Church
The complicated women of mainline Protestantism
Margaret Bendroth tells the stories of mid-20th century women who fought patriarchy from within the church.
Catharsis at church
The book of Ezra helped me realize how bad most congregations are at handling big emotions.
A better response to the decline of the Christian West
Some fight to preserve what is fading. Michel de Certeau shows how this is an enormous theological error.
Honoring the mothers of environmental justice
Dollie Burwell and Hazel Johnson have been under-recognized in environmental studies—and relegated to mere footnotes in church history.
Anorexia in the communion line
As I stealthily slipped the body of Christ into my pocket, I prayed that no one was watching.
As a pastor, it’s my job to pay attention
In the Mennonite tradition, we are all priests. But I still have a particular role to play.
September 10, Ordinary 23A (Matthew 18:15–20)
The only place in the Gospels where Jesus says anything about the church is Matthew 18—and not insignificantly, he brings it up in terms of conflict management.
Prayers rising past the immanent frame
Charles Taylor helps me understand my church’s architecture—and my own struggles with faith.
Choosing solidarity with God
In a sense, I am asking my parishioners the same thing John Wesley asked: Are you going on?
Karen Brummund’s Performing Harmony
As part of a spring 2023 residency sponsored by the Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts, Alabama artist Karen Brummund worked closely with the people of Grace Churc...
The gates of evangelicalism
Isaac Sharp traces the story of the groups that find themselves outside, pushed there by the conservative White men standing guard.
August 20, Ordinary 20A (Genesis 45:1–15; Psalm 133)
The challenges to unity are great. The reward of unity is tremendous.
My UCC church’s listening experiment with our evangelical neighbors
I hoped our shared faith would provide enough common ground. I was a bit naive.
Discerning the body
Bodies get sick. What becomes of a church body when we enact unity at the table while ignoring our brokenness?
Preservation of church and planet
“The least green thing,” says Bob Jaeger of Partners for Sacred Places, “is to tear down and replace the building.”