A bill proposed before the New York Legislature would require Chick-fil-A to open on Sundays in their restaurants located along I-90. Or so the story goes. Nothing creates outrage among evangelicals like rumors of persecution. The idea that Chick-fil-A —…
The right’s zero-tolerance policy on Pride
In case you have any remaining doubt that the Religious Right wants to obliterate all appearance of LGBTQ people — to make them invisible once again — consider the dustup over a single photograph showing a small Pride flag atop…
Why I’m an LGBTQ ally who won’t boycott Chick-fil-A
There’s a new set of alarming memes going around social media warning of the dangers of eating at Chick-fil-A. According to one, to eat a single golden waffle fry is to betray the entire LGBTQ community. It is a “test”…
As a progressive pastor, I take my stands. Boycotting Chick-fil-A isn’t one of them
If Chick-fil-A is going to continue to serve this liberal Baptist pastor from around the corner, I don’t see that drinking their tea and building relationships with their staff is making me unfaithful to my convictions.
Bi-vocational, black female pastor overcame doubters to thrive in pulpit
Like any pastor, LaTonya McIver Penny is busy. But this minister’s calendar goes above and beyond busy. In addition to leading New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Roxboro, N.C., and all that entails, Penny is a mother of two and runs a non-profit advocating for the respectful and compassionate treatment of children with disabilities in churches. And like other women pastors, Penny confronted her share of opposition from those who say females should not be pastors.
Chik-fil-A challenged for sponsoring LGBT-themed film festival
By Bob Allen Three years after evangelical Christians designated a day to eat more chicken in support of Chik-fil-A’s defense of traditional marriage, the Southern Baptist-owned fast food chain is taking heat online for sponsoring what is billed as the…
Chick-fil-A founder, Baptist layman, Truett Cathy dies
By Bob Allen Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, a devout Southern Baptist layman known for building his business empire on principles of his Christian faith, died Sept. 8 at age 93. Cathy, who taught 13-year-old boys in Sunday school at…
Chick-fil-A CEO seeks to get beyond gay marriage debate
By Bob Allen Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy says it was a mistake for him two years ago to involve his company in controversy over same-sex marriage. Cathy, 61, recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he hasn’t changed his mind about the…
Absolute complexity is not allowed here
More than 35 years ago I was working on a graduate degree in the sociology of religion at the Southern Seminary in Louisville. The time came to declare the subject of our thesis. Some of us were sure and others…