Recent Articles
March 9, 2023
Baptist Joint Committee Gains Faith and Justice Center, Grows Religious Liberty Work; In Florida, Latino Evangelicals Mobilize Against DeSantis’s Crackdown on Immigrants; My Baptist Church Had Men in Drag When I Was a Child. I Wasn’t Traumatized. (and more)
Lenten Lectionary | Expectations and Reality
We can embark out in life with all kinds of dreams and ideals, but the reality of life can seem very different. The lectionary texts for the third Sunday of Lent offer hope and encouragement through God’s faithfulness.
What We Can Do in Remembrance of Her
The work for women’s equality continues but may it be done in memory of the women who inspire us.
What Are the Correct Pronouns for God?
A theological debate is taking place within the Church of England as theologians discuss if they should refer to God in gender-neutral terms. This raises a question about the correct pronouns for God.
March 8, 2023
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Prince of Peace? Christian Nationalists Push Jesus as Military Leader; ‘He Gets Us’ and Sleazy ‘Swift Boat’ Ads Share Central Figure; Archaeological Discovery of Inscription Referencing King Darius of the Bible ‘is not Authentic’ (and more)
Lessons From Playing Flies and Skinners ’Til Dark
I spent much of my youth on makeshift baseball fields, playing pick-up games with neighborhood friends. Thinking back on these days, I recognize several important lessons that we learned informally through these experiences.
Imagine a Gender Equal Baptist World
Imagine a gender equal Baptist world. Now open your eyes and allow me to tell you a story about how it happens.
Half of U.S. Says Religious Leaders Are Moral, One-Third Says Immoral
A majority of U.S. adults affirms that the morality of religious leaders, according to a YouGov report. Yet, nearly one third says religious leaders are immoral.
March 7, 2023
Colorado’s Jews Worry Over Rise in ‘Ancient Disease’ of Antisemitism; Miami Faith Community Strains to Help New Exiles, Immigrants; How an Oklahoma Church Got a Grant to Study the Possibility of Removing Part of Interstate 244 (and more)
When the Church Is Not a Sanctuary for Clergy
Where do you go when the church is not a sanctuary? “Just go to another one” is not the answer.
Building a World, a Church Where We Show up for Everyone
A trip to a soccer tournament reminded me of the need for solidarity for preachers of color, LGBTQ+, and women in ministry. Who you show up for matters.
The One and the Many: Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
One of the most ancient problems in philosophy is the question of “the one and the many” – whether reality is ultimately a unity or a plurality. We might ask the same question regarding the plurality of religious faiths, churches, and forms of worship.
March 6, 2023
Jimmy Carter Embodies the ‘Road Not Taken’ by Many White Evangelical Christians; ‘Take Back What the Devil Stole’: A Black Church Struggles to Find Answers After Fire; God and Pot: Both Sides Sight Faith ink Oklahoma’s Recreational Marijuana Fight (and more)
Conservative Lawmakers, Pro-Life Advocates Call for a ‘Pause’ on Oklahoma Executions
A group of Oklahoma state lawmakers and pro-life advocates gathered to call for a moratorium on the death penalty.
Bring Me Back Again?
A few weeks ago, as the plane landed in Honolulu and I knew I’d have at least an entire year in the islands, I noticed that Keola Beamer’s lyrics aren’t chasing me. I landed, instead, wondering whether you can ever really return home again after having left for so long.
Global Crises Resulting in ‘Explosion of Inequality’
The impacts of climate change and a global pandemic that strained health systems, economies, mental health and family finances had another significant impact: “an explosion of inequality,” according to a new Oxfam International report.
Look Back | Is Racism at Heart of the Disdain for Public Schools?
As slavery was at the heart of the founding of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845, racism was at the heart of the beginnings of the anti-public school movement and the founding of the Christian academies in the 1960s.
March 3, 2023
Many Differences Between Liberals and Conservatives May Boil Down to One Belief ; Push to Require Clergy to Report Abuse Stalls in Mormon Utah; Historian, Former Republican Says Christian Nationalism Threatens Democracy
When Legislators Ignore the Constitution
The State of Oklahoma takes the responsibility of educating all children seriously, as well as providing adequate funding for that purpose. Sounds straightforward, but is it?
Public Schools Ensure a Strong Sense of Community
One of the things that makes America great is our willingness to help each other and support our communities. Whether one acknowledges it or not, we depend on each other in all aspects of life.
Chickens Coming Home to Roost
There have been seventy-seven mass shootings in the U.S. in the first 45 days of 2023. No other advanced economies have seen more than eight over a 22-year period.
March 2, 2023
Outcry After New York Mayor Dismisses Separation of Church and State; How Evangelical Voters Swung from Carter to Trump; Irish Americans’ Connections with Their Heritage Remains Strong Due to Draw of Ireland’s History and Culture (and more)
Wake up and Let Go
Attending chapel at Campbell University Divinity School (CUDS) offers the weekly to hear thought-provoking sermons or lectures, and on occasions when the oration is less than stellar, to admire the impressive “water of life” stained glass window behind the pulpit area. It also got me thinking.
Strong Public Schools Fight Christian Nationalism
As threats to public education proliferate, Public Schools Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate the positive role public schools play in our communities. Attacks on public education are often fueled by Christian nationalism, a political ideology that seeks to merge our American and Christian identities.
Lenten Lectionary| Good News for Those Who Have Trouble Sleeping
I have some good news for you. Staying up late might not be so bad.
March 1, 2023
Jimmy Carter: Family Affair to the White House and Beyond; In Florida, Neighbors Concerned Over Affordable Housing Proposal on Church Land; ‘Our State is at War With Our Family’: Missouri Clergy with Trans Kids Fight Back (and more)
Faith Seeking Understanding | Less Certainty Allows for More Growth
It’s been said that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. A few years back, I added a third: All tours end in the gift shop. Certainty can be helpful to a degree, but negative impacts can result from too much certainty.
How Making Sand Mandalas Is Like Teaching
Sand Mandalas are created by Buddhist monks, taking years of study to learn the technique and process. This process is a lot like teaching students. Here is why.
Emerging Voices | The Man in the Grocery Store: An Unspoken Side of Evangelism
I am an international student from Japan and Korea, and as most East Asian people often do, I needed soy sauce. During my trip to the store, I encountered a man who tried to evangelize me. I was left scared, confused and sad.
February 28, 2023
A Brief History of the Black Church’s Diversity and its Vital Role in American Political History; Measles Case Confirmed in a Person Who Attended Kentucky Spiritual Revival Event; Conservative Christian and Muslim Groups Want Faith Protections Added to LGBTQ Rights Bill (and more)