Conceptualizing the American religious landscape can be a challenging task these days. We may think about Roman Catholicism’s prevalence in parts of New England or Lutheranism’s prevalence in the Midwest. Mormonism certainly composes a significant portion of the population in…
What has this pandemic revealed about your congregational aesthetic?
I wonder how many congregations have taken time during this pandemic to consider their aesthetic. As worship services and other educational or community programming have transitioned to online formats, how have our ideas of beauty changed or remained the same?…
The first black seminarians and remedying the legacy of white supremacy in theological education
The experience of James Bradley as one of America’s first black seminarians can show us how far we have come. But, even as theology schools consider ways to address their culture of whiteness, it also shows us how far we have yet to travel.
Andrew Yang’s case for a universal basic income echoes Baptist voices of the past
Perhaps the idea of a universal basic income is not as farfetched as it may seem. Whether from voices from the past, our congregational polity or the biblical text, the Baptist tradition offers resources for thinking deeply about such a proposal.
The most dangerous subject in a seminary’s curriculum
Church history challenges the arrogance of believing that our theological constructions are the product of own reading of scripture and not built upon millennia of political, social and economic history. It challenges the idea that we are self-made Christians.
CBF hiring practice illuminates continued colonialism
The unrecognized and unacknowledged colonialist justifications for the CBF’s decision are disturbing. Implementing this policy solely because it reflects the congregational opinions of churches within the CBF would provide a much more understandable justification. Utilizing the beliefs and practices of global Christians in order to maintain a position of power, however, perpetuates a colonialist impulse that Christians have been subject to for far too long.
Preaching is inherently political — but not partisan
Last week, Baptist News Global ran an opinion piece, “In praise of political preaching,” that sought to advocate for political preaching from the pulpits of moderate and progressive congregations. The piece, written by Alan Bean, comes in the wake of…
Remembering Frederick Douglass
Beginning Black History Month, President Trump met with a group of black leaders at the White House on Wednesday. During his remarks at this meeting, President Trump caused people pause when he explained, “Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody…
‘Give the King your justice, O God’
“Give the King your justice, O God,” the Psalmist writes to begin the 72nd chapter — the lectionary text for this day of Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2017. “That he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice. ……