Over in the right column, you’ll find the list of contributors to Dispatches from the Religious Left with online bios. The only contributor without one available online is Leo Maley, who authored an important essay, Organizing Clergy for Marriage Equality in Massachusetts, which describes the pivotal role of progressive clergy in this successful effort, and a few of the key lessons learned.   Here is his bio as it appears in the book:

Leo Maley has worked as a union and political organizer, university lecturer, and think tank researcher. He has been a columnist for the Amherst Bulletin as well as a cohost of public affairs programs on Amherst community access TV and on WMUA-FM. His articles syndicated by History News Service have appeared in major newspapers around the country. He is one of the founders of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts; is a member of the board of Casino Free Massachusetts; and currently chairs the Amherst Democratic Town Committee. He is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.

I have a Guest Commentary in the new issue of Boston-based Public Eye magazine. It is adapted from my essay in Dispatches from the Religious Left: The Future of Faith and Politics in America. Here is the first part:

The main reason why the Religious Right became powerful is not what most people may think. Some would undoubtedly point to the powerful communications media. Others might identify charismatic leaders, the development of“wedge issues,” or even changes in evangelical theology in the latter part of the twentieth century that supported, and even demanded, political action. All of these and more, especially taken together, were important factors. But the main reason for the Religious Right’s rise to power has been its capacity for political action, particularly electoral politics.

Meanwhile, over on the Religious Left, many of the ingredients are present for a more dynamic movement. But the ingredient that is most remarkably lacking on the Religious Left is the one that made the Religious Right powerful: a capacity for electoral politics. Indeed, there has never been anything on the Religious Left on the scale of say, Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority or Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition—or even any of dozens of significant Religious Right groups—including the 35 state political affiliates of Focus on the Family—that have had any significant national or regional electoral muscle.

Conservative evangelicals have figured out what it means to be a Christian and a citizen. This new identity easily integrates Christian nationalist ideology and notions of Christian citizens’ place in history, which in turn helps to inform and to animate their politics. It is in this sense that the ideology of Christian nationalism—America as a Christian Nation—mixes with theology. It appeals to those invested in the idea that they are living in the end times (á làwriterTim LaHaye and Pastor John Hagee) and nonapocalyptic, long term theocratic political activists.

While many fine organizations on the Religious Left, broadly defined, register voters and even mobilize them when elections roll around, I know of none for whom building electoral power and changing elections is a central activity. Even worse, some see electoral politics as a waste of time and even a tacit endorsement of the excesses of the power structure. I do not agree with such dour assessments, nor do I think that electoral politics is a panacea.

Here is what I do think: (Much more)

Paul Rosenberg of the group blog Open Left, plans to post the Daily Kos version of my book announcement at about 2pm EST this Saturday.  I will be on hand to join in the conversation on this important and active political blog.

Dispatches from the Religious Left:  The Future of Faith and Politics in America

As it happens, life has intervened and I am going to be unable to make it to Netroots Nation. However, Ryan Valentine of the Texas Freedom Network has graciously agreed to stand in, and to read my panel presentation for me. For those of us (including me!) who are unable to be there, it turns out that much of the Netroots Nation agenda will be video taped and live streamed via ustreamtv — including Whatever Happened to the Religious Left. It will also be archived and available after the convention. I will post further details as they become available.

Here is what I had previously announced over at Talk to Action.

The annual Netroots Nation conference (formerly the Yearly Kos) will be held this year in Austin, Texas, July 17-20th.  I’m pleased to announce that  Pastordan and I will be leading a panel titled Whatever Happened to the Religious Left?.    I will talk about what the Religious Right has got that the Religious Left hasn’t got — and offer a few ideas of how to get it.

There is nothing on the Left corresponding to the politically dynamic Religious Right. But there are some promising elements with the potential to become greater than the sum of their parts.

This panel seeks to address what’s going on and what should happen next. We will discuss how common approaches to electoral politics can be found and practiced in a way that respects the unique character of progressive faith.
Whatever Happened to the Religious Left?
Sat, 07/19/2008 – 4:30pm, Ballroom E

Watch this space for a lot more posting and some signficant news related to this subject.