May 15, 1948 — 75 years ago yesterday — a human rights travesty began that most U.S. politicians, religionists and media outlets do not mention. On May 15, Palestinians and those of us who are in solidarity with their liberation…
What’s the truth about Critical Race Theory and the new framework for AP African American Studies?
Recently, the College Board announced there will be additional revisions to the framework of the AP African American Studies curriculum nationwide. These revisions are in response to a growing controversy surrounding the recently published course framework, which some scholars say…
A church trial will be better for suspended bishop and the UMC
The protracted investigation of church complaints against The United Methodist Church’s first Latina bishop appears headed to trial. The trial “appears” to proceed because an alternative remains available, a negotiated settlement known as “just resolution” still can be pursued by…
Is your church ready for the spiritual revolution of LSD, DMT and magic mushrooms?
At the end of my first year of divinity school in 2021, I took advantage of recent decriminalization laws and ingested between four and five grams of the Psilocybe cubensis, a naturally occurring psychedelic mushroom. For six hours, I clutched…
The hidden battle in Christian higher education: A conversation with Scott Okamoto
One of the most under-the-radar battles going on within American evangelicalism today is a civil war between Christian higher education and the local church. If you’ve missed this new trend, there’s a good reason: The more overt stories of abuse…
How King’s ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ parallels the Tennessee Three
It was Holy Week and two young Black men, motivated by the courage of their Christian convictions, took part in a nonviolent demonstration. Colleagues chided them for their participation. It was “untimely” given the circumstances, they complained. Furthermore, the young…
Medication for opioid use disorder must fight stigma on top of addiction, but churches could help
Imagine the entire population of a city the size of Peoria, Ill., suddenly vanished. What if half the residents of Richmond, Va.; Huntsville, Ala.; or Tacoma, Wash., turned to the person next to them and that person was gone? As…
On Steven Crowder, abuse and the evangelical definition of ‘respect’
Last week, a video went viral of popular conservative commentator Steven Crowder, a professing Christian, verbally abusing his ex-wife, Hilary Crowder. Hilary’s family released the three-minute clip to clarify Steven Crowder’s claims that Hilary divorced him for no reason. In…
What went wrong at the SBC Executive Committee?
True confession: I have something in common with Adron Robinson. I, too, have chaired a failed search committee. But my experience was on a local-church level, not on a national denominational level. Nevertheless, I have more empathy for the chair…