Recent Articles
Sara Fimmano Is GFM’s Second Intern for Summer 2023
Sara Fimmano is joining Bella Ball as a Good Faith Media’s two Ernest C. Hynds Jr. interns for summer 2023. Fimmano is a student at Belmont University.
Americans More Pessimistic About Morals Than Ever
A majority of U.S. adults expressed pessimism about the nation’s morals for the first time in polling history, according to a Gallup report. More than half in the U.S. believe that America has “poor” moral values.
June 28, 2023
Election Workers in Oregon are Facing Threats and Embarrassments from Christian Nationalists as They Brace for 2024; Walgreens Pharmacist Cites His Religion for Denying a Transgender Man’s Hormone Replacement Needs; What the Titanic Submersible Saga and the Greek Migrant Shipwreck Say About Our Reactions to Tragedy
Walden Pond Is a Lake — and Words Can Be Misleading
What is the difference between a pond and a lake? This question arose following a visit to Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. It reminded me that words matter – particularly how we use them.
Into the Woods and Searching for Hope in Act 2
When all seems lost, it is helpful to remember there is usually more to the story. This is not pollyannish optimism, but it reminds us to look for glimpses of hope as our story continues.
June 27, 2023
How Christian Groups Helped Parents Pull Books from Some Pennsylvania Libraries; He Walked Away from His Evangelical Roots to Escape Feeling Suffocated. And the Wrote a Book About it. ; Former Pennsylvania Church Converted into Home is on the Market for $499,000 (and more)
Just a Reminder: America Never Fully Abolished Slavery
While Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from chattel slavery in the U.S., slavery was never fully abolished.
Caring for Canines and Creation
References to being “at that age” began soon after graduating from college. Many friends are now “at that age” of saying goodbye to their pets. This has led me to reflect on my dog, as well as on caring for canines and creation.
June 26, 2023
His 1956 Complaint About Bible-Reading in School Changed History. He Says Things are Worse Now.; Trump to Christian Nationalists: “Together, we’re warriors in a righteous crusade to stop the arsonists, the atheists, globalists and the Marxists … I’m Being Indicted for You”; Inside the Black Church Fighting for Reparations from California (and more)
‘True Colors: Stories of Baptist Inclusion’ Now Available from Nurturing Faith Books
The beauty of a prism lies in the way it refracts light, revealing the colors that are hidden within it. In much the same way, the contributors to ‘True Colors’ offer a range of experiences around LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Baptist tradition.
Why It’s Time to Shake the Dust From Our Feet and Move On
Responses from the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to reaffirm that women cannot be pastors of SBC churches was met with varying responses. Here is why I refuse to engage in rational dialogue with the SBC any longer.
How a Drag Show Changed My Aversion to Revivals
My aversion to revivals is strong. Despite my own fears around anything called a “revival,” attending a recent drag show / revival has changed my mind.
June 23, 2023
The Woman Who Bought a Mountain for God; Hawley Gets Holy Hell After Juneteenth Claim About Christianity and Slavery; Praise Be to AI: Hundreds Attend Church Services Generated by ChatGPT (and more)
Road Trip Reflections
The Randalls gathered in Hanover, New Hampshire, last week to celebrate my youngest son’s graduation from Dartmouth College. A road trip back to Oklahoma with my son is a memory I’ll never forget.
By the Way | Standing Up for the Y (Chromosome)
Whatever you want to say about Southern Baptists (and yes, there’s a lot to say) they know how to stand up for principles.
June 22, 2023
The Southern Baptist Convention’s Long War for the Patriarchy; Appeals Court Allows Christian-Owned Texas Business Chain to Discriminate Against LGBT Persons; The New Museum at America’s Largest Slave Port Site Also Taps Into a Deeply Rooted Joy (and more)
John D. Pierce to Retire as Executive Editor/Publisher of Good Faith Media
Good Faith Media Executive Editor/Publisher John D. Pierce is set to retire at the end of this year, following more than two decades of expanding and innovating the organization’s flagship publication – Nurturing Faith Journal, formerly Baptists Today.
The Good, the Bad, and the Guilty
A recent visit to the Ocmulguee Mounds National Historical Park near Macon, Georgia, offered an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s history. Perhaps guilt is an essential part of that process in order for hearts and minds to be changed.
June 21, 2023
Topeka Rescue Mission Accepts Gift of Former Baptist Church Valued at $800,000+; Republicans Declare Banning Universal Free School Meals a 2024 Priority; Creation of First Synthetic Human Embryo Raises Ethical Issues
Same Song, Different Verses
Same song, different verses. Different times, different issues. But the same arrogant, self-serving and misguided approach to biblical interpretation. It’s same certainty that leads to cruelty — not in scale but in consistency.
Don’t Miss the Signs
Emily Dickinson advised that we “tell the truth but tell it slant.” Jesus seemed to agree given that he taught so often in parables. Could they both be wrong? Might more forthright truth-telling be necessary?
June 20, 2023
He’s Deeply Religious and a Democrat. He Might be the Next Big Thing in Texas.; DeSantis’ Campaign of Demonizing the Left Poses Grave Danger – Even if He Loses; 16th Century Mexican Church Emerges from the Water Amid Deadly Heatwave
Freedom’s Progress Report
Juneteenth, also known as “Jubilee Day,” celebrates the arrival of Union troops to Galveston Bay, Texas on June 19, 1865, with news that more than a quarter million African Americans were free by executive decree. Now it’s a federal holiday and along with the celebrations, it seems like a good time to report on the progress that freedom has made.
Omens of a Bleak Future
A confluence of events have made visible expression of what I call the ‘hateful faithful.’ People in the United States are not heeding warnings about the dangers of this movement from religious, civil rights and political leaders.
June 19, 2023
As the Nation Celebrates Juneteenth, It’s Time to Get Rid of These Three Myths About Slavery ; Black Catholics Celebrate Juneteenth, Reckon with Church’s History of Slavery; Pence Dodges on Whether to Expel Southern Baptist Churches Led by Women Pastors
New Jersey Faith Groups Call for Community-Based Violence Intervention: Part 2
Faith in New Jersey aims to empower the community. Its leaders have faith in organizing and urge faith leaders to get more involved as part of their prophetic calling.
Movie Review: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is one of the best movies of the year. Entertaining and engaging, the film also raises important questions about fate, destiny, personal volition and free will.
How Minds and Hearts Change: 10 Steps in My Journey Toward Full LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Part 5
This article series details 10 steps in the journey toward my own change of mind and heart – not because it is everybody’s story, but because it might help those whose journey begins in some kind of conservative religious space.
June 16, 2023
A Religious Charter School Faces Pushback from the Charter School Movement Itself; A Massive Leak Spotlights the Extremism of Anti-Trans Medical Group; How Pat Robertson Changed Christian Media and Made it Politically Influential (and more)
New Jersey Faith Groups Call for Community-Based Violence Intervention: Part 1
Equal Justice USA and Faith in New Jersey are calling on clergy to join them on the frontlines to reduce violence and to establish community-based responses to violence that do not rely entirely on police.