By Bob Allen Nineteen black religious leaders visited the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., March 20 to meet with evangelist Franklin Graham. The visit by the NAACP delegation came three weeks after Graham, president and CEO of…
When ministers are used by politicians
By David Gushee A leading presidential candidate writes letters to Christian ministers from around the country. He remarks positively on their contribution to society and church and suggests his interest in personal conversation. He invites the ministers to respond to…
So your church is on Facebook. What now?
By Robert Dilday While about half of Protestant churches have Facebook pages, many essentially use it as a bulletin board, missing out on the potential to nurture relationships with congregants and its community. “It’s OK for a church to use…
The Bible tells me. So?
By Bill Leonard Everybody is quoting the Bible these days. In the church and the public square Bible-based rhetoric and mandates echo throughout the culture, often with varying, even contradictory, interpretations. Such convictions can be deep and culture transforming; they…
New Springsteen album delivers 30-year-old ‘Promise’
By Mark McEntire While Wrecking Ball is Bruce Springsteen’s 17th and latest studio album, it marks some important firsts. Above all, it is Springsteen’s first studio album since the deathof band mate Clarence Clemons. The “Big Man” was such a…
The fence through Friendship Park
By LeDayne McLeese Polaski A fence runs through Friendship Park at the western end of the U.S. border with Mexico. A 20-foot tall steel structure begun in late 2011 and completed in early 2012, it begins at the very spot…
Drive-thru discipleship
By Amy Butler The Associated Press recently reported on churches offering drive-thru blessings on Ash Wednesday. Pastors in my city offeredashes and blessings at the Metro stations so hurried commuters could get their Lenten fix on the way to work….
Should America attack Iran?
By Jim Denison Should America attack Iranian nuclear sites? A recent exchange sponsored by Foreign Affairs highlights three options. Matthew Kroenig argues that we should attack Iran now. He recently served as special adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Defense…
Prime time
By Bill Wilson One thing that is predictable about pastor search committees is that they all want something similar: a great preacher, an amazing administrator who loves visiting, someone who is effective with young families and senior adults, a 38…