Americus, Ga. (July 26, 2012) – This September, Koinonia Farm will hold the first Clarence Jordan Symposium, gathering scholars, theologians, artists, farmers, intentional community leaders, and a former president to discuss the lasting influence of Biblical Scholar, farmer, Koinonia Farm co-founder Clarence Jordan.
Jordan is well-known for his “Cotton Patch Gospel” version of the New Testament, set in South Georgia in the 1960s. Jordan is also considered the grandfather of Habitat for Humanity. Koinonia established the Fund for Humanity in 1968, starting the affordable housing movement and other partnership ministries. Later, Koinonians Linda and Millard Fuller expanded his ideas on affordable housing and founded Habitat for Humanity International and The Fuller Center for Housing.
The Clarence Jordan Symposium features Jimmy Carter, Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Vincent Harding, Linda Fuller, Tom Key, Ann Coble, Lenny Jordan, Philip Gulley, Joyce Hollyday, and others. The event is part of the “Koinonia Farm 2012 Celebration,” honoring Koinonia’s 70th anniversary and what would have been the 100th birthdays of the community’s co-founders, Clarence and Florence Jordan. Clarence’s birthday is this Sunday, July 29.
Lenny Jordan, youngest Jordan and Koinonia Farm 2012 Celebration chairman, shared, “I can’t think of a better way to open the month-long festivities. It honors not only my father and mother, but the community that carries on their legacy today, Koinonia Farm.”
The Jordans founded Koinonia Farm together with Martin and Mabel England in 1942 to live as a demonstration plot for the Kingdom of God, challenging racism, materialism, and militarism. The community’s commitment to racial equality attracted national attention in the 1950s and brought them together with well-known activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dorothy Day.
The Symposium begins Friday evening with welcome remarks by former president Carter, followed by Tom Key’s one-man version of his off-Broadway hit “Cotton Patch Gospel,” based on Jordan’s work. Tickets for the Symposium are $195 per person, $150 for students. Group discounts available.
Koinonia’s 2012 Celebration consists of three major events: The Clarence Jordan Symposium (September 28 & 29), The Renovation Blitz Build (October 1-26) and The Koinonia Family Reunion (October 26-28). For a complete list of events, lodging, directions, and registration, visit koinonia2012celebration.org. Follow Koinonia Farm on Twitter and Facebook.
The Fuller Center for Housing is a major supporter of the Clarence Jordan Symposium. Other supporters include Habitat for Humanity International, Georgia Southwestern State University’s Theatre, Communications and Media Arts Department, and President Jimmy and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter. www.koinonia2012celebration.org
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Contact
Amanda Moore
(229) 924-0391
