July 6, 2021 Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: Bill Leonard recently wrote about Samuel S. Hill Jr., who in 1960 wrote: “The heart of the matter is that the ministry of the churches is ever more irrelevant to persons…
Lessons from Disney to help churches reopen successfully
Everything we do tells a story, intended or not. The ways we act, the ways we decorate, the ways we communicate, along with many other seemingly innocuous decisions all send a message to people coming to our places of worship. And now, Disney has some lessons for churches as they prepare to reopen in this time of coronavirus pandemic.
Religion Notes: Mercer on Mission program fits 10,000th prosthesis in Vietnam
An occasional compilation of events from around the religious world. To suggest items for inclusion, email assistant editor Jeff Brumley at [email protected]. Mercer on Mission reaches prosthetic milestone in Vietnam Mercer University’s Mercer on Mission program has fitted its 10,000th Vietnamese…
Combating intolerance (and other sins) with a little ‘shadow work’
“If they [Muslims] can’t dress like we do, then they should just go back to their own country,” spewed the church member. As that morning’s guest preacher, I watched with interest as the church dynamics played out in this small…
I’m not tolerant.
It seems progressive Christians are often being attacked by other Christians for our “tolerance.” I don’t know about my fellow clergy, but I don’t recall that I have ever used the word tolerant in a sermon. I haven’t applauded tolerance…
Is Jesus irrelevant to the immigration debate?
Elation and outrage. President Obama’s executive decision on immigration sparked one reaction or the other in the American soul, if there is such a thing. Perhaps we must speak of two American souls.
How do we welcome people to the church?
During my ministry, I have visited a number of churches and not always as the supply preacher or in an “official” role. Often I have just dropped in on a worship service and have experienced how a church welcomes (or…