One of my predecessors as pastor at Myers Park Baptist Church was the great Carlyle Marney, who confessed, “The real crisis for me was in Charlotte” where he was caught in a web of socio-economic forces that included “money, banking,…
A committee of one
On Thanksgiving Day, when my sons and I sit down for dinner, we will be joined by a gentleman who spent the past 12 years living the harrowing life of an unhoused person. While living on the streets, he suffered…
‘Progressive imagination often is wider than progressive practice’
Not long ago, a search committee called to share their final discernment after months of conversations, sermons, prayers and emails. Their words were familiar, almost rehearsed by the collective memory of Black clergy everywhere. They told me it had become…
With gratitude for the women who lead us
Julie Pennington Russell called me last month. I had just finished a centering prayer group, a practice Pastor Julie helped nurture in me, and I began to weep when I saw her name on my phone. I was so grateful…
Honoring the invisible work of clergywomen in this season
Last Christmas Eve, a new post appeared in one of my clergywomen groups on social media. It began, “How many pastors are sitting at their desks crying this morning? Just me?” Spoiler alert: It wasn’t just her. The replies started…
Donald Trump’s debasement of the presidency hits new low
Donald Trump’s debasement of the presidency was on full display Nov. 18 in the hero’s welcome offered the murderous leader of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Although not labeled as such, the heir apparent to the Saudi throne’s visit to Washington had all the…
Fundamentalism takes another stab at the BGCT
Earlier this week, the Baptist General Convention of Texas met in Abilene, Texas. This once-robust convention used to fill convention centers in Dallas, Fort Worth or Waco. This time, they gathered at the Abilene Convention Center with 2,007 attendees, made…
The gift of a transgender child
Sarah has long been concerned with the scope of my reading, and she is right. For years I have focused my reading on history and current events. Sarah said fiction belonged in my reading diet, too. Fiction, she said, would…
Committing to a culture that empowers
In Baptist Women in Ministry’s latest “State of Women in Baptist Life” report, Executive Director Meredith Stone wrote, “Many reasons for celebration can be found in this report, as well as painful reminders of the disparity that women in ministry…
A rabbi’s call for balance, moral clarity and reconciliation
A foundational belief in Judaism teaches, “Seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:15). We dream with Isaiah’s vision found in Isaiah 2:4: “Nation shall not take up sword against nation; they shall never again know war.” This rabbi’s favorite verse…
What if your father talked about women the way Trump does?
Aboard Air Force One, Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey asked President Donald Trump about being in the Epstein emails. Trump responded, “Quiet, quiet piggy.” The president also wagged his finger at her to give verbal backup to his insult. Why does…
Let’s get this one thing clear
When I talk with conservative friends about immigration in America, the line I most often hear justifying President Donald Trump’s deportation bonanza is that all these people are criminals by virtue of being here without authorization. This reminds me of…