By David Gushee Responses to 9/11 and its aftermath have deepened the paradox of Christian patriotism, which may be more acute in the United States than anywhere else in the world at this particular moment. It is indeed a perennial…
North Carolina CBF rallies around pastor during deportation threat
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Thirty-three people wearing “I Support Hector” badges packed Immigration Court in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 2 for the hearing of a Hispanic church planter facing possible deportation. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina worked hard to…
Zionisms and the quest for peace
By David Gushee A casual newspaper reader might think there are two discrete places called “Israel” and “the Palestinian territories” but a visitor soon discovers the intertwining of these populations. That intertwining could be a good thing. There were parts…
If God made us for meaningful labor, what if we can’t find a job?
In an uncertain and unstable economy, how do Christians reconcile work as a reflection of the image of God in them with high unemployment and under-employment rates? Should believers reexamine what defines "meaningful" work? How do Christians reconcile faith issues…
Churches offer ‘Soul Food,’ encouragement to the unemployed
When people are in trouble following natural disasters, churches usually respond rapidly and generously. The disaster of chronic unemployment creates a different set of challenges, but some churches across the country provide models of ministry to people affected by economic…
Two lies for Labor Day: A transforming theology of work
I am a Christian because of the ministry of two "laymen." One was a mechanic, the other a salesman. When I was a teenager, they invited me to ride their bus to church. If they had not knocked on my…
Beyond immediate ministry, a call to address social inequities
While many churches reach out to meet the immediate needs of people who have lost jobs, Christians also are called to tackle underlying social issues related to employment and to partner with others to help make long-term changes, some ethicists…
LifeWorks joins pieces for women in North Carolina’s mountains
CLYDE, N.C. (ABP) — Economic life is never easy in western North Carolina’s mountains and 70 percent of the poor are locked into “generational poverty” that holds them back like the concrete anchors on their mobile homes. At least the…
Ruby Fulbright to retire from North Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union
RALEIGN, N.C. (ABP) — Ruby Fulbright, executive director/treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina, since May 1, 2002, will retire Dec. 31. Fulbright, who led the organization to make a dramatic break from the Baptist State Convention of…