Liberal Christian group puts faith to work
By Janet I. Tu - Seattle Times Thursday, November 02, 2006 - Web Link
November 2, 2006
The war in Iraq. American children living in poverty. Environmental challenges.

Saying it's time for people of faith to act on these issues, about 150 local religious leaders and laypeople held a news conference and marched to the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle on Wednesday to announce the launch of a Christian network, Kairos.

Kairos, from a Greek word meaning "a critical time," was started primarily by local Lutherans and other mainline liberal Protestants. They hope it will become a national grass-roots movement that will get people of faith to speak out and change U.S. policies they don't like.

"The Kairos community represents an alternative Christian voice that is widely heard in our churches" but not outside them, said the Rev. Mia Baumgartner, executive director of Immanuel Community Services in Seattle.

Kairos is one of several groups on the religious left that have formed locally to counter the voice of the religious right. Two others, Faith Forward and Faith Media Democracy, formed in the past two years.
David Domke, local author of the book "God Willing? Political Fundamentalism in the White House, the 'War on Terror,' and the Echoing Press," said that nationally, progressives believe they need to speak out more about how faith informs their practices. While the sentiment also has gained traction here, he said, "I don't think a unified message has emerged yet."