Theological educators from all over North American convened in Pittsburgh on April 23 to celebrate the good and faithful work of Daniel Aleshire. He has led the Association of Theological Schools (one of Central Seminary’s accrediting bodies) for the past…
Resurrection, for us and the planet: Just add water
This sermon in recognition of Earth Day was preached on Easter at Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City. It was in the wee hours of Easter morning 1971 that I crawled out of bed in my Road Runner…
American religion post-Easter: The permanent transition continues
This Easter, the New York Times’ Sunday Review section was packed with op-ed columns related to American religion — more specifically American Christianity. Here’s a small summary. Nicholas Kristof interviewed former president and perpetual Baptist-Sunday-school-teacher Jimmy Carter (Carter even taught…
The power of confessions
La versión en español está disponible aquí. Last month was the spring board meeting of the Latina Leadership Institute, the organization that I co-founded, and which I serve as executive director. A few days prior to this event, I sat…
El poder de las confesiones
An English version is available here. El mes pasado tuve la reunión de primavera del Instituto de Liderazgo para Latinas, organización que cofundé y donde sirvo como directora ejecutiva. Unos días antes de este evento, me senté en mi oficina…
This is only the beginning of resurrection
Learning to welcome new life as it begins to inform the old always involves sleepless nights, tears of frustration, painful self-doubt, and the unwavering conviction that this is the hardest thing you’ve ever done.
Does Easter mean anything at all?
What if this Easter season, Christians everywhere stopped scapegoating others and we owned our own complicity in the violence of the world? What if instead of blaming a politician or a “them” group of people, we admitted our own guilt in the injustices of humanity, however small?
Are you living on the right side of Easter?
Easter changes everything. Like no other part of the Christian faith, the story of Easter is at the heart of what makes our faith unique and life-changing. Death is overcome by life. Not even the grave is immune to the…
Church: Safe and fun for the whole family?
The No. 1 contemporary Christian radio station in America, which broadcasts in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, built its reputation on a simple slogan years ago: “Safe and fun for the whole family.” And that’s great for a radio station, even…
People I don’t need to listen to
The New York Times has too many pages. I download more podcasts than I can play. I cannot read half of what my friends post on Facebook — particularly one recipe-happy friend. I cannot hear, read, or notice a significant…
Looking at the cross and seeing our own violence
As a minister, I’ve noticed that even the previously dependable Easter attendance bump has become not so dependable. It seems that I used to see more in town visitors or members on the margins who only come on holidays, but…
The scapegoat to end all scapegoating: The saving power of the cross
The scapegoat ritual practiced by ancient Israel functioned, I suppose, as a symbolical representation of the collective cleansing and forgiveness of the covenant people by God. Whether it was a healthy ritual or a toxic ritual for ancient Israel I…