Follow the Dirt Road in Your Soul to Humbug Mountain

Trespassing Not Forgiven for Pastor Sent to Prison

By Carol Mell, 3-26-08

Two years ago, the Rev. Chris Lieberman was awakened in the night by a voice. It was the kind of voice, he said, that you didn’t have to ask who it was.

He told his wife, Joyce, about it. The two have been co-pastors of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque for 12 years.

A little while after, Lieberman dreamed of prison, seeing himself in an orange jumpsuit, righting another’s tray of food before it could fall to the floor. Believing his dream was from God, Lieberman first tried to bargain.

“In the dream, I was the right person in the right place at the right time,” said Lieberman, “but I didn’t want to be there so I started to rework the vision, to rewind the dream and have it play forward in a new direction. ‘I’m a pastor,’ I reasoned. ‘Maybe, I’m just visiting.’ I got a clear sense that, ‘No. You’re not paying attention. You’re an inmate.’ ‘’

This time, Lieberman didn’t tell his wife and only spoke of his dream to a few others.

“I’m suspicious of dreams,” he said. “You’ve got to take them with a grain of salt.”

One year later, at a church meeting in Arizona, he was asked to pray for Phil Gates who was about to be sentenced for trespassing at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia in 2006. Graduates of the school are alleged to have been involved in murder, torture, and other human rights abuses and include people like the notorious military dictator Manuel Noriega of Panama. The protest, organized by the School of Americas Watch, has been staged around the world for almost 20 years.

Lieberman wrote to Gates.

“Learning Gates’ story about how the U.S. condones torture and murder in South America was a tipping point,” he said. “My sense was this is where I make a leap of faith. The God I believe in isn’t the puppet master. God wants me in prison but I have to have a part in how it unfolds. I decided to become a conscientious objector to hold the School of Americas accountable. Eleven of us walked onto the grounds for a vigil and memorial to six Jesuit priests killed in El Salvador 19 years ago.”

Once on the grounds, five joined their fellow protestors at the fence. Six, including Lieberman in his clerical collar, walked toward the heavily guarded school.

“We were anxious. We knelt under a tree to pray. Military police surrounded us, all with guns. In another part of the world, you would not live to tell this story. I was proud then to be in America. Someone started singing. Around us the circle of guards was respectful. I think they didn’t want to break a holy moment.”

As he was being processed for arrest, Lieberman noticed an emblem on the official’s uniform.

“I’m glad to answer your questions,” he told the officer, “but I have a question. What about that emblem on your shoulder? I had noticed the words, ‘Follow Me,’ the words of Jesus on Maundy Thursday. The man explained that this had been the symbol of the U.S. infantry. ‘We are like the Spartans,’ he said. ‘If the command comes, you put yourself on the line for a noble and unknown future.’ ‘’

It was then, Lieberman said he realized that to follow Jesus you have to do it with love, not arms.

Lieberman posted $500 bail. Later, his trespasses were not forgiven and he was sentenced to 60 days in a federal prison. On April 6, he’ll surrender himself at La Tuna Federal Corrections Institute in Anthony, Texas.

“I’m not afraid,” said Lieberman. “It continues to be the right thing to do.”

When I first met Lieberman in Oregon, in 1984, he was a pastor to children. He has never been known as an activist.

“I consider myself to be one of the least political persons I know.”

He is the epitome of “mild-mannered,” soft spoken if not silent. Slight and pale, Lieberman ruminates in a rushing world like a donkey among thoroughbreds. If you notice him at all, he can be a comforting if enigmatic presence.

Joyce Lieberman has accepted a new position in Kentucky. After prison, Chris will start over there. Though they didn’t always understand his choices, the governing elders of Immanuel Presbyterian Church voted unanimously to support him.

Since that night, Chris has not heard any more voices.

“For years, I was jealous of Moses,” he said. “Why no burning bush for me? It’s less about the issue but for my life, I’m part of a story. The feeling with this calling is one of comfort, security and peace of God. I feel joy.”

Lieberman has faith that he is going to prison for a reason, though how the story will play out he doesn’t know. God only knows.

Information about the School of Americas Watch can be found at www.soaw.org.

He may receive correspondence after April 6 at:
Chris Lieberman #93645020
Federal Correction Institute
La Tuna, P.O. Box 3000
Anthony, TX 88021.

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