Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
May 29, 2019
The Preachers Getting Rich from Poor Americans (BBC) Jury Sentences Tennessee Church Shooter to Life Without Parole (The Tennessean) Supreme Court Leaves Intact Block on Indiana Abortion Restriction, But Allows Fetal...
Are We Due for a Sequel to Bible’s ‘Thou Art the Man’ Moment?
We’re familiar with the biblical record of Nathan’s confrontation of King David and his abuse of power. But what about the subjects of David, who enabled his abusive behavior for their own goals? Imagine the sequel.
‘God of Violence Yesterday, God of Love Today?’
Why does so much violence exist in the Old Testament if God is a loving god? There’s no easy answer, but one author attempts to show how belief in a good God is not incompatible with reading the Old Testament.
Southern Baptist Churches Decline in Most Areas, Save Giving
Nationally, Southern Baptist churches had nearly 200,000 fewer members in 2018, a 1.28% dip that sent total membership below 15 million. Overall, the convention saw declines in most areas it measures, except for giving.
May 28, 2019
Franklin Graham Announces ‘Special Day of Prayer’ Against Enemies of President Donald Trump (Christian Post) Maine Bars Residents for Opting Out of Immunizations for Religious or Philosophical Reasons (CNN) Minister...
May 27, 2019
Christian Rightwingers Warn Abortion Fight Could US Civil War (The Guardian) Polls: 12 Percent of Americans Support New Laws Promoting Bible in Public Schools (The Hill) Owners of a Noah’s Ark Replica File a Lawsuit...
How to Make Your Church Safe for the LGBTQ+ Community
Bad theology is killing people, and it must stop. LGBTQ youth, for example, who grew up in a faith community are more likely to take their lives than those who have not. Churches must be fully welcoming and affirming.
Why Your Church Must Be a Place of ‘Inconceivable’ Inclusivity
Although many churches claim to be diverse while welcoming LGBTQ+ folks into the church, they do not provide the same opportunities for leadership and participation as they do for straight and cisgender members. Inconceivable!
Look Back | Unsafe Harbors for Gay Church Members
With certain state Baptist conventions rushing to exclude people, gay church members are forced to live a lie about their sexual orientation in order for the church to accept them. Others just walk away. There’s no safe harbor.
May 24, 2019
How the Fight for Religious Freedom Has Fallen Victim to the Culture Wars (National Public Radio) Waco’s University Same-Sex Church to Allow Same-Sex Weddings (Baptist Standard) Southern Baptists See 12th Year of...
Self-victimization is a false witness — and rather pitiful too
By John D. Pierce It is simply impossible to love others as oneself, to fully empathize with those who truly suffer, and to do all the things Jesus called his followers to do while holding a false sense of...
My Journey to Full Inclusion of LGBTQ Christians
I have come to the conclusion that the church should not hinder LGBTQ Christians from full inclusion into the body as God made them. However, I have not always held this conviction. Here’s my journey.
Why Your Church Should Cultivate Their Queer Imagination
As an ordained minister, being queer is a gift to me. And queer folks are a gift to churches. Churches that cut themselves off from the potential of learning queer lessons diminish their capacity to experience the sacred.
Finding Common Ground Amid Contentious Debates
Taking on some of the most difficult issues between LGBT rights and some faith communities, a new book helps frame civil dialogue and finds guiding principles to mediate conflicts.
May 23, 2019
The Debate Grows Over What Religious Freedom Means (National Public Radio) FBI Presents Award to Baptist Church for Fighting Against Human Trafficking (Faithwire) Jennifer Rubin: Overwhelming Support for Roe v Wade...
From mountains to museums … to home
Some folks might wonder why I keep posting blogs cataloging each tour group I take to Israel, the West Bank, and occasionally Jordan: I've done it (you can look them up!) in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and this...
When You Need Christ’s Love, Leave It to The Samaritans
I was raped my freshman year at Baylor University. With my life turned upside down, the efforts of the religious community were fruitless. Instead, the Good Samaritans in my life, many of them gay or bisexual, modeled Christ’s love.
Why Church Volunteers Need Training to Work with Transgender Youth
Youth hockey leagues in Canada train their adult volunteers how to work with transgender and gender nonconforming kids. Why can’t church volunteers learn similar lessons to use in the youth room or the Sunday School classroom?
U.S. Protestants’ Views Mixed about Extent of Clergy Sexual Abuse
Even while they believe their own churches would respond appropriately to allegations of sexual abuse by clergy, U.S. Protestants had mixed views about the extent of sexual abuse by clergy in local congregations.
May 22, 2019
Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse Perceptions Studied by LifeWay Research (Baptist Press) They Hoped the Catholic Church Would Reveal Their Accusers. They are Still Waiting (New York Times) A Florida Evangelical Church...
Unsure About Accepting LGBTQ Folks? God Gave You the Keys
Many churches are still hesitant to become inclusive communities with regard to LGBTQ persons. Repeatedly in Scripture, God’s people changed the rules in favor of love. If your church needs permission, Jesus has given you the keys.