Recent Articles
How Minds and Hearts Change: 10 Steps in My Journey Toward Full LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Part 4
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.
Republicans, Weekly Churchgoers Outliers in Same-Sex Marriage Views
Most U.S. adults support the legalization of same-sex marriage, according to a Gallup report published June 5. Only two groups included in the report did not have majority support.
June 15, 2023
Here’s How a $1 Deal Saved a Stunning N.J. Church from the Wrecking Ball; Pittsburgh Synagogue Trial is Proving the Obvious, but Ultimately Focused on the Death Penalty; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Woos GOP Christian Voters but Stays Tight-Lipped on His Own Catholic Faith (Kansas City Star)
Northern Alberta Church Celebrates Commitment to LGBTQ+ Community (and more)
How Minds and Hearts Change: 10 Steps in My Journey Toward Full LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Part 3
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.
A Decentered Self: Where Religious Traditions Intersect
Is there something that grounds the ethical similarities between faith traditions? There are too many significant differences to say that they are different paths up the same mountain, but there are also foundational concepts they share.
U.S. Deaths from Alcohol, Drugs and Suicide Reach All-Time High
Deaths in the United States related to alcohol, drugs and suicide hit an all-time high in 2021, according to a report from Trust for America’s health. While COVID-19 is a contributing factor, this increase is part of a two-decade-long trend.
Bill Gothard, Unheeded Warnings and ‘Shiny Happy People’
A new docuseries from Amazon Prime Video reveals the influence of Bill Gothard and his Institute in Basic Life Principles. I was among many in the ’80s and ’90s sounding the alarm about his teachings. Tragically, our warnings went unheeded.
A Place Where Culturally Authentic Faith Expressions Are Unmatched
My family and I joined more than 180 others who traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, from all corners of the globe. We came to engage in good work and play at the intersection of Indigeneity and theology.
How Minds and Hearts Change: 10 Steps in My Journey Toward Full LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Part 2
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 13, 2023
Here’s How a $1 Deal Saved a Stunning N.J. Church from the Wrecking Ball; Pittsburgh Synagogue Trial is Proving the Obvious, but Ultimately Focused on the Death Penalty; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Woos GOP Christian Voters but Stays Tight-Lipped on His Own Catholic Faith (and more)
How Minds and Hearts Change: 10 Steps in My Journey Toward Full LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Part 1
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.
Most Churches Don’t Know How to Treat Victims of Spiritual Abuse
For Christians who have experienced spiritual abuse, the church building may not be a place for healing. Since spiritual abuse creates religious trauma, Christians who use guilt and shame to push them into a pew are not helping.
Protestant Pastors, Non-Christians Hold Diverse Views of Church’s Community Role
Protestant pastors and non-Christians in the U.S. view the role of a church differently, according to a report by Barna Group. Pastors who considered quitting in the past year view evangelism, discipleship efforts differently.
June 12, 2023
Christian Nationalism and Biblical Literalism Independently Predict Conspiracy Thinking, Study Finds; Uganda Now Has the Death Penalty for Certain Same-Sex Acts. Imported US ‘Christian Values’ Accused of Inciting LGBTQ Persecution in Africa; Meet the LGBTQ Activist Who Challenged His Caribbean County’s Anti-Sodomy Law and Won (and more)
In Memory of C. Welton Gaddy
Whoever you are and whatever your spiritual life, however you see the world and whomever you love, Welton Gaddy loved you. Make him your teacher.
An Open Letter, a Docuseries and the Southern Baptist Convention
Saddleback Church in California was removed from SBC membership. Founding pastor Rick Warren penned an open letter to appeal the decision. Reading his letter and watching a docuseries about Bill Gothard’s ideology dovetailed in an interesting way.
SCOTUS Affirms District Court Ruling, Requiring Alabama to Redraw District Maps
The U.S. Supreme Court determined that the State of Alabama must redraw its districting boundaries for the 2022 congressional elections, reaffirming a district court ruling. The 5-4 majority opinion in ‘Allen v. Milligan’ was written by Chief Justice John Roberts.
June 9, 2023
For Many Southern Baptists, the Only Campaign Question is Which Republican to Support; Gay Man Says He Was Kicked Off Baptist World Alliance Commissions; Why You Might Notice More Religious Groups at Pride Celebrations This Year; Ted Cruz is Citing the Bible and Preaching on Twitter in Defense of the LGBT Community, and it’s Quite Something (and more)
Creating a World That Is Safe for All
There is much to celebrate this year during Pride Month. And yet, there is much work still to be done to create a safe world for everyone. It is still dangerous to be visibly queer in this world.
Bella Ball Is GFM’s Intern for Summer 2023
Bella Ball is Good Faith Media’s Ernest C. Hynds Jr. intern for summer 2023. Ball is studying Management Information Systems with a minor in Data Science at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
50m Enslaved Worldwide, Including 12m Children
There were an estimated 50 million people around the world in conditions of forced labor and forced marriage in 2021, according to a report published in late May by Walk Free Foundation.
June 8, 2023
The Duggar Family’s Religion: All About the Controversial Church IBLP; Inside the Fundamentalist Christian Movement that Wants to Remake Canadian Politicians; Oklahoma Approves First Government Funded Religious Charter School in U.S. (and more)
All Human Sexuality Is a Gift From God
Human sexuality is a gift from God. Not just heterosexuality; all sexuality. I wish this was something that I heard when I was a child.
The United States Versus Antisemitism
The long-anticipated National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism was released by the Biden Administration in late May. My hope is that as the White House puts the necessary effort into addressing antisemitism, it will give similar focus to other communities at risk.
June 7, 2023
At This Texas Campus Ministry, ‘Inclusive Love’ is the Mission; Study: 80% of Persons Who Attend Sunday Christian Worship Services ‘Were Raised in a Continuously Married Home with Both Biological Parents’; LGBTQ vs. Religion: How a Gay Guidance Counselor’s Firing Could Effect Millions of Workers (and more)
You’re Not Doing Fine, Oklahoma: The Decision to Fund Private Religious Education
The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted to approve using state funds to support a new Catholic school. This will create the nation’s first religious charter school supported by taxpayer dollars.
Why the Peters Must Repent
Target stores removed some Pride Month merchandise after receiving homophobic threats. While queer folks are used to this betrayal, it still stings and reveals that economics too often takes precedent over moral courage.
The Lies That Bind and Enrich: The Lucrative Marketplace of White Christian Nationalism
White Christian nationalism is nonsense, based on lies and erroneous history. This nonsense has crucified the inclusive Jesus of the biblical Gospels and is still on the verge of destroying our inclusive American democracy.
Stick It Where?
“In God We Trust” now appears on three out of every five cars in Tennessee. This news prompted reflection on religious expression on automobiles.
June 6, 2023
Utah School District Pulls the Bible from Elementary and Middle School Library Shelves Due to Sexually-Explicit Content; NJ Church Erased Medical Debt for 929 Strangers; 16 Migrants Flown from Texas to California on Chartered Jet and Left Outside Church: ‘Immoral and Disgusting’ (and more)