’Tis the season for giving, or, at least, that is what we say. The conclusion of the year 2016 comes as a relief of many of us. Not only was this year riddled with the deaths of Alan Rickman, David…
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’
Shock. Outrage. Fear. Despair. Confusion. Disappointment. All of these emotions and more are certainly justifiable for those of us who advocate a progressive understanding of the gospel story. On Tuesday, we were quite certain that we would be helping elect…
Will ‘reconciliation’ after a divisive election abandon key moral issues?
In his 2005 book, Reforging the White Republic: Race, Religion, and American Nationalism, 1865-1898, historian Edward Blum shows how Christians in U.S. northern states in the late 19th century abandoned the project of helping former slaves in order to reconcile with…
How do we define the circle of we?
I took a rather forgettable class my junior year in college. The course was titled “American Intellectual History II,” although I do not ever recall seeing “American Intellectual History I” or “American Intellectual History III” ever offered in the course…
Do we know how to listen to one another?
If we are only interested in collecting the stories and experiences within our pews with no intention of allowing persons to affect change in our minds and in our communities, we continue to commit the sin of oppression.
Vote with our actions, love with our voices
If I asked which presidential candidate has been described as being “aided and abetted by the powers of darkness,” about whom would you guess this quote is referring too? Where might the quote have come from? Does the quote seem…
When will there be enough women ministers?
Early this year in the wake of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death, his colleague, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, was asked when there will be enough women on the Supreme Court. Her answer caused quite a stir as she quickly…
When sexual intercourse is seen as male entitlement
I often hear remarks that today’s society is too sensitive and too focused on political correctness. Ideas, phrases and words that were once acceptable in everyday society are no longer accepted. Certain actions too, that were once commonplace, are now…
Wealth inequality and the struggle of Baptist polity
Recently Baptist News Global ran an article about the utility of congregational polity in the 21st century. The article raised a number of interesting and informative points about the future of congregational polity with respect to Millennials. Certainly the future…