When we — Baptists and Methodists — were all evangelical

It may now seem surprising to many United Methodists, and even more Baptists, that for most of our histories in the United States, all Methodists and Baptists were regularly designated as evangelical denominations. The most important reason is that both...

Analysis Lovett H. Weems Jr.

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A different court says Alligator Alcatraz can stay open

The Trump administration may resume using Florida’s secluded “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center while litigation against the facility proceeds, a federal appeals court ruled 2-1. The Sept. 4 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit paused a…

Faith in Public Life lays off 90% of staff

Faith in Public Life has laid off 90% of its staff, according to a story first reported by Sojourners. The nonprofit founded in 2006 by Jennnifer Butler, a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister, is a left-leaning faith-based organization whose stated mission…

MAGA gets its wish: Immigrant population declining

The nation’s immigrant population has declined significantly since President Donald Trump took office in January, new research shows. And the trend is likely to continue since the Trump administration announced plans to expand its military presence and immigration raids to…

‘Pro-family’ Florida congressman faces charges of revenge porn and more

The problems keep piling up for Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., an Army veteran who was awarded a Bronze Star for valor and has been endorsed by leading “pro-family” political groups. On Friday, Mills, 45, will attend a hearing in Florida…

What to do if ICE shows up at your door

I’m self-soothing during these “unprecedented times” by learning about my Constitutional rights and teaching others. I’m not a lawyer and I can’t offer legal advice, but I can offer resources. If you, your employees or your neighbors and friends are…

The Department of War: A step backward for America

America once made a conscious choice to step away from the language of war. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act, reorganizing our armed forces after World War II. Two years later, the Department of War…

Donald Trump is neither strong nor masculine as president

Donald J. Trump may be the richest and oldest president in U.S. history, but beneath the glittering headlines lies a portrait of profound emotional and moral poverty — a leader marked not by strength, but by defensiveness, dishonesty, vanity and…

What if it’s just Jesus?

If I live another few weeks, I will soon turn 70 years old. Like anyone who has lived that long, I have seen many things come and go and change, one of the most bewildering of which is the degree…

Religion and politics

I’m all in when it comes to separation of church and state. That’s why I oppose posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and wherever else legislators are clamoring to do so. That is The…

Encouraging seniors to dream again

Is your church an aging congregation? If so, consider your senior adults an asset, not a liability. Seniors have been through hard times and are gifted in persevering. They are capable of dreaming again. Spend the capital to love them,…

Navigators release free discipleship app

Leaders of the Navigators were concerned when research showed many Christians felt unable to help other believers grow in their faith. Then they got to work. Now, five years later, they’ve released a free discipleship app that’s designed to fill…

What are Christians to make of this season’s South Park?

The television show South Park first aired in 1997, the same year I graduated college. I don’t remember watching it right away, but by the second season, I was an avid fan. I was drawn to the show’s total irreverence…