Recent Articles
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)
Interrupt History When It Starts to Repeat Itself
When history repeats itself, interrupt it. We’ve heard these stories of injustice before and unless this is a particular favorite of yours, we’ve got to stop police brutality.
What If Jesus Came to the ‘Bible Belt’?
There is a chasm that yawns ever wider between popular evangelical Christianity in the U.S. and the person from whom Christianity got its start all those years ago. One wonders what Jesus would think about the buckle on the Bible Belt if he ever passed along Interstate 20.
June 5, 2023
Carter and the Kings: A Friendship and an Alliance – But After MLK’s Assassination; America’s Christian Leaders Sharply Divided Over Abortion, a Year After Roe v. Wade’s Reversal; How Chick-Fil-A Became a Target for Going ‘Woke’ (CNN)
Thousands Expected for Annual Christian Homeschool Gathering in Colorado (and more)
A Reflection on the Tenth Anniversary of Will D. Campbell’s Death
It’s Will Campbell’s fault I am no longer a pastor. That’s not completely true. Yet, nearly every word he wrote or spoke has shaped my understanding of ministry.
Emerging Voices | How a Railway Warning Applies to Local Churches
Railway passengers often see the warning, “Mind the gap!” in stations. Churches would do well to appropriate this warning as they seek to minister to their congregations.
Wisdom Wherever You Find It | The International Society for the Study of Apologies
Two lifelong friends have formed the International Society for the Study of Apologies. No, it is not a real thing, but their musings provide insight into the nature, and practice, of saying, “I’m sorry.”
June 2, 2023
How Evangelical Christian Writer Jemar Tisby Became a Radioactive Symbol of ‘Wokeness’; The Revolt of the Christian Homeschoolers; A Pillar of Authoritarian President Erdogan’s Victory: Turkey’s Devout Conservative Women (and more)
Dancing Through Life
A dancer in the New York City subway system entertains and inspires passersby. Reading about his art, I began to reflect on the dance of life, which is filled with myriad movements and rhythms.
A Troubling Past and An Equally Troubling Present
A meme started to appear on my social media toward the end of April. It simply read “may she rot in Hell.” It took me a few minutes to realize it was referring to Carolyn Bryant whose false accusation against Emmett Till led to his death.
How the Free Mom Hugs Movement Was Born
Sara Cunningham’s journey that resulted in the Free Mom Hugs movement was a long process of reconsidering long-held beliefs about what the Bible says about human sexuality. Here is part of her story.
June 1, 2023
Republican Bill in Michigan House Would Mandate Teaching about ‘Christian Foundations’ of U.S.; South Carolina Tried to Ban Abortions After 6 Weeks of Pregnancy – But Every Woman in the State Senate Voted Against It; Jewish Activists Protest Pentecost Event in Jerusalem; Deputy Mayor Calls Christianity a ‘Cult’ (and more)
The Cultural Context Too Obvious to Ignore
The focus on church conversations has largely been on how to reengage members following the COVID-19 pandemic. While understandable, churches are also facing another reality that is something less comfortable to talk about above a whisper.
Support for LGBTQ+ Non-Profits Small But Growing
LGBTQ+ non-profits in the U.S. receive less than 1% of all charitable contributions, according to a report published by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. However, financial support has grown in recent years.
Few U.S. Protestant Churchgoers Volunteer in the Community
Less than one third of U.S. Protestant churchgoers do any volunteer work, even though a majority say they want to do so, according to a Lifeway Research report. Evangelism is a key motivation in the desire to volunteer.