The Cost of Witness
We are surrounded by noise, pressure, and performative certainty. Bonhoeffer’s prison writings offer something quieter and stronger — prayer that bends outward, a daily order that refuses despair, and a vision of a church that exists for others. These pages were not written for a classroom; they were lived under surveillance, scarcity, and risk. They invite us into a faith that can breathe without props.
What to expect
- Five sessions — each built around 20–30 minutes of short readings read aloud together.
- Head • Heart • Hands — discussion launchers that let the room take on a life of its own.
- Practice — each week you choose one Baseline and one Stretch action, name a deadline, and check in with a partner.
- No homework required — bring a pen; come as you are. If you miss a week, simply rejoin.
How we’ll practice
- Buddy system — same partner all five weeks. We end by saying our two commitments out loud with dates.
- 72‑hour rule — your first step happens within 72 hours of leaving the room. Momentum beats perfection.
- Gentle restarts — if you miss a day, you are back on tomorrow — no catch‑up.
- Small on purpose — actions are bite‑size and specific (2–5 minutes) so they actually get done.
Our posture in the room
- Truthful and kind — we can speak plainly without spectacle.
- Confidential — stories stay here unless explicit permission is given.
- For others — we measure growth by love, not by hot takes.
- Shared agency — no one is pushed; everyone names their own next step.
Texts & editions
Primary text: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters & Papers from Prison — DBWE 8 (English edition). Any printing is fine. Optional background: de Gruchy’s DBWE 8 Introduction; Marsh, Strange Glory; Schlingensiepen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906–1945; The Cambridge Companion to Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Content note
These sessions include wartime realities — imprisonment, executions, and moral ambiguity. We approach with sobriety and hope. Please care for yourself; step out when needed.
At‑a‑glance plan
- Beginnings of Witness — early Tegel letters; community as quiet courage.
- Prayer as Shared Breath — prison prayers; intercession that travels.
- Solitude & Steadiness — the one‑year report; a crafted day that resists despair.
- Religionless Christianity & Identity — world come of age; “Who Am I?”; the suffering God.
- Responsibility, Guilt, and Final Witness — “After Ten Years,” July 21 letter, and “Death.”
How to prepare (optional)
Skim the session’s handout on arrival; no advance work needed. If you like, bring the name of one person to pray for each week.
Want to adopt this course?
Welcome blurb you can paste into an email or page
The Cost of Witness is a five‑session discussion course reading short selections from Letters & Papers from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. No prep required. Each week we read aloud, talk honestly, and try one small practice together — for others, in the name of Christ. Bring a pen. Friends welcome.