By Jim Denison If you’re like me, you grew up in a Baptist church where Lent was a foreign word. Like all things Catholic, it was ignored if not rejected. In recent years, I have come to see the error…
Why Baptists need Martha Stearns Marshall Month
By Kate Hanch Martha Stearns Marshall Month, sponsored by Baptist Women in Ministry each February, celebrates the voices of women in the pulpit. Martha Stearns Marshall lived during the 18th century. Along with her husband, she provided leadership and preaching…
How to interpret the Scriptures
By Mike Smith A church member will sometimes ask how I go about interpreting the scriptures. I am tempted to answer, “On the run,” since I preach and teach several times each week. Thinking more about the question, here are…
White to black — or black to white
By Bob Burroughs It is rare to go from white to black or black to white without passing through some shades of gray. Experience and common sense should teach us that sudden and drastic changes in everyday living, daily schedules…
Racial reconciliation 2012
By David Gushee On Tuesday, McAfee School of Theology hosted a sizable contingent of African-American leaders on our Atlanta campus. Gerald Durley, senior pastor at Providence Missionary Baptist Church in southwest Atlanta, preached in chapel. The sermon began with his…
Are you opening — or closing — your children’s hearts?
By Rabbi Rami Shapiro There are only two ways to raise your children: you either shut them down or you open them up. If you shut them down you raise them in a zero-sum world of winners and losers. You…
Funeral procession rules of the road
By Amy Butler A long-time member of our church went on to her heavenly reward a few weeks ago. Flora was the soul of kindness and grace, serving as an usher every single Sunday, welcoming people to worship from the…
Dear Social Media Consultant
By Natalie Aho I am very aware of the switch to social media and the need to use the tools available to connect with people. Yet I am old-school and don’t like computer-mediated relationships. I feel like I should know…
Contraception and the rosary
By Zachary Bailes The Obama administration recently initiated a directive requiring religious institutions to offer coverage for contraception in their health-care plans. Among those raising concerns is the Catholic Church. Contraception and Catholic theology aren’t compatible it seems, and in…