St. Alban’s Episcopal Church (Davidson, NC) recently installed a $22,000 bronze statue of a homeless Jesus on a park bench on their church campus. Created by Canadian sculptor and devout Catholic Timothy Schmalz, this provocative artistic addition has created significant controversy in and beyond this wealthy small town.
In his recent article on this new homeless Jesus, John Burnett writes:
The sculpture is intended as a visual translation of the passage in the Book of Matthew, in which Jesus tells his disciples, “as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.” Moreover, Buck says, it’s a good Bible lesson for those used to seeing Jesus depicted in traditional religious art as the Christ of glory, enthroned in finery.
So What?
St. Alban’s website directs readers to several news stories about their new sculpture:
What is your initial reaction to this congregation’s public display of the new homeless Jesus sculpture? Would you support a similar effort by your own congregation? Explain why or why not.