Recent Articles
SCOTUS Ruling Erodes Church-State Separation in Public Schools
No student should ever be made to feel excluded in school. Yet, the Kennedy v. Bremerton SCOTUS ruling could result in students feeling pressured to participate in religious expressions that do not reflect their beliefs.
August 19, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Christian Right Plots How to Avenge the FBI Raid at Trump’s Mar a Lago; A Texas Coffee Shop Owner is Giving Away Plan B for Free as Fight Over Contraception Access Takes Hold; Oil’s New Bible-Thumping, Bible-Bashing, Texas Billionaire; Christian Parenting Blogger Chose Honesty. Now Fans are Following Her Lead.; Jordan River: Rich in Holiness, Poor in Water (and more)
Lott Carey’s 125th Annual Session
Over 400 disciples met in New Orleans, Louisiana, this week to celebrate the 125th session of the Lott Carey Global Christian Missional Community. Good Faith Media attended the gathering, providing coverage of the event.
Evan Dhu Cameron and the Expansion of Public Education in Oklahoma
Minister Evan Dhu Cameron was the first state superintendent in the newly formed state of Oklahoma. He worked to establish thousands of schools across the state at the expense of taxpayers where all the children could be educated.
#PandemicPastoring Report and Webinar Set for Sept. 1
A webinar focused on the short- and long-term impacts of pastoring through a pandemic will take place on Sept. 1. Produced jointly by Three Minute Ministry Mentor and Good Faith Media, 3MMM founder Eileen Campbell-Reed will host the webinar.
August 18, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Most in Texas Want More Legislation to Address Gun Violence: Poll; Trump’s Ability to Summon Demons Brings the Worst of Religion to Politics, George Pyle Writes; Near Total Abortion Ban Advances in South Carolina; Texas ‘Unwoke’ School District Removing, Reviewing Dozens of Books, Including the Bible (and more)
I Do! I Like Them, Sam-I-Am!
‘Green Eggs and Ham’ by Dr. Seuss came to mind when my wife and I began shifting our diet to most plant-based meals. Here are a few things that I’ve observed and learned through the process.
It Takes a Community
I have worked in public education for over 20 years, and I can say with assurance that improving the outcomes for our nation’s children will take community-wide efforts. Houses of faith can play an important role.
How the Up-Front Contract Can Create Healthier Churches
An “Up-Front Contract,” or UFC, is a mutual agreement between the salesperson and potential client before a meeting is scheduled. Here is how this approach can create healthier churches.
August 17, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: In Drought-Stricken Europe, the Ruins of an 11th-Century Church Have Emerged from a Disappearing Reservoir; Inside Amazing Grace, London’s Mega Church Turned Street Food Mecca; ‘He Reads His Bible Every Day’: Former President Jimmy Carter Makes Rare Appearance Ahead of 98th Birthday (and more)
Do We Really Want God to ‘Lead, Guide and Direct Us’?
Appeals for God to “lead, guide and direct us” were common in the churches of my upbringing – they likely still are in many congregations. But do the petitioners really want such guidance?
Albuquerque Shooting Demonstrates Why We Must Stop ‘Othering’
The Muslim community of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been reeling over the bizarre murders of four male members. This tragedy must be condemned, and we must learn to stop ‘othering’ in the wake of the violence.
Why You Should Send Your Children to Public School
Any time you are quoted on Twitter, you must brace yourself for the subsequent comments. Here is my response to two recent tweets about a statement I made on public education.
August 16, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Religions Have Long Known that Getting Away From it All is Good for the Body, Mind and Spirit; Services at Memphis Area Baptist Churches Continue as DOJ Opens Abuse Probe; Louisville’s Crescent Hills Baptist Church Calls Gay Man as Co-Pastor; and more
Returning to the Baptismal Waters Is Essential to Post-Racial Identity
Reading lists and seminars will not lead us to a post-racial society. It requires the baptismal waters, where Christians are led to die to being self-made by race. No one else can do this work for you.
Religious Liberty in Public Schools Requires Looking out for Students and Teachers
This August brings a new question for public school districts that no one would have predicted a year ago: Can public school teachers lead students in religious exercises?
What Umpiring Baseball Can Teach Us About the Life of Faith
I love baseball for many reasons, which led me to begin umpiring youth baseball games in recent years. A required training for umpires offered guidance that is applicable to the life of faith.
August 15, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Southern Baptist Convention Under Federal Investigation for Sexual Abuse Scandal; Some Survivors of Tops Attack Feel ‘Forgotten’ and Frustrated with Lack of Support; An Ex-Cop and a Preacher Wrestle with America’s Gun Violence; Va. Episcopal Diocese to Spend $10 Million for Reparations. But How? (and more)
People of Good Faith: Preston Clegg
Preston Clegg is pastor of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
When Mourning Comes: 10 Pastoral Observations about Grief
I have walked alongside individuals and families who are dealing with grief for over 40 years. Here are 10 observations I have made about the traits of grief, the grieving process and grieving persons.
Look Back | Toward a Biblically Informed Debate on U.S. Immigration Reform
Immigration is close to my heart and experience because I am the grandson of an undocumented immigrant and migrant workers that carved out a life in the cotton fields of west Texas. Christians must ask the justice question.
August 12, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Teaching Teachers About the Holocaust and its Lessons for Democracy Today; Reagan, Racism, and Transphobia at Colorado Christian University Anti-Abortion Event; Georgia Church Hosting Adaptive Sports, Activities Program for People with Disabilities (and more)
Why Do Christian Nationalists Have to Ruin Everything?
A non-denominational Christian church in Texas performed an unauthorized version of the hit Broadway show Hamilton. The changes they made to several song lyrics are illustrative of how Christian nationalists seek to rewrite U.S. history.
The Benefits of Looking Through a New Lens
A recent invocation grabbed my attention and resonated with me in a new way, leading me to further reflection on a friend’s wedding to her same-sex partner the week prior. We benefit from looking through new lenses sometimes.
Religion, Spirituality Second Most Frequently Read Genre in U.S.
Books on religion and spirituality are the second most frequently read genre among U.S. adults, according to a new YouGov survey. Mystery and crime books are most frequently read.
August 11, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: ‘Primary Suspect’ Charged in Killings of Muslim Men in Albuquerque, Motive Still Unknown; Anglican Division Over Scripture and Sexuality Heads South; (Christianity Today)
Mark Wingfield: Where are the Women on the SBC’s First and Second Sexual Abuse Task Forces? (and more)
Faith Seeking Understanding | ‘Little Miss’ Memes and ‘Biblical Womanhood’
As I approach my 40th birthday, I’ve reflected on what I was taught about human sexuality and so-called ‘biblical womanhood.’ The ‘Little Miss’ memes circulating on social media offer a playful means to deconstruct this flawed thinking.
Could New Medical Technology Resurrect the Dead?
Researchers from Yale University have partially revived dead pigs, according to a peer-reviewed study published in Nature on August 3, 2022. What does this mean for our understanding of death and dying?
Both Open- and Close-mindedness Increase in U.S.
The number of U.S. adults who are open to new ideas has increased since 2015, according to a new report from Barna Group published July 20. But so too has those who feel threatened by those who disagree with them.
August 10, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: More than 30 Christian Church Leaders in SC Call for the State to Keep Abortion Legal. Here’s Why.; In Depth Look at Hate Crimes in Western Massachusetts (WWLP Springfield / MSN)
Texas Church’s Unauthorized, Altered ‘Hamilton’ is Followed by Sermon Comparing Homosexuality to Addiction (and more)