I have been told that long before I stepped foot on the campus of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology the issue of what students ought to call professors was addressed at a staff meeting. At a relatively small school…
I am an immigrant
By Nora O. Lozano La versión en español está disponible aquí. Last week the issue of immigration returned to the news as Donald Trump was challenged by Mexican-American Univision anchor Jorge Ramos regarding Trump’s plans, if he becomes U.S. president,…
Soy una inmigrante
Por Nora O. Lozano An English version is available here. La semana pasada el asunto de inmigración regresó a las noticias, cuando el reportero México-Americano Jorge Ramos cuestionó a Donald Trump en relación a sus planes, si llega a ser…
7 things I (re)discovered on sabbatical
C.S. Lewis once said that most of us don’t need to be told new things, but rather reminded of old truths. This has certainly been true in my own journey these past few months. On June 1, I entered into…
Christian stuff the world needs, part 1: Welcome the stranger
By Corey Fields We hear a lot about the declining influence of the church and decreased religious participation. I can’t help but think that this has been partially self-imposed by our tendency to let issues of individual morality and other…
The genericization of the evangelical church
By Mark Wingfield Is it possible that America’s evangelical churches have merely traded one form of uniformity for another? One of the criticisms of the old model of churches driven by denominational identity is that they were all the same….
Joining Muslim and Christian hearts and hands
“Tell me,” she asked, “what is the essence of your religion?” “Loving God and loving one another, “ I replied. “And we demonstrate our love for God and neighbor by working to assure dignity, equality, freedom and justice for all,”…
Political correctness, again
By Jason Coker I’ll never forget something Bob Dole said about Bill Clinton back in the ’90s when they were running against each other for the presidency. It was a classic example of political right versus political left. Bob Dole,…
Bruises that forever hurt: The death of a reporter and friend
But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5 (NRSV) Just one week ago, I wrote about…
Are character and competence really that important?
By Bill Wilson I love what I do. Really. Every day is like a new adventure of learning and exploring the future of congregational and clergy life. While the future is uncertain and daunting, there is no doubt that this…
Belonging: Maybe fences don’t make good neighbors
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” –Mother Teresa It is Friday night, and 125 friends, new and old, crowd the yard at QC Family Tree. We are gathered to…
Jimmy Carter: Faith as verb
By Bill Leonard Jimmy Carter was president of the United States. Jimmy Carter has built Habitat for Humanity dwellings for 33 years. Jimmy Carter led the Carter Center in eradicating much of the Guinea worm plague in West Africa. Jimmy…