I finally gave in. In fact, three times now. I successfully navigated the self-serve kiosk at McDonald’s. With a touch of reluctance, I admit the experience was satisfying. I approached the kiosk, touched the screen, scanned my points code, placed…
Women need less religious shame, more leadership
A recent study suggests Gen Z women are losing their religion. Honestly, we’re not surprised. While women make up 60% of U.S. congregations, we have historically been relegated to the pews. This discrimination pushed us out. But some churches are…
I didn’t leave the church
In my last column for Baptist News Global, I wrote a sentence I want to come back to: “I am a trans man who grew up in the church and loved it until it threw me away.” Some readers may…
What they’ve taught me
I was scrolling Facebook when I saw the post. Someone I had mentored. Someone who had reached out, who had sat in the specific loneliness of being queer and trans and faith-formed and told by that faith they were the…
‘Yes’ to God, but ‘no’ to church – what religious change looks like for many Latin Americans
In a region known for its tumultuous change, one idea remained remarkably consistent for centuries: Latin America is Catholic.
Forgiving the church
Church is a school of forgiveness where we learn to forgive and be forgiven. The Lord’s Prayer invites us to this form of spiritual healing every time we pray it: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass…
How LGBTQ Christians Are Reshaping Faith And The Church
It all started with a lunch conversation — a break from a meeting of The Reformation Project, a Christian group that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Greear’s Everyday Revolutionary calls Christians beyond culture war
Half a century ago, evangelicals were known for evangelism, not politics, but 52-year-old J.D. Greear never knew that world. He grew during the era of Jerry Falwell, not Billy Graham, and was on his way to a career in politics…
Cancel church for ice and snow, not ICE and shootings
Mass shootings will outnumber snowstorms this year. That sentence hurts to write; may it haunt us. The decision to cancel church for inclement weather involves the complex interaction of values — safety vs. commitment; feelings — fear of injury vs….
Families do not need another church program
This is the third in a series on making churches family-friendly. Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn families are exhausted and overscheduled. Church has become another obligation, even for the most…
Creating welcoming church spaces for families
This is the second in a series on making churches family friendly. Through our research and experience with churches and families, we have come to learn how busy families are. When families attend church, they make an intentional choice…
Why American Christians are divided
“Is Christ divided?” Paul asks the rhetorical question to the church in Corinth. The answer of course is, “no.” However, the undercurrent of the church in Corinth was that even though Christ is not divided, the Christians were. We must…