When the Pepper Hamilton summary report was released revealing major failures by Baylor University to comply with Title IX requirements, I read the entire document and was not at all surprised with its findings. It’s not that I thought Baylor…
When sexual intercourse is seen as male entitlement
I often hear remarks that today’s society is too sensitive and too focused on political correctness. Ideas, phrases and words that were once acceptable in everyday society are no longer accepted. Certain actions too, that were once commonplace, are now…
Why #BlackLivesMatter vandalism matters
In the last couple of months, the Black Lives Matter sign that hangs from a post on the front lawn of our church has been vandalized several times. Sometimes the metal sign has been severely bent. Other times, someone has…
Immigrants who aren’t supposed to be in the room
How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar? With these words,…
Why do congregations keep firing their leaders?
In a recent conversation, a pastor whose father was also a pastor related to me this interesting observation. The elder pastor said, “In my generation, if you could really hang your hat on one or two aspects of ministry, you…
At Baylor, the real story isn’t hypocrisy. It’s the victims of sexual assault.
Hypocrisy always makes for a sexy story. Perhaps it’s the justice of seeing the self-righteous get a taste of their own medicine, or maybe it’s like a bad car crash: we can’t bring ourselves to look away. Whatever the reason,…
The fear of disappointing can’t drive a pastor’s life
Every day, I walk a fine line between servant leadership and people-pleasing. Some days, I get it right. Other days, I can’t even see the line. Let’s face it — pastors are human. We like to help people and fix…
The ecstasy of God’s inner life is the model for human community
We seem to sing it better than we conceptualize it. We can muster a hearty rendering of “Holy, Holy, Holy,” probably pondering more about the “early in the morning” wording than the theological verities. I am speaking of the blessed…
The divine dance of the Trinity
Since the 14th century, the first Sunday after Pentecost has been celebrated in the Western Church as “Trinity Sunday,” presumably with the hope that one of these years we’ll figure it out. I’m kidding, but one of the ironies of…
Moving beyond opposition to payday lending
One of the things I love about working in a downtown church is the way it brings me into relationships with poor people. I love this not because I believe I am of much value to them beyond what I…
Relaxing in the mystery: when answers are always necessary
In his spiritual memoir, O Me of Little Faith, Jason Boyett writes about a forbidden topic: the doubt that so often accompanies faith. He recalls his upbringing in a Southern Baptist church in Texas where he learned Romans 3:23 and…
No one warned me that ministry would make a mortician out of me
I want to build the casket and dig the hole. We usually hire those jobs out, but I want to do it myself. Remember the scene in Harry Potter where Harry buries Dobby, but refuses to use magic? Something about…