Paul Kittlaus | Abstract Artist

COMING SOON

from Wipf and Stock Publishers

Bookcover Image for Organizing Justice Church by Paul Kittlaus

Called to work on social justice in the church in the early 1960s, Paul Kittlaus tells his story of defining the issues for his time, finding colleagues who would be trusty companions on a rather rough path, learning and teaching skills for social change, and empowering both clergy and laity to define their faith in terms of justice for those who are poor and marginalized. He also calls to the church of today to place social change and justice at the center of its ministry.

“Organizing Justice Church is a superb memoir of an extraordinary life and an eloquent call for church reform. Drawing on his deeply personal experiences of love, loss, and personal challenge, Paul Kittlaus urges church institutions to work harder and smarter at understanding and helping resolve the manifold injustices that exist domestically and internationally. The life and lessons of Paul Kittlaus will be valuable to those who live a traditional religious life as well as those who see (or want to see) the hope a spiritual impulse can provide.”

—BARRY LYNN, former executive director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

“This is a story of commitment, conviction, and courage lived upfront, personal, and boldly before the powers and principalities of injustice. The result is justice made visible in the heart, the church, the nation, and the world. Paul Kittlaus’s story is a reminder that change is possible when you are willing to step out in faith, at times with a broken body and sometimes crushed spirit but always a belief that transformation and newness is possible.”

—YVONNE V. DELK, editor of Afro-Christian Convention: The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ

PAUL KITTLAUS earned a BA in 1956 from the University of Missouri, an MDiv in 1959 from Chicago Theological Seminary/University of Chicago, and an MA in 1979 from George Washington University, Washington, DC. He served as a pastor (urban, suburban, and downtown congregations), full-time organizer against the war in Vietnam, director of theological training at the Los Angeles urban training center, and director of the United Church of Christ Washington public policy office.

Supporting Photos

Selma 1971

Bottom Row: Clemie Tynes, Lloyd Cleveland, James Alexander, Clifton Barker.
Top Row: George Killingworth, Paul Kittlaus, Lynn Johdahl, Al Cohen, Pete Flint. Waiting for the march to assemble. (Chapter 5)

Washington DC 1980

Policy advocates: Jay Lintner, Dave Rawling, Gretchen Eick, Paul Kittlaus. (Chapter 8)

Tom Lasswell

American Airlines, Los Angeles International to Chicago, October 1968. (Chapter 6)

Al Cohen

Ever since this photo was taken, there have been lorem ipsum dentalatus prescriptum addendum.

Paul Kittlaus Paintings

“To be an artist is to believe in life.”
Henry Moore is right.
It is a way to push back against the darkness,
the political, the efforts to lock us up in our fear.
I was an activist pastor for 50 years pushing back against the darkness.

Abstract painting is a new expression of resistance.

Georgia O’Keeffe said
“I found I could say things with color and shapes
that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for.”

I seek through my art to spread light against the darkness.