As I pulled up to the middle school for my child’s sixth grade awards ceremony recently, I couldn’t help but think back to a similar day just a few years ago. It was a Friday, my day off, and I’d…
When will SBC address clergy sex abuse?
By Christa Brown The Southern Baptist Convention is convening its annual ballyhoo in New Orleans this week, but it doesn’t look as though they will make any progress on protecting kids against clergy sex abuse. Since 2006, clergy abuse survivors,…
The formation and reception of believer-theologians
But on the other hand…. My college philosophy professor Wallace Roark taught me that cultivating the capacity to “think on the other hand”—to Think Like an Octopus—is the key to becoming a good thinker. “But on the other hand” is…
Honoring the military
By Miguel De La Torre During the recent Memorial Day weekend, we heard a lot of patriot rhetoric about those who gave their lives protecting our freedom. While I respect those who join the armed services out of a sense…
CBF at crossroads
By Marv Knox Three issues — two on the agenda and one not — will occupy the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s attention during its General Assembly in Fort Worth, Texas, June 21-22. First will be the retirement of CBF’s longtime executive…
The Bible, the ballot box and same-sex marriage
May 8, 2012 was a disappointing day. Amendment One – the constitutional amendment banning all legal recognition of same-sex relationships – passed in North Carolina. And passed by a healthy margin. I had recently been involved – albeit in a…
Father’s Day 2012
By Roger Lovette Somewhere I read of a young man who in a fit of rage killed his father. That night when everyone was asleep in the jail, the jailer heard the boy sobbing: “I want my Father. I want…
Just showing up
I am more convinced than ever that showing up is one of the most important things we can do. As a minister serving a new faith community, I have been faced with many opportunities to be present for a variety…
Forgetting the Bible
By Amy Butler Lately I have been thinking a lot about the Bible. This is not surprising given my line of work, I know, but the truth of the matter is that the Bible sometimes gets lost in the busyness…