Recent Articles
US Child Well-Being Improves Overall; Racial Inequities Remain
The well-being of U.S. children continues to improve by most measures, a new report said. However, ‘the nation’s racial inequities remain deep, systemic and stubbornly persistent,’ the report cautioned.
July 15, 2020
Today’s curated news stories include articles about white Christians and racism, Republican Christians’ charges that Trump is using Christians to further his own purposes, and new scholarship about the Dead Sea Scrolls.
When You Overgeneralize Generations, You Miss Major Nuances
Paying attention to generational tendencies is good. However, it is wise not to overgeneralize various generations. Not all older adults are wise, for example; just look at the fear-based nonsense many of them share on Facebook.
Building Off-Ramps to Avoid Divisive Internet Rants – Part 2
History feels frightening right now to many white people. They’re afraid of what they’re just beginning to know. Our job is to take some risks, redirect our own internet ranting and build off-ramps for those willing to take them.
Strong Majority in US Wants Policing Reform Measures
A majority of the U.S. public supports many policing reform measures, a report found. Seven out of 10 possible policing reforms in the poll were strongly or somewhat favored by a majority of adults.
July 14, 2020
Today’s curated news headlines include a report on how religion influences happiness, how churches and church groups are now responding to COVID-19, and more.
Building Off-Ramps to Avoid Divisive Internet Rants – Part 1
On social media right now, people of conscience must choose what to ignore, what ethically demands response and what can be constructively engaged. Can we transform pitched battles into off-ramps of constructive engagement?
Baylor Doesn’t Need Commission to Know its Racist History
Acknowledging its link to slavery and the Confederacy, Baylor University’s board of regents announced it will form a Commission on Historic Campus Representations, but Baylor doesn’t need a commission to know its racist history.
US Divided Along Stark Racial Lines on Monument Removal
The U.S. is divided along racial lines regarding the removal of monuments and statues linked to slavery, a report found. The differences between Black and white respondents were stark.
July 13, 2020
Today’s curated news headlines explore ‘Whitelash,’ ‘Evangelical Betrayal,’ ‘Persecuted Christian Refugees’ and more.
How Seminaries Could Heal Racism Except for This Roadblock
Seminaries could make positive changes to the racial divide in the church, which could spill over into society. But, as many non-U.S. seminary students learned, the white-led, conservative leadership makes that difficult.
If They Kneel on Necks in Daylight, What’s Going on Elsewhere?
While peacefully protesting corrupt law enforcement is crucial, it’s only part of the racist virus permeating our society. If individuals will display racism in the light, it’s not hard to deduce what is going on in the dark.
More Than 1,000 Faith Leaders Urge Trump to Stop Executions
More than 1,000 faith leaders from multiple traditions signed a statement opposing the federal government’s plan to resume executions. The government plans to execute four death-row inmates scheduled for July and August.
July 10, 2020
Today’s curated headlines feature stories on racism, civil rights and church struggles amid the coronavirus.
5 Reasons We’re Not Your Mascots
Sports mascots and their antics do not honor Native peoples; here are 5 reasons they perpetuate demeaning and dehumanizing stereotypes. We can all enjoy our sporting events, but not at the expense of dehumanizing mascots.
Good Faith Media to Host Series of Forums on Racial Justice
Racial justice will be the focus of a series of Good Faith Forums on the next three Tuesdays in July. Each event will take place at 1 p.m. CDT / 2 p.m. EDT and will be livestreamed to Good Faith Media’s Facebook page.
We Can No Longer Stand on Sidelines of White Privilege
Those of us who are white must recognize our white privilege and do what we can to stand in solidarity with our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers who experience racism. We can no longer stand on the sidelines.
July 9, 2020
In today’s curated news headlines the Supreme Court allows businesses and religious schools to discriminate against employees, churches are identified as a major source of the coronavirus, and almost all Americans agree that racism and police brutality are a problem.
Could it Be the Last Days?
With the coronavirus pandemic raging, could we be in the last days? Some may wonder but I rarely think about the last days before Jesus comes. He said no one would know when, and that’s good enough for me.
When Your Trauma Triggers Itself into Vivid Remembrance
Trauma makes its mark on us. Pressing on the trigger point can bring it back in vivid recall. If childhood traumas stay with us into adulthood, how much more other traumas? Trauma felt by one generation can leave its mark upon the next.
Reaction and Response: US Says More Immigration, Not Less for 1st Time
A higher percentage of the US public wants to see more immigration than those who desire to see less for the first time in polling history, Gallup says. Among respondents, 34% favor more, 28% less and 36% say stay the same.
July 8, 2020
Today’s curated news stories collectively explore the challenging dynamics of church life during the current, and largest, surge of the coronavirus in the United States.
With Skill and Care, Clemons’ Pastoral Touch was Deep, Wide
Hardy Clemons was known as a ‘pastor to me’ to those who knew him. Before his death on July 1, he shared about coming to terms with grief, which he learned on a personal level after his wife of 57 years died following Alzheimer’s.
The Problem When Your Pastor (Only) Preaches the Gospel
My white conservative friends say we don’t need to talk about race to bring about racial reconciliation. We need to talk more about the gospel, they say. But the gospel is not about leaving earth but serving people here and now.
3 Ways Trump Undermines Separation of Church and State
President Trump wants to repeal an amendment, which keeps nonprofit groups from involvement in partisan politics at the risk of losing their tax-exempt status. Here are 3 ways Trump is already acting as if the law is already repealed.
July 7, 2020
Today’s curated news headlines include: Jesus and masks, an ongoing dive into racism and responses, White House defense of the Confederate flag, and hunger amid the pandemic.
July 6, 2020
Today’s curated news headlines include insights into systemic racism, a remembrance of a famous Frederick Douglass speech, and the passing of Hardy Clemons.
Good Faith Media for When You Feel ‘Apart’ from Family of God
After watching churches ignore or initiate injustices, I didn’t feel a part of the family of God. I felt more like I was apart from the family of God. Today, I’m glad to have made the wonderful discovery of Good Faith Media.
3 Steps to Counter Dubious Roots of White Evangelicalism
White evangelicalism has some dubious roots. These include accommodating hyperpartisan politics and allowing uncritical patriotism to creep into its churches. Here are 3 ways to reckon with these and other questionable roots.
Support for Capital Punishment Reaches Another All-Time Low
The number of U.S. adults who believe capital punishment is morally acceptable is at an all-time low, Gallup says. A slim majority, 54%, now believe the death penalty is “morally acceptable.”