A pastoral transition is one of the most impactful seasons in the life of a church. Whether a pastor retires, resigns or is called to another ministry, the transition can stir a wide range of emotions — grief, uncertainty, anxiety,…
Carol and Brett save democracy
On Saturday, I put on my John Lewis “Good Trouble” sweatshirt and joined the crowd causing good trouble. Carol and I marched in New York’s “Hands Off!” demonstration with millions around the world protesting Donald Trump’s policies. The call was…
Thanks, Obama!
Former President Barack Obama finally said what he should have said eight years ago. Speaking at Hamilton College in New York last Thursday, Obama called out the hypocrisy of President Donald Trump and his MAGA faithful. “Imagine if I had…
It’s time for MAGA to be Christian
I’ll let others describe the economic carnage President Trump’s tariffs already have begun to wreak. I want to describe the damage they will do to the American psyche and the American soul. I want to describe the damage they are…
A call for the church to reclaim biblical leadership
When U.S. President Donald Trump called Christianity Today a “left-wing rag” in December 2019, he was responding to an editorial by Mark Galli titled “Trump Should Be Removed from Office.” Trump fired back, claiming, “I have done more for the…
Let this cup pass: Gethsemane’s cry through Palestinian experience
In the darkness of night, after sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus led them to a garden called Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. This was not just any garden. Its very name tells a…
Zuckerpunched: Meta silences MAGA resistance
Editor’s note: After this column was written, historian Heather Cox Richardson reported that some of her daily posts on American history and life have mysteriously disappeared from Facebook. About a month ago, Presbyterian Outlook, the magazine of the Presbyterian Church…
Humor vs. sarcasm
In the summer or 1968, as a high school student, I attended Debate Camp at the University of Georgia. During that time, we learned the ins and outs of debate tactics and processes, and we practiced on each other. The…
The gospel according to Cory Booker
If you’ve turned on the news in the last two days or scrolled through social media, you’ve heard the name Cory Booker. He’s the senator from New Jersey who just broke the 68-year-old record for the longest speech in U.S….
Here’s what we’ve been talking about on ‘Highest Power’
It’s been one month since the launch of my new podcast with BNG, Highest Power: Church + State, which is currently ranking within the top 20% of all podcasts nationally. “I’m thrilled with the podcast and what you’re doing here,” BNG…
Politics, faith and mission: A conversation with Beth Allison Barr
Beth Allison Barr holds the James Vardaman Chair in History at Baylor University. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the new book Becoming the Pastor’s Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman’s Path to Ministry and…
Earthquake and airstrikes devastate the people of Burma
On March 28, in the Mandalay and Sagaing district of Burma, the people there were hit with a devastating earthquake. At magnitude 7.7, hundreds — maybe thousands — have been injured or killed. Not long after the earthquake, the Burma…