Moral leadership, social change, and the common good
Honored to be recognized today by the Laney Graduate School of Emory University as a noted alumnus. In this interview, I talk about my recent research on trauma-informed pedaogogy and how the pandemic has impacted my writing and research. In the last issue of the Alumni Connection, we asked alumni andfriends to share updates on … Read more
Preached by Darryl W. Stephens at Lancaster Seminary, October 28, 2020 In this sermon, drawing on Matthew 20:1–16, I depict a rich young man wrestling with existential questions, searching for meaning in Jesus’s parable. The man clearly seeks to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Tinged with references to “The Raven” by … Read more
Are Christians allowed to get angry? Can anger and love work together? What do we do with feelings of anger when we are trying to promote justice in the world? With these questions, United Methodist deacons gathered November 7 via video conference to strengthen their ministries of combat racism. This was the first of a … Read more
New book release! My most recent book, Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living into the Church’s Moral Witness through Radical Discipleship is now available for $10.00 + $7.40 shipping through United Methodist Women. Book description here. A special word of thanks is due to those persons who shared stories of their ministry with me for … Read more
Reenvisioning Christian Ethics, edited by Darryl W. Stephens (MDPI, 2020) A featured publication on the American Academy of Religion website for October: This open-access book is available in PDF or hardcopy. Read more . . .
“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.