We were riding in a limousine to the graveside. Most of the people in the car were family so — except for the masks — the conversation was comfortable and familiar. Then the funeral director said: “See those smokestacks. That’s…
The Gospel of Luke: Notes from the editor
Dear Luke, Your book is coming along nicely. The stories are great. My favorite is the worthless kid whose lenient father welcomes him home for no reason. That one makes you think. We love the introduction. Everyone adores babies. The shepherds…
How to say goodbye during a pandemic (in English or Spanish)
I had been a New Yorker for two days. At 5:15 on Monday afternoon, I told my wife, Carol, “I’m going to buy bagels.” This was the first time in my life I said, “I’m going to buy bagels.” I…
We’re melting: Empathy in the time of coronavirus
Jason Vicknair went on Twitter to complain about a Mexican restaurant in Allen, Texas. He posted a photo of his beleaguered spouse and wrote: “My wife, date night after three months locked up in quarantine. Waiting for shredded cheese…
Pastors must preach about COVID-19, Younger says
Preachers must not avoid preaching about the pain of the COVID-19 crisis, according to a prominent Baptist pastor who serves in New York City, one of the hardest-hit areas of the nation.
BNG’s Top 25 of the decade
Presented here are BNG’s top 25 news and opinion articles during the past decade.
More BFFs are officiating weddings, but look for ministers to make a comeback
Millennials and other religiously unaffiliated Americans are more and more eschewing clergy involvement in their weddings, but some ministers say that may not be a bad thing.
Why Big Bird and Oscar cannot retire
What could be more therapeutic than being both Big Bird and Oscar? A tender, nurturing, childlike avian is great, but there is a part of us that is a crabby, trash-talking, green monster.
As a pastor, I’m not a fan of ministers telling people how to vote
Imagine how good government could be if those who say God is love took love for the poor, the desire for peace and an insistence on honesty into the voting booth. What wonderful things would happen if our values were derived from virtue rather than partisanship?