Recent Articles
‘The Whale’: Movie Review
Studio A24 is known for making offbeat, even weird movies. Director Darren Aronofsky does also. They paired up in the making of “The Whale,” but the film they have produced is not offbeat or weird.
January 13, 2023
$2.5M Grant Will Study Religion in Mississippi and Restore Historic Black Church; Tech Gets Religion on AI: Inside the Vatican Summit with Islamic and Jewish Leaders, Microsoft and IBM; Indigenous Artist Featured at Super Bowl for First Time (and more)
Lincoln Lessons: Candles in the Window
The warm glow of candles emanating from the windows of New England homes has been a welcome sight each night, as Missy and I spend the month of January in Vermont, serving the United Church of Lincoln.
How MLK’s Pastoral Ministry Shaped His Civil Rights Work
Martin Luther King Jr. was first and foremost a pastor. No matter how much King’s audience grew, or civil rights work called, he always found his way home to regularly preach to his people.
A Terrorist by Any Other Name
To walk into a house of worship – regardless of the faith tradition of the congregation – and shoot unarmed believers is an act of terror. And yet, there are those who would praise such terrorists.
January 12, 2023
Martin Luther King III and His Family Share Reading List to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Church and State Mingle at Sarah Hucklebee Sanders’ Inauguration Service; Church of England Says it Knew of Slavery Links; Sets Up Fund to Address ‘Shameful’ Past (and more)
Martin Luther King Jr.: An Exemplar of Prophetic Citizenship
As the world commemorates MLK’s January 15 birthday, politicians, business leaders, educators, theologians, activists and students should reflect on the meaning of King’s life. I am glad to join that effort.
Pandemic Lessons: Macro- and Micro-Planning Is Essential
COVID-19 took the world by surprise, with the U.S. repeating many of the same mistakes it made during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Governments and individuals must formulate plans now to better respond to future disasters and pandemics.
Reaction and Response: The Changing Landscape of U.S. Religious Service Attendance
Most U.S. adults attended a religious service weekly or almost every week as children but less than one third do so as adults, according to a Gallup report. We asked several faith leaders to share their thoughts on this trend.
January 11, 2023
Oklahoma’s Endorsement of Religious Charter Schools Could Alter Legal Landscape for Choice; South Carolina’s Largest UMC Church Set to Leave Denomination; Israel’s Changing Demographics Show Far-Right Rule is Here to Stay (and more)
Six Concepts for Better Understanding Broader Issues Today
Defensiveness often accompanies being proven wrong, as many prefer comfortable untruth to uncomfortable truth. Many Americanized Christians, in particular, seem to be on the defensive against any criticism.
We Shall Overcome: Reviewing the Concept, Refocusing the Vision, Revisiting the Strategy
“We shall overcome…” became a rallying cry, motivator and impetus for the ’60s civil rights movement. As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, let’s review the concept, refocus the vision and revisit the strategy.
U.S. Adults: Antisemitism Has Increased in Recent Years
Half of the U.S. says that antisemitism has increased in the last few years, according to a You Gov / The Economist report. Nearly two-thirds of adults feel that Jewish people face a great deal / moderate amount of discrimination in the U.S.
January 10, 2022
Abortion in America: How Access and Attitudes Have Changed Through the Centuries; Mt. Airy Church Opens 24/7 Outdoor Food Pantry for Community; What These 14 Religions Believe About God, in Photos; Jerusalem’s 2,000 Year-Old Pilgrimage Road Preparing for Modern Revival (and more)
Democracy Dies When Citizens Fall Silent
The final report from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection has been released. Trump and his allies have decried the committee, but we saw the violence. Will we speak the truth or fall silent?
Good Faith Advocates Program Launches at Good Faith Media
Good Faith Advocates is a new advocacy and action network created by Good Faith Media. Good Faith Advocates are people committed to GFM’s mission and to helping the organization further its reach and impact.
Religious Trends Nationwide Not Reflected in 118th U.S. Congress
A declining percentage of the U.S. population identifies as Christian, and an increasing number are not affiliated with any religious tradition. A Pew report reveals that these changes are not reflected in the 118th Congress.
January 9, 2023
Faith Leaders Say Report by January 6 Committee Minimizes Central Role of Christian Nationalism; Christian Nationalists Raise Millions to Rebrand January 6 Terrorists as ‘Patriots’; A First for Reclaimed Kyiv Cathedral: Christmas in Ukrainian; As Biden Visits El Paso on Sunday, Migrants Flock to Church for Solace and Protection (and more)
Why I Spent a Christmas Eve in a Hot Pink Room
I begrudgingly left home in the dark on Christmas Eve because I had made a promise to a very lonely woman. Sitting in a completely hot pink room felt strange, but God was certainly present.
Is There a War on Epiphany?
A “war on Christmas” has been posited by politically conservative commentators for the past few decades. This claim has diminished recently, but I wonder if what we’re actually facing is a war on epiphany.
Three Resolutions for a New Year
Many of us make resolutions at the start of a new year. So, let me propose three that move beyond goals typically found on such lists.
January 6, 2023
An Image of the Prophet Muhammad Ignites an Academic Storm; The Breakup of the United Methodist Church; Prayers for Damar Hamlin Show Bond Between Football and Faith; Catholic Church Mixes Ancient Rituals and New Precedents in Historic Ceremony (and more)
Lincoln Lessons: The General Store
Missy and I are living in Lincoln, Vermont, during the month of January, while I serve as the guest pulpit minister of the United Church of Lincoln. I’ll be sharing about our experiences and lessons throughout our time.
Bringing Freedom to the Captives
Human trafficking is big business, and it is happening all around us – sometimes hidden in plain sight. Let’s work to bring freedom to the captives and release all of us from the darkness of human trafficking.
How Two SCOTUS Cases Could Strengthen White Affirmative Action
Affirmative action has always existed, but it favored white, euroamericans until the 1960s. Two cases currently before the Supreme Court could revive and strengthen white affirmative action.
January 5, 2023
Congress Remains Far More Christian than the Country; Shawnee Tribe Asks to Take Over Former Boarding School in Kansas; Faith Leaders Urge Passage of Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Ahead of Vote; White Contractors Wouldn’t Remove Confederate Statues. So a Black Man Did It. (and more)
A Good Man Is Hard to Lose
We put a good man in the ground last week, or at least, the shell he last inhabited. He wasn’t the only good man I knew, but the only one I called Daddy.
To Address Sex Trafficking, We Must Reduce Demand
Sex trafficking operates on a market system. Where there is demand for commercial sex, traffickers capitalize on the opportunity to make an astronomical profit. So, how do we reduce demand?
All the Gifts: A Reflection on 2022
I’m sick of hearing about New Year’s resolutions, so as I begin 2023, I hereby refuse to make any. But thinking back on 2022, I’m struck by all the gifts that this past year provided.
January 4, 2023
Wilmington Church Hosts Gullah Geechee Watch Night and Emancipation Day Celebration; Staten Islanders Celebrate Kwanzaa at Fellowship Baptist Church; Benedict Leaves German Homeland with Complicated Legacy (and more)