About Us

The Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP) was founded in July 2005 by Rabbi Michael Lerner and today has over 100 chapters throughout the country. NSP is co-chaired by Michael Lerner, Sister Joan Chittister and Dr. Cornel West. Nichola Torbett is our national coordinator.
     The Left Hand of God: Healing America's Spiritual and Political Crisis by Michael Lerner was published in Feb 2006 and became a national bestseller. The book examines shortcomings and strengths of both the Left and the Right. The thesis of the book is that the highest values of the great religious and philosophical traditions stem from hope and these values include compassion, kindness and generosity. The world today is largely motivated by fear and from fear come the lesser values of selfishness, greed and domination. The book combines psychology, philosophy, politics, theology, sociology and history. Scores of groups have sprung up around the country to discuss the book and many have evolved into chapters. In CT alone there have been at least 6 book groups and there are currently 5 chapters.
     NSP seeks to change the bottom line in America. The Old Bottom Line is money and power. These are not the highest human values. Human beings aspire to love, caring, kindness, generosity, seeing the sacred in every single person and responding to the universe with awe and wonder. The New Bottom Line must incorporate these values.
     Let's re-imagine a world brightly reflecting these values! Toward that end, we've developed a Spiritual Covenant with America. This document talks about the family, personal and social responsibility, business, education, healthcare, the environment, foreign policy and national security and how these areas might embody our values. Please look at the Spiritual Covenant with America (PDF) or a shorter summary version. It is more fully discussed in the second half of Michael's book, The Left Hand of God, which we hope you'll want to read.
     Based on values, NSP is critical and admiring of the religious and political Right. For example, we admire their recognition of a spiritual crisis in America and their focus on the family. However, we feel they miss the crux of the problem when they scapegoat women, gays and liberals instead of focusing on our culture of materialism, selfishness, money, domination and power.
     We are also critical and admiring of the Left. We admire the legacy of progressivism in this country, whether it be ending slavery, broadening the right to vote, social security, the labor and environmental movements, the women's movement or civil rights. However, we are critical of the anti-religious and arrogant attitudes of segments of the Left.
     As you can see, we are non-partisan. Living by our highest values is a top priority regardless of political or religious or secular persuasion.

NSP IN CT
     Back in March 2006 Michael Lerner spoke at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. The church was filled to capacity as he spoke about his vision and his book, The Left Hand of God.
     Many people responded. As a result, book groups started around the state and now there are 4 chapters in CT, one in Old Lyme/Old Saybrook (launched in April 2006), one in Hartford (also launched in April 2006), one in Fairfield County (launched in October 2006) and one in Mystic (launched in March 2007). We are hoping that a book group in New London will evolve into a 5th CT chapter. Here are some of the things we've done so far:

• Delegation from CT attended the national conference of NSP in Washington DC (May 17-20, 2006) and briefed representatives in the House and Senate on The Spiritual Covenant with America.
  

• Invited candidates Rob Simmons and Joe Courtney from CT's 2nd congressional district to a public forum in Old Lyme, CT. (Unfortunately they declined in favor of larger venues, but our preparation for the forum will put us in good stead next time.)
  

• In preparation for 2006 election, spoke to CT candidates of all parties or their representatives and/or gave them The Left Hand of God or NSP literature. We have a Political Outreach Committee involved in continuing dialogue.
  

• Sponsored, along with other organizations, a Tree of Life Conference on December 3, 2006, in which we heard from both Palestinians and Israelis (Muslim, Jew and Christian) working for peace in the Middle East.
  

• Sponsored, along with other organizations, a talk by Lowell Weicker, former governor of CT, on "What Does It Mean to be a Patriot."
  

• In small groups, practiced deep listening and communicating with people who disagree with us.
  

• Organized speaking tour for Nichola Torbett, NSP's national coordinator. Nichola spoke in Hartford on Oct 24, in Old Lyme on Oct 25 and in Westport on Oct 26, 2006.
  

• Our own Bob Reemsnyder ran for CT legislature after reading The Left Hand of God.
  

• Raised $5,620 for NSP in 2006.
  

• Had many house parties to view DVDs of speakers at July 2005 and May 2006 national NSP conferences.
  

• On Jan 13, 2007, we held a Compassionate Conversations Workshop lead by Communication Expert Ushakumari Williams. A Compassionate Conversations Study Group continues to met on a monthly basis.
  

• On Feb 4, 2007, we presented a program about NSP at Christ Episcopal Church in Westerly, RI.
  

• On Feb 10, 2007, we hosted a tea party featuring videos of Sister Joan Chittister and Rabbi Michael Lerner at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.
  

• On Feb 28, 2007, we participated in the "Out of Iraq" forum at the Clinton Town Hall in Clinton, CT.
  

• We co-sponsored a 3-part program on peace, including a lecture by Rev. Allie Perry on Jan 28, a discussion group, and culminating with a workshop presented by Pace e Bene nonviolence trainer LR on March 3 and 4, 2007 at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.
  

• We co-hosted a film series at First Congregational Church of Old Lyme during the winter of 2007.
  

• NSP is a friend of the Joyful Noise Chorus, which sings for peace, justice and the Earth. We are so excited that Julia Hikory is directing the chorus. The chorus started rehearsing in March 2007 and started performing soon thereafter. The Chorus is open to all! Books and lectures and forums are great too, but NOW is the time to SING!
  

• We celebrated Generosity Weekend April 13-15, 2007. with the film "The Ground Truth" and discussion with Stanley Heller of CT United for Peace (Apr 13), Joanne Sheehan of War Resisters League speaking about "Building the Road from War to Peace (Apr 14) and Art Costa speaking about the Global Marshall Plan, the Heifer Intl film "Seeds, Hope & Concrete" and a presentation about FRESH New London (Apr 15).

• Fairfield County celebrated Generosity on April 29th 2007 with a drumming circle and a Generosity Seder.  If you want to see the Haggadah, click here.
  

• On May 6th 2007, we co-sponsored a Peace Concert at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme in which local artists sang their hearts out for peace, justice and the Earth.

• On July 8th 2007 over 90 people celebrated Interdependence Day at a wonderful party with beautiful readings and a potluck feast.  If you want to see the readings, click here.
  

• On Sept 8th 2007, we were a sponsor and had a table at the Hope Out Loud festival in Hartford.

• On Sept 11th 2007, we met in Old Lyme at the First Congregational Church to Commemorate 9-11 and to offer a vision of hope.

• In Sept and Oct 2007, we had a series of meetings with Jane Nebelung (author of Leadership in Service to Life: We Are Divine Our Essence Is Love) and Jane guided us in a process of Co-Creating NSP-CT.

• On Oct 27th 2007, we were a sponsor of the United for Peace and Justic march and rally against the Iraq War in Boston.

• On Nov 3rd and 4th 2007, we were s sponsor of the Tree of Life Conference at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, celebrating voices for peace in Israel/Palestine.

• On Dec 7th-9th 2007, we hosted a number of meetings in Southeastern CT in which Pan Vera gave an introduction to the topic of Compassioante Communication based on the work of Marshall B. Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life).

• We have been interviewed on Public Access CATV at least 5 times since the founding of our chapter.

• The weekend of February 8-10, 2008, NSP-CT hosted a COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP facilitated by Pan Vera. Continuing Practice Groups are helping us learn this "new language."
• On March 30, 2008. NSP-CT was a supporter of the Song of Peace Concert at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.  This was part of a worldwide project to sing for peace during the month of March 2008.  See www.SongOfPeace.org

We have many events on the horizon. See Calendar of Upcoming Events.