The Forum with Rev. John Dear

The Forum at Grace Cathedral

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

January 21, 2024

Join Malcolm Young, Dean of Grace Cathedral, in conversation with leading peace activist, author, and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Rev. John Dear, talking about his new book, The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence. 

 “John Dear is one of the few towering figures in the Christian nonviolent freedom and peace movement in our time! This powerful book should not be missed!” — Cornel West 

“Prepare to be inspired, as John Dear guides you on a journey into the nonviolent revolution grounded in Jesus and his Way of Love. Along the way, you will encounter anew the steadfast fearlessness of figures like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Oscar Romero . . . and find yourself ready to join them in this holy work.” —The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

In this original and inspiring new commentary Father John Dear walks us through every line of the three synoptic Gospels, pointing out Jesus’ practice and teachings of nonviolence each step of the way.    

As Dear shows us, Jesus is—like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. —nonviolent to the core, a disarming, healing presence toward those in need. This Jesus is also a revolutionary disrupter of the unjust status quo and a political threat to the ruling authorities. Those authorities succeed in killing him, only to push Jesus to the heights of nonviolence through his death and resurrection. This original commentary brings a fresh new approach to the Gospels for all those who preach or engage in social ministries. It is sure to inspire everyone in this time of permanent warfare, gun violence, racism, poverty, and climate change.

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About the Guest 

Rev. John Dear is an internationally recognized voice and leader for peace and nonviolence. A priest, activist, and author, he served for years as the director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The author of forty books, including They Will Inherit the Earth and Lazarus, Come Forth!, Father John is founder and director of The Beatitudes Center for the Nonviolent Jesus, where he hosts and offers virtual workshops on Jesus and nonviolence. He was nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize, including by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He lives in Cayucos, CA. 

About the Moderator 

The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young is the dean of Grace Cathedral. He is the author of The Spiritual Journal of Henry David Thoreau and The Invisible Hand in Wilderness: Economics, Ecology, and God, and is a regular contributor on religion to the Huffington Post and San Francisco Examiner.    

About The Forum  

The Forum is a series of stimulating conversations about faith and ethics in relation to the important issues of our day. We invite inspiring and illustrious people to sit down for a real conversation with the Forum’s host and with you. Our guests range from artists, inventors and philosophers to pop culturists and elected officials, but the point of The Forum is singular: civil, sophisticated discourse that engages minds and hearts to think in new ways about the world.  More about Grace Forum Online:  

gracecathedral.org/the-forum.