace with Conflict: Practical Skills for Conflict Transformation, ed. By C. Schrock-Shenk & L. Ressler. Herald Press/Pandora Press. With Elaine Enns.

Advent/Christmas 1999 Sunday Reflections. Eerie: Pax Christi USA.

“The Quest for Faith: Reflections on the Life of Dom Helder Camara.” Sojourners, Nov.

“Behold, the Treasure of the Church: A Bible Study on the Churches and Welfare Reform.” Sojourners, Sept-Oct.

“Towering Trees and ‘Talented Slaves’.” The Other Side, May–June. With Eric Debode.

“’It is an Issue of Equality…’ Biblical Reflections on Wealth and Poverty.” Priests and People (England), May.

1998
“The Bible and Earth Spirituality.” The Witness, October.

“Neither Authoritarian nor Diffident: Conversing about Biblical Differences.” Uniting Church Studies (Melbourne, Australia), 4:2, August.

“Balancing Abundance and Need: Paul and Jubilee Tradition.” The Other Side, Sept-Oct.

“’God Speed the Year of Jubilee’: The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics.” Two part series, Sojourners, May–June and July–August.

“Jesus’ New Economy of Grace: The biblical vision of Sabbath economics,” Sojourners, July–August.

“Can Our Churches Have a Different Conversation about Sex?” The Witness, May.

1997
“A Biblical Vision of Justice.” Priests and People (Cambridge, England), May. 1996

“The Way the Book Invites.” In Apostle of Peace: Essays in Honor of Daniel Berrigan. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

Forward to Robert Beck, Nonviolent Story: Narrative Conflict Resolution in the Gospel of Mark. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

“Our ancestors all passed through the sea: Biblical Sea Stories and Baptism.” Accent/Good Courage. December.

“Body Politics: Elections, Democracy and the Way of Jesus.” The Other Side, Sept-Oct.

“’And I saw no Temple in the City’: The Biblical Suspicion of Imperial Architecture.” Catholic Agitator, two-part series, August and November.

“Family History as Political Therapy.” The Witness, July–August.

1995
“‘Who then can be saved?’ The Kingdom of God and Redistributive Justice.” Christian (Guildford, England), November.

“Outsiders Cannot Defile: A Biblical Reflection” The Other Side, March–April.

“Singing for the Wiliwili Tree” (interview). The Witness, April.

1994
Forward to Wes Howard-Brook, Becoming Children of God. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.

“‘I will ask you a question’: Interrogatory Theology.” In Theology Without Foundations: Religious Practice and the Future of Theological Truth, ed. by Myers, Stanley Hauerwas, Nancey Murphy and Mark Nation, Nashville: Abingdon.

“Captivated by Pretensions.” The Witness, November.

“Song of the Land: How Shall We Describe the Great Economy?” The Other Side, Jul-Aug.

“A People’s Culture of the United States.” Sojourners, June.

“Who Will Roll Away the Stone? A Meditation on Mark’s Easter Story.” Sojourners, April. [Reprinted and translated in Vida y Pensamiento (San Jose, Costa Rica), 14:2.]

1993
“The Ideology and Social Strategy of Mark’s Gospel.” In The Bible and Liberation: Political and Social Hermeneutics, revised ed., edited by N. Gottwald and R. Horsley, Orbis Books.

“The Wilderness Temptations and the American Journey.” In Richard Rohr: Illuminations of His Life and Work, edited by A. Ebert and P. Brockman, NY: Crossroads. [Reprinted in The Other Side, April, 1993.]

“The Earth and the Great Economy.” The Witness, June.

“In the Courtyard with Peter on the Anniversary of the L.A. Uprising.” The Witness, April.

1992
“Keeping the Peace, Looking for Justice: Los Angeles Four Months after the Rebellion.” Sojourners, October.

“Framed in Black and White: To Live and Die in a City of Angels.” Sojourners, July.

1991
“We’re All in the Same Boat: A Reflection on Gospel Journies and the Quincentenary.” Sojourners, October. [Reprinted in Caribbean Contact (Barbados), May, 1992.]

“Unmasking Our Pain: Therapeutic Politics.” The Witness, September.

“Gethsemene Awakening: Gospel Discernment in the Apocalypse of War.” Sojourners, April 1991.

1989
“Homing I Keep You: A Tribute to Libby Radcliffe.” Sojourners, October. [Reprinted in Pilgrims and Seekers: Saints Without Pedestals. Eerie: Pax Christi, 1995.]

1987
“Obedience and Upheaval: The Gospel of Mark.” Sojourners, six part series.

“Baby Jesus, Refugee: The Hope of Advent.” The Catholic Agitator (Los Angeles, CA), December. [Reprinted in Radical Grace (Albuquerque, NM), December, 1990 and Seek (Minneapolis, MN), December, 1991.]

1986
“The Cross and the Cold War: The Ephesian Gospel of Peace.” Sojourners, November.

”The Eye of a Geopolitical Storm: Nuclear Politics in the South Pacific.” Sojourners, March.

“Deadly Paradises: Encounters with War and Love in the Pacific.” National Outlook (Sydney, Australia), January.

1985
“The Church Works for a Non-violent Revolution in New Caledonia.” National Outlook, July.

1983
“The Wind that Diverts the Storm: The Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Movement.” Sojourners, August.

“By What Authority? The Bible and Civil Disobedience.” Sojourners, May. [Reprinted in The Rise of Christian Conscience, San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1987.]

“Nuclear Holocaust and the Nonviolent Imperative.” Sojourners, June–July.

1981
“Storming the Gates of Hell: Reflections on Christian Evangelism in Nuclear Security Areas.” The Christian Century, Sept 16. [Reprinted in Border Regions of Faith: An Anthology of Religion and Social Change, Edited by K. Aman, NY: Orbis Books, 1987.]

1980
“Armed With the Gospel of Peace: The Vision of Ephesians.” Theology News and Notes (Fuller Theological Seminary), March.

“Vision from a Blind Man: The Naming of Bartimaeus Community.” Sojourners, March.