There are queer folks in my church. I worship with them every Sunday. There are queer folks in your church too, whether you know it or not. That’s just how statistics work. More often than not, however, these beloved siblings…
As Tennessee moves to ban Pride flag and keep expelled legislators out, Justin Jones warns of ‘force of authoritarianism rising’
“There is a force of authoritarianism rising,” Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones told participants in a conference on democracy in Washington, D.C., Feb. 27. Jones spoke to the “Together for Democracy” conference Tuesday evening in the nation’s capital after flying…
Three cheers for Baylor honoring Brittney Griner, but the game is not yet won
Brittney Griner’s story continues to transcend women’s basketball. It is a morality play for our times. The good news is that on Sunday, Feb. 18, Baylor University retired Griner’s No. 42 jersey. She was present for the ceremony in Waco,…
On sitting in the shade of another’s tree
One of the most notable differences since leaving conservative evangelicalism has been my body’s reaction to justice-themed events on the calendar. If the day or month had something to do with LGBTQ people, my immediate reaction would be one of…
Staff member fired from Fuller Seminary explains why she couldn’t sign the statement of faith anymore
Ruth Schmidt considered herself a loyal member of the team at Fuller Seminary — until she was dismissed because she refused to re-sign the school’s statement of faith, which prohibits affirmation of same-sex marriage. When she came to Fuller in…
The two men behind the possible schism in the Church of England
At the start of each year in the United Kingdom, the monarch doles out “honors” to citizens who’ve contributed to the betterment of British society. This year, both Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, and his longtime friend, Nicky Gumbel,…
Most states face a shortage of foster parents, yet the community most open to help fears discrimination
As a majority of states in America continue to face a foster care crisis, one of the most interested groups in helping displaced children often fails to volunteer out of fear of rejection. That’s the finding of new research by…
Who is Alistair Begg, and why are American fundamentalists so upset with him?
“I’m not ready to repent over this. I don’t have to,” Alistair Begg boldly declared in a sermon titled “Compassion vs. Condemnation” at the non-denominational Parkside Church in Cleveland last Sunday. The accusations being leveled against Begg are that he has caved…
SBC agency vows to ‘advocate for the complete end of abortion’ in America
When conservatives gained control of the Southern Baptist Convention and its agencies and seminaries in the late 20th century, a top priority was to convert the Christian Life Commission into an anti-abortion advocacy group. That came true with the first…