Shane Claiborne challenges Wilmington College Community
by Logan Florea
A favorite Wilmington College guest lecturer returned to campus for his fourth visit. Shane Claiborne, a Christian social activist from Philadelphia, was the first speaker in the 2023-24 Quaker Lecture Series. The topic this year was homelessness.
Shane resides in Philadelphia with his wife, where he heads up The Simple Way, a community action that supports those in the poorest neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Shane is also the co-founder of the Christian magazine Red Letter Christians.
Shane began the evening with the story of the rich man, and Lazarus found in Luke chapter 22. After reading the story, Shane said, "God knows the names of those we've forgotten." Simple religion is not enough; we need to be compassionate for those society has forgotten, Shane argued.
"Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Matthew 8:22
In response to his query, Shane said, "We when we feed the homeless, we aren't just feeding the homeless, we are feeding Jesus." Using the Mexico border wall as an illustration, Shane expressed that people should expand the border of their love and reach the other side of "their borders."
During the Q&A portion, Tanya Maus, director of WC’s Peace Resource and Quaker Heritage Centers, asked how those of other faiths can play a part in this work. The mixed crowd received Shane's response well. "This work isn't 100% Christian or 100% non-Christian,” he said. ”It takes us all. To love people this world is pushing out isn't popular.”
Earlier in the day, Shane visited multiple WC classes and shared about his other projects in and around Philadelphia. Shane enjoyed lunch at the TOP with a group of students and dinner with students, faculty, staff and Interim President Corey Cockerill.