Yes, AND: The Gospel of Tina Fey for Congregational Transformation
It’s been about 6 months now since Foothills adopted an “Open and Affirming” mission. As we close in on Easter, I’m reflecting on how it’s changed us, and also, the truths of transformation that we...
View ArticleConfession: Progressive Christians Love the Bible, Too
It occurs to me that I should never be famous. Not that i was ever in much danger of that…i’m just thinking that i should avoid it at all costs now, because I am still experiencing ‘feedback fatigue’...
View ArticleIf You’re Still Saying “Lifestyle,” We’ve Still Got a Problem…
Music, diet, geography, recreation, spending habits, technology, wardrobe, living space…This is a lifestyle. And each of us can choose a combination of things that give us life, or enter into a pattern...
View ArticleThe Risk of Relationship
A follow-up to yesterday’s discussion re: “Moral Compromise.” We are talking about the beginnings of transformation. The sharing of real stories, real relationships; engaging open discourse and...
View ArticleThe Trouble With Your “Lifestyle”
I’m going to say a thing. Stop me if you’ve heard it: “Just because I don’t accept someone’s lifestyle, doesn’t mean that I hate them!” I’ve heard it before. So have you. If nowhere else, you’ve seen...
View ArticleHead and Heart
When a church is dying, The Body wants to know why. When people are leaving (or just not coming), when no new programs emerge, when there’s no money for outreach, and no passion for mission, we start...
View ArticleFreedom Within, Freedom Without
As is so often the case… I was late to the party. The virtual wake for Will D. Campbell, that is. When he passed away earlier this week, my newsfeed filled up quickly with articles about his life and...
View ArticleThe Missing Flag
So, I know this guy, and he’s pretty amazing. I wish I could give you a long bio and a pic to go with this wonderful post, but he isn’t ready to be quite so ‘out’ yet, and I respect that. Here’s all...
View ArticleA Bully is a Bully
Today millions of people are wearing (or facebook posting) purple, in support of GLAAD’S “Stand up Against Bullying” effort. More and more folks are getting on the ‘stand up to meanies’ of band wagons...
View ArticleThe Real War on Marriage
I know, I know. I just wrote a piece on marriage. However—it got heavy traffic, which tells me that marriage is on many people’s minds, a lot of the time. And it’s on mine again today. So, here you go....
View ArticleRed Tape at the Table
Picture this: a devout woman, active in her local parish, has been denied communion for years, because her husband (not her) has been previously married. Therefore, her marriage is not considered legit...
View ArticleFrom the Crowd to the Cross: On Palm Sunday, Politics, and Religious Liberty
Palm Sunday–the gateway to Holy Week. Which is not only deeply sacred and important and full of all the meaning and all the feelings… but also the busiest week of the year for church folks. Dust the...
View ArticleHoly Edges: 10 Things to Preach if Your Church is Divided on Gay Marriage
It’s going to be a great day at my church tomorrow. My congregation has been open and affirming since before that was a thing. So at our place, the news of the SCOTUS ruling on gay marriage will be met...
View ArticleHanding Hate the Microphone
Kansas legislators recently introduced a measure that would require transgender students (at public schools and universities) to use the restrooms corresponding to their gender-at-birth. Other states...
View ArticleLace Up, and Go Care for the Wounded
A sad truth for today: I have maybe the best, most timely and important post of my blogging tenure… and I can’t publish it. It’s not my story to tell. It’s a word from a good friend of mine, a...
View ArticleKansas ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill Hurts Children and the Economy
Kansas lawmakers are trying to push through a bill that would allow adoption and foster care organizations to refuse placement with same-sex parents. Passage will increase the number of children in the...
View ArticleIt Was Never About the Cake: A ‘Narrow’ Ruling, and a Love Note for PRIDE Month
It’s not about the cake. It was never about the cake. And yet, here we are. Still talking about cake. The headlines mostly read like this: “In Narrow Decision, Supreme Court Decides In Favor Of Baker...
View ArticleAfter the Flood
this rusty relic when it has finally good and washed away on the waves of its children leaving its last hope of resurrection spent on an overhead projector and a damned outside consultant with a damned...
View ArticleThe Church and Trending Homophobia: What Are We Afraid Of?
Stop me if you’ve heard it: A Catholic school in a suburb of Kansas City (about five minutes from where I lived previously) denied entrance to a KINDERGARTNER because the student’s parents were gay. I...
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