Moral leadership, social change, and the common good
“They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 6:14, NRSV Distrust. Acrimony. Abuse. Division. This is the current state of The United Methodist Church. Yet, amid all of this, I heard my bishop “calling the church to be united in love.” Hours later, the Eastern … Read more
dis·so·lu·tion /ˌdisəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/ noun. 1. the closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body. In a previous post, I explored the possibility that General Conference might not ever meet again. I am not the first to raise this possibility. Indeed, more than a few other church leaders and scholars have called for the … Read more
United Methodists are facing the very real possibility that General Conference will not meet in 2021, as scheduled. David Scott has explored the near-term implications, examining denominational division in one post and budgets, boards, and bishops in another. Here, I explore the question, What would happen to The United Methodist Church (UMC) if General Conference … Read more
Liberating the Politics of Jesus virtual book launch, Monday September 28. Join us for a conversation tackling antiracism, politics, and faith with Dr. Darryl Stephens and Dr. Elizabeth Soto-Albrecht on Monday, Sept, 28 at 7pm EDT via Zoom. Associate Pastor Liz Fulmer be interviewing these local authors on their new book, Liberating the Politics of … Read more
Should public schools institute widespread COVID-19 testing if students attend in person? See what I have to say about this in an op-ed, “Hempfield is testing its luck with students’ health,” published today in LancasterOnline.
Recently, I was asked to share about my experience as an editor. Danielle Padula of Scholastica interviewed me about being a guest editor for Religions. Her blog post provides “5 Tips for Organizing a Successful Special Issue [with advice from a guest editor],” Scholastica, Sept 8, 2020. I hope you enjoy reading about this process … Read more
Liberating the Politics of Jesus, my new book with Elizabeth Soto, debuted as the #1 New Release in Mennonite Christianity yesterday! See book details under publications on my website.
Teaching amidst the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racism? Use trauma-informed pedagogy. My latest article on this topic has just been published: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/9/449. This is part of my ongoing research on pedagogy in higher education. If you are interested in collaborating in further research, contact me. This article promotes a wider understanding of trauma-informed pedagogy … Read more
Christians, pray for the earth and give thanks to your Creator! The Season of Creation has begun. On this first day, I invite you to commit your life anew to environmental holiness. In the Methodist tradition, holiness is not an accomplishment or destination, it is a practice, a way of life. Today can be the … Read more
Often, we think of church as sanctuary. A sanctuary is a place of safety, a refuge from the dangers of the world. When we enter a sanctuary, we expect to be protected and comforted, perhaps by a gentle—or even bold—sermon proclaiming God’s love. This is an important aspect of the Christian tradition. But to what … Read more