“Mommy, Jason is being mean to me, and I can’t get him to stop!” My 6-year-old daughter was calling from her hour-long school bus ride home (no, she doesn’t have a phone but uses a Fitbit watch for emergencies). In…
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…
Protecting Epstein survivors should be a bipartisan priority
With news of Prince Andrew’s arrest, it is even clearer that the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse deserve justice and healing. During the recent testimony of the U.S. attorney general to the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was…
Our love for Black children must speak louder than headlines
When I saw the recent headlines of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos being reunited with his father after being held in a Texas detention facility for more than a week, I softened at the sight of the blue bunny hat. And…
Too many Black churches have stopped doing the work
Since its inception, the Black Church has stood for activism. It has been loud when the world demanded silence. Emotive in a culture that prizes stoicism over vulnerability. Communal in the face of capitalism’s insistence on individualism. Faithful amid unrelenting…
What the birthright debate reveals about race, wealth and belonging
In spring 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments from President Donald Trump regarding his pursuit to end birthright citizenship. On the surface this decision, if passed, raises questions about the future of American citizenship, including how citizenship will…
AI is coming for your pastor and your trust
In this new year, an unexpected presence will slip into many church sanctuaries, quietly and almost politely: A line in the sermon that began as a chatbot prompt. A prayer drafted by an AI tool because the volunteer who normally…
No policy required: Choosing joy across differences
On Sunday afternoon, I put together a small surprise for my niece. Her mom was taking her to Disney, and I wanted the moment to feel real before the magic officially began. I bought shirts, pressed them myself, wrapped everything…
A stay of execution isn’t a ‘delay’
Georgia’s decision this week to pause the scheduled execution of Stacey Ian Humphreys is being framed in some corners as a last-minute disruption. That framing is wrong and dangerous. A stay of execution, especially when tied to active litigation and…
A practical guide for nurturing youth mental health
Stories of poor mental health among children and teenagers are sadly prevalent today, including young people going through depression, anxiety and even death by suicide. Mental health challenges occur on a continuum, so it is important to be aware of developing…
Our tax system should benefit kids and families
Last week, it was reported that corporations will reap $16 billion in new, retroactive tax breaks this year under just one provision of the Trump-GOP tax law enacted in July. This provision of HR-1, otherwise known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill…
Starving the mindset that feeds terrorism
Across Nigeria’s highways and farm paths, in markets and dormitories, and even in churches and mosques, faith has become a weapon. The line between devotion and destruction has grown perilously thin. Religious violence here is not new; what is new is…