by Merianna Harrelson | Feb 21, 2018 | Opinion
“You’re a what?” “I’m a pastor,” I responded to the blank stare of a woman who lived in my neighborhood. After 30 seconds of dead silence, I said, “I’m a preacher.” I concluded trying to connect to her. “I...
by Merianna Harrelson | Feb 6, 2018 | Opinion
The biblical texts related to unclean or evil spirits, like a recent lectionary gospel passage from Mark 1:21-28, are often avoided. Yet, it’s important for us to spend some time discussing and reflecting on these passages because we are not comfortable with the...
by Merianna Harrelson | Jan 17, 2018 | Opinion
I didn’t realize it was strange to some Christians to clap in the middle of a worship service until I was 20. Clapping was an expression of gratitude common in worship services I attended as a child, especially at Christmas and Easter. I always understood the...
by Merianna Harrelson | Nov 30, 2017 | Opinion
I’ve heard the cries of some U.S. evangelicals claiming they are in the midst of persecution. I don’t pretend to know exactly what another person is going through, but I wonder if what they are experiencing is not persecution but accountability. Not one of...
by Merianna Harrelson | Nov 20, 2017 | Opinion
The #metoo campaign has died down, but it has stayed with me. My stories, the stories I’ve read and the stories I’ve heard from people who weren’t ready to share their stories in a public forum all continue to whisper through my thoughts. The ones...
