More than 20 years ago, Queen Padmé Amidala, portrayed by Natalie Portman in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, delivered a line that has aged like prophecy: “So this is how liberty dies — with thunderous applause.”…
For this new year: Ring the bells that still can ring
In a recent New York Times article, “The Nazi Plunder of Church Bells Changed the Sound of Europe,” Nina Siegel chronicled a Nazi wartime strategy of confiscating church bells — more than 150,000 of them — to turn the metal…
Observations from a clergy sister of a darker hue
It is with gratitude, excitement and concern that I share my observations and response to the Baptist Women in Ministry State of Women in Baptist Life report. I commend Heather Deal and all contributors for the clear, in-depth, insightful and…
Epiphany’s forgotten revelation: Africa as refuge for Christ
Epiphany is the season of revelation. It is the moment when light breaks into darkness, when God preserves what power tries to destroy. We rehearse the story every year: Magi from the East follow a star that leads them to…
AI is coming for your pastor and your trust
In this new year, an unexpected presence will slip into many church sanctuaries, quietly and almost politely: A line in the sermon that began as a chatbot prompt. A prayer drafted by an AI tool because the volunteer who normally…
The story of America is not the story of one leader
There are moments in public life that seem small on the surface but carry deep moral weight. Sometimes, a policy change is more than a policy change; it is a window into the soul of a nation. The recent decision…
The Epstein Files and the theology of justice
In my work with trauma, I often remind people trauma doesn’t only affect individuals but also can affect communities and even nations. Events like September 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic left lingering effects on how we function and interact with…
January 6 is a remix of the Lost Cause
It is hard to believe we are now marking the fifth anniversary of one of the most shameful days in American history. On January 6, 2021, President Donald Trump incited a violent insurrection at the United States Capitol that resulted…
Must ‘rugged individualism’ and ‘warmth of collectivism’ be opposites?
With a nod and apology to Robert Frost and his poem “The Road Not Taken”: Two roads diverged on my fallow screen, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one…
Of course, evangelicals are complaining about Stranger Things
“Being gay is not a superpower,” one person wrote on social media. Immediately, my heart sank. Although I was still catching up on Stranger Things episodes, my gut told me we were on the precipice of yet another conservative panic attack over…
Jesus the asylum-seeker: A visit to the Church of Abu Sirga
A year ago, I traveled to Egypt with 12 other pilgrims from Wake Forest University School of Divinity to learn about the country’s rich religious history. Our mostly Christian group spent much of our time learning about religions other than…
We need to learn again from the Black Church tradition
Growing up, my parents — Evangelist Idella Cora Thomas and Leonard Thomas — guided me spiritually. They emphasized the importance of spiritual discernment in navigating the world and advocating for justice. They wanted me to understand where evil lurks within…