Recent Articles
(Don’t Get) Stuck on a Feelin’
My life as an openly queer pastor has led me to some interesting conversations. A dialogue with one woman I knew took an interesting turn, revealing a problematic disconnect between belief and actions.
Food Insecurity Increased by 46m in 2021
The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to an estimated 828 million in 2021, according to a new report. This number reflects an increase of 46 million people affected by hunger since 2020.
U.S. Pastors Who Considered Quitting Less Likely to Prioritize Self-Care
Most pastors of Protestant churches in the U.S. have an overall sense of satisfaction and contentment in their role, Barna Group found. However, self-care and spiritual formation is often neglected.
July 13, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Right-Wing Think Tank Family Research Council is Now a Church in the Eyes of IRS; Conservative Kansas Churches Leading Charge for Constitutional Anti-Abortion Amendment; Pro-Choice Christians Fight to Control the Narrative on Abortion Rights; The Thin Wall Separating Church and State Comes Tumbling Down (and more)
Confessions of a Christian Poser
“We’re fakes.” Those were the first words from my mouth as my colleague Mitch Randall and I departed a June 29 conversation in Dallas with Lorenzo Ortiz. Here’s why.
Focus on Conversation, Not Conversion
Many Christians today demonstrate the belief that it is up to themselves to “save” their non-Christian neighbors at the expense of loving and civil conversation. Here are several examples of another, better approach.
SCOTUS Prayer Meetings Report Saddening, Not Surprising
A Rolling Stone report that some justices have been involved in prayer meetings on Supreme Court grounds with folks from Liberty Counsel is saddening, but not surprising. Such acts are more common than many realize.
July 12, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: SCOTUS Takes Divisive Course on Religious Issues; How Leonard Leo Became the Grey Cardinal of the American Right; Not Everyone Believes There’s a Sexual Abuse Crisis in the SBC (and more)
Traumatizing Times Raise Myriad Questions
Footage of the horrific death of 25-year-old Jayland Walker has been released to the public, but I cannot watch it. I can barely say his name. Here is why this is unusual for me.
What Is a Christian Who Wants to Be a Citizen to Do?
The church has struggled throughout its history without coming to any settled conclusion about what we owe the state. How then do I reconcile my loyalty to Christ with my obligations as a citizen?
White Evangelicals Are Outliers Among U.S. Faith Groups on ‘Roe’ Reversal
White evangelical Protestants in the U.S. are the only faith group with a majority approving the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in ‘Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health,’ according to a Pew Research Center report published July 6.
July 11, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Religious Lies, Conmen and Coercive Control: How Cults Corrupt Our Desire for Love and Connection; State Supreme Court Judicial Elections Assume New Importance After Dobbs Ruling; Bill Allowing a Woman to Sue Someone for Getting Her Pregnant Gets Conservative Christian Group’s Backing (and more)
A Good Faith Response to SCOTUS EPA Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court decided against the EPA in ‘West Virginia v. The Environmental Protection Agency.’ What is a good faith response not only to the ruling but also to the existential threat of climate change?
Faith Seeking Understanding | How We Talk About Choice
I knew of the word “virgin” before I knew what it meant, but I knew it was an important piece of the Christian narrative. That set a precedent that needs to be questioned and changed.
Fewer U.S. Adults View Bible as ‘Actual Word of God’
The number of U.S. adults who say the Bible is the “actual word of God, to be taken literally” reached an all-time low in 2022, according to a Gallup report. The number who say the Bible is an ancient book of fables reached an all-time high.
July 8, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: SCOTUS Justices ‘Prayed With’ Her – Then Cited Her Bosses to End Roe; In One North Carolina Town, Churches Come Together to Address Gun Violence; Latest from Mormon Land: Will Abortion and Same-Sex Marriage be Polarizing in the Pews?; Yosemite National Park: Here I am in Church Again (and more)
Is Abortion a Theological Dilemma?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in ‘Dobbs v. Jackson’ has evoked wide-ranging emotions. Is abortion a theological dilemma? If so, how can Christian theology help us know what to do?
‘Sawubona’ and Learning to Truly See People
The most common greeting in the Zulu tribe is ‘Sawubona’: “I see you; we see you.” It’s a way to make the other person visible and to accept them as they are with their virtues, nuances and flaws.
U.S. Confidence in Church, Organized Religion Declines
Less than one third of U.S. adults expressed confidence in church or organized religion, according to a Gallup report. While not the lowest level in polling history, it is a six-point drop from 2021.
July 7, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Christian Fascist Theology is all Over TikTok; The Myth at the Heart of the Praying Coach Case; Tennessee Republican Governor Silent as Ultra-Conservative Charter School Peddler Calls Public Education a ‘Plague’ and School Teachers ‘Dumb’; More People Than Ever See Bible as ‘Fables’ Than ‘Actual Word of God’, US Poll Finds (and more)
Mixed Messages
A sign on a local store during a recent vacation offered an amusing mixed message. This brought to mind an abundance of mixed messaging both within the U.S. and across the world.
Pandemic Significantly Increased Learning Poverty
Learning poverty has increased by one-third in low- and middle-income countries, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a World Bank report. In addition, new data reveals that learning poverty was underestimated prior to the pandemic.
Nearly One in Five Say Lack of DEI a Common Problem in Houses of Worship
Nearly one in five adults in both the United States and Canada say that a lack of diversity, equity and inclusion is a “common problem” in houses of faith, according to a new report.
July 6, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Christian Nationalists are Excited About What Comes Next; He’s on a Mission from an Authoritarian God: Pennsylvania GOP Candidate Doug Mastriano’s War With the World (and more)
A Heart for the World
In the wake of the U.S. celebrating its independence, Christians must remember that we are called to proclaim an inclusive message to the entire world. Our highest loyalty is first and foremost to Jesus Christ.
SCOTUS Ruling Could Allow Insurers to Offload Patients
In addition to worrying about the inflation of everything from groceries to health care expenses, a recent Supreme Court ruling offers a new area of concern — the possibility of private insurers pushing customers off their plans and onto Medicare.
U.S. Catholics Not Significantly Influenced by Church Leaders on Social, Political Issues
The political views and position on social issues for most U.S. Catholics are not significantly influenced by church leadership or official doctrine, a report found.
July 5, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Roe is Over. Prison Sentences Are on the Way.; Myths About Abortion and Women’s Mental Health are Widespread, Experts Say; In the Dobbs Supreme Court Abortion Decision, These Untruths are Self-Evident (and more)
One Nation … Under God?
The U.S. Pledge of Allegiance has included a controversial clause, “under God,” since 1954. Much debated and litigated, do the lectionary texts for July 3, 2022, offer insight into what that phrase might mean for people of faith?
Faith Groups React to SCOTUS Ruling on ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy
The Migrant Protection Protocols can be terminated, according to a June 30 ruling from the Supreme Court of the U.S. in ‘Biden v. Texas.’ Several faith leaders and organizations offered statements following the decision.