June is traditionally the month when graduates are recognized. College grads have already walked the fateful stage and most high school grads either have or are preparing to do so. Major life transitions like this are often fraught with challenges…
Retooling your ministry: A necessary joy
By Jerrod Hugenot Around this time of year, we celebrate graduations. From kindergarten to grad school, family members gather round the graduate to affirm an achievement. Whether it is the high school graduation or the hooding of a newly minted…
The problem with gay marriage
By Kyle Caudle The recent story about a Southern Baptist pastor’s son coming out as gay has garnished quite a buzz in Baptist circles and beyond. On first glance this story did not seem especially newsworthy. After all, this is…
Churchcraft
I have coined a new word: Churchcraft. What I mean by Churchcraft is an individual’s ability to say and do the things that will help to build the organized church. My observation is that a lack of Churchcraft is the…
Conflict as blessing
By Bill Wilson Ask any minister, “What is the worst part of your job?” and nearly all will tell you, “Conflict!” Ask any congregation member what they like least about their church experience, and most will answer the same. Conflict…
Holy woman
By Bill Leonard She did not speak for five years. Raped by her mother’s boyfriend, “Mr. Freeman,” when she was 8 years old, Maya Angelou stopped speaking until she was 13, traumatized by sexual assault and her fear that Freeman’s…
Smart churches call 911 sooner rather than later
On a pleasant morning a few years ago at a church preschool, a 3-year-old boy fell backwards off a piece of playground equipment and hit his head. It was no one’s fault. It just happened. His symptoms indicated the need…
‘Can’t we just play nice?’
By Corey Fields “Look for the words ‘social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church website. If you find it, run as fast as you can.” That was the advice of Glenn Beck to his radio show listeners on March…
Why Paige Patterson broke the rules
Paige Patterson says it’s okay for a devout Muslim to study at Southwestern Theological Seminary. Why is this a big deal? I doubt the seminaries affiliated with American Baptist or Cooperative Baptist congregations would have a problem enrolling Ghassan Nagagreh,…