Brian Bantum
Living by kinship, not consumption
When I’m tempted to click “Add to cart,” I hear creation groaning.
Living by kinship, not consumption
When I’m tempted to click “Add to cart,” I hear creation groaning.
Catharsis at church
The book of Ezra helped me realize how bad most congregations are at handling big emotions.
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.
A gospel that admits it’s a false prophecy
One of the most fascinating texts from early modern Europe is the Gospel of Barnabas.
Compassion makes us human
When we fail to be compassionate, the refrain “Well, we’re only human” is exactly wrong.
My retirement to-do list
Several times a day I need to tell myself: I am not busy. I am not in a hurry.
The brine of Christianity
I don’t go to church anymore, but the faith I was pickled in still shapes me.
A poet’s truth at the graveside
At the interment, the holy words I needed to hear weren’t from the Bible.
Each of my dyings
I’m in a stage of life where I find myself praying the same prayer again and again.
Necessary, not good
Affirmative action is important. It’s also based on a lie.
Nonviolent crisis response in my city
I wish Durham’s HEART program had existed when my friend Joe was killed.
Choosing solidarity with God
In a sense, I am asking my parishioners the same thing John Wesley asked: Are you going on?