How often do we hear from the pulpit and from lawmakers that diverse sexualities and genders are unnatural? This year, the United States already has set records for anti-LGBTQ legislative bills, and violence against queer people, especially trans and nonbinary…
What does the future of BWIM hold?
There is something inherently beautiful about gathering with Baptist Women in Ministry. The stories we share with one another are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious and often a little bit of both. We giggle our way through stories of the inappropriate…
It’s Al Mohler vs. Andy Stanley, part two, with Christianity Today joining the fray
“Farewell, Andy Stanley.” So seems to be the response from Al Mohler, Christianity Today, and many other evangelicals to Stanley’s defense of North Point Community Church hosting the Unconditional Conference for LGBTQ Christians and their parents. Sam Allberry, writing for Christianity Today, argues Stanley “seriously undermined”…
Dialogue with religious conservatives could help nonbinary awareness, Ladin says
Transgender and nonbinary people must familiarize themselves with anti-trans theologies and dialogue with religious conservatives to counter growing transphobic narratives, trans author and speaker Joy Ladin said. Those with alternative sexual and gender identities also must see the religious and…
Candidates seek to increase LGBTQ representation in public office
A growing number of LGBTQ elected officials are pushing back against discrimination while encouraging more members of their community to seek elected office, according to a new study by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute and Loyola Marymount University. “A record number…
First they came for them, then they came for us
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist….
Samford students mark one-year anniversary with another silent protest for LGBTQ inclusion
One year after Samford University made headlines for its exclusion of LGBTQ-affirming campus ministries, a group of about 100 students, alumni and community supporters held another silent protest outside a campuswide assembly. The Sept. 19 protest outside Wright Center during…
Fighting hate with humor? Moms for Liberty and Toby Morton’s dark humor
An antigovernment organization is currently going viral, but not on their official website. Toby Morton, former writer for the show South Park, has added Moms for Liberty to his growing list of spoof websites, jokingly profiling the organization’s hateful attitudes…
What do we mean by ‘affirming’?
I was grateful to attend the second annual lecture of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas Sept. 11. The lecturer, Susan Shaw, is professor of women, gender and sexuality studies and director of…
Al Mohler vs. Andy Stanley: What’s really going on?
The ultra-conservative Calvinist complementarian crowd has been seeking evidence to convict Andy Stanley of “liberalism” for years, and now they think they’ve found the smoking gun. Except their “evidence” would only hold up if the jury were made up of…
In biblical truth-telling, we need to mind the gap between clergy and laity
It doesn’t surprise me that new research shows white mainline Protestant clergy are more supportive of LGBTQ rights, abortion rights and racial justice than their congregations. I’ve been there, done that and have the scars to prove it. From my…
At AWAB lecture, Susan Shaw lays out 10 lies Christians tell about queer people
“The church has no problem telling lies if it works to advance their political ambitions, and we see now the extent of Christian nationalist desire for a theocracy rooted in white supremacist, patriarchal values which have nothing to do with…