Moral leadership, social change, and the common good
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
Ethics Considered— a website by Darryl W. Stephens for discerning readers committed to moral leadership, social change, and the common good. Ethics Considered has officially launched! This website features writing and research on issues relating to ethics, leadership, and community. Here you will find descriptions of and links to scholarly publications for both church and … Read more