I do not expect a denominational body to reinforce all aspects of my conscience any more than I expect a congregation to match my convictions in every way. Most people don’t expect a perfect match — just space to grow together. So I’m not bothered by a conviction that differs from mine. I am bothered by the centrality given to a conviction that makes no space.
Advent and prison cells
Every three years, the Revised Common Lectionary takes us to a prison. On the Third Sunday of Advent — a Sunday of Joy, where many churches light a rosy candle and “Joy to the World” resounds in open halls —…
When hatred hits home
On Thursday, Nov. 10, members of my community in Greensboro, N.C., gathered at Greensboro’s Koury Convention Center for the 50th annual dinner of the National Conference for Community and Justice. The NCCJ works to end bias, bigotry and racism in…
Helicopter preaching
In early July, I called the Rev. Dr. Darryl Aaron, pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. It was the latest moment in our country’s crisis of racism and violence, as we mourned Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. My…
How are the children? Not well.
Amidst the injustice that surrounds and overwhelms, with all of the wrenching questions and heartbreaking prayers and pressing violence, is there anything any more important for a church to do than to ensure that the children are well and welcome?
What does ‘moderate’ mean?
“The first thing I feel disposed to share is what is apparent to us all, namely that if Jesus Christ had been a moderate he would never have been crucified.” These words came famously from the inimitable Will D. Campbell…
A time for prayer, but what kind?
Sunday night several hundred people gathered in my city to pray. We went to our prayer vigil place — the steps of the governmental plaza in Greensboro, N.C., where we’d gathered before. Some of the candles still held the wax…
The shame is mine: ‘Roots’ 2016
This week I was one among the millions who watched A&E’s powerful and devastating “re-imagination” of the epic miniseries Roots, brought to the small screen for a new audience against the not-so-new backdrop of this, the latest iteration of the…
Repurposing church
Maybe it’s because I’m not on Pinterest, but I never knew there were so many uses for wooden pallets. Once a single-use, routinely discarded, strictly utilitarian object, the pallet is now sought-after material for furniture, signage, art and design. It’s…