When I wrote We Make the Road By Walking, I hoped that churches could use it either for a season or a whole year … as an “alternative lectionary” to frame sermons and worship, as a curriculum for small groups and youth groups, even as a framework for a kids ministry program. It has been deeply gratifying to see the book work in all these ways and more. If you’d like to consider using the book to give your group... Read more
For many people, Holy Week is a time of triumphant faith. But for others, it raises all kinds of questions and doubts. Here is a meditation from Duane Clinker especially for the latter: http://loveandresist.blogspot.com/2016/03/an-apology-for-faith-in-love-by-duane.html Quotable: After his death, instead of being crushed as the empire expected, his followers actually grew and spread his words and actions throughout the empire. They spoke brutally of death, but also of a kind of resurrection powered by Love. In those first years they often... Read more
“The Great Spiritual Migration” Book Tour with Brian McLaren September 20 – 30 November 1 – 7 If you live in or near one of the cities below and would like to explore hosting a stop on Brian McLaren’s “Great Spiritual Migration” tour from September 20-30 and November 1-7, please contact us ASAP here. New York, NY Philadelphia, PA Washington DC Richmond, VA Charlotte, NC Atlanta, GA Nashville, TN Columbus OH Chicago, IL St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN Denver, CO Houston, TX... Read more
My old friend Bruce Johnson is a savvy business consultant, and in a recent article, he challenges businesses to learn their NPS – Net Promoter Score. The key insight – that some business customers or clients will leave a business so thrilled that they’ll tell their friends – applies to churches as well. The article (and its predecessor, also worth reading) is important for pastors and other church leaders to consider leading up to Easter Sunday, when most churches experience... Read more
#faithandclimate In September 2015, I was honored to be among a group of multi-faith leaders who came together in Washington, DC, to amplify Pope Francis’ message to care for God’s creation. Videos of the gathering are now available, produced by Blessed Tomorrow. In sharing these materials through email and social media you will help keep the momentum moving throughout 2016. I’ll share more of the speaker videos in coming weeks. Please share widely! Faith can change the climate! Here’s how... Read more
#FaithAndClimate In September 2015, I was honored to be among a group of multi-faith leaders who came together in Washington, DC, to amplify Pope Francis’ message to care for God’s creation. Videos of the gathering are now available, produced byBlessed Tomorrow. In sharing these materials through email and social media you will help keep the momentum moving throughout 2016. I’ll share more of the speaker videos in coming weeks. Please share widely! Faith can change the climate! Here’s how you... Read more
Here’s the Question: Should a Christian pastor conduct a secular wedding? The bride was an active youth in our progressive ELCA Lutheran congregation and her family is still active. She is now getting married and her groom has requested no scripture, no mention of God, no prayers or blessings. This isn’t the first time one member of the couple is not a believer, but it is the first time one has had such anger and open animosity to God and... Read more
My friend Darren Freeman-Coppadge wrote a poem that expresses what a lot of us have been feeling lately. You’ll enjoy reading it here: Quotable: I. Am afraid. I am afraid to go to the movie theater. Out to dinner. To school. To work. Anywhere. I am afraid when I see white vans parked by the side of the road. Don’t you think I’m afraid? I am afraid of being afraid. I get a check in my gut when I see... Read more
Quotable: “Conservative evangelical institutions such as Wheaton are governed and supported, overwhelmingly, by people who are not just theologically conservative but also politically conservative. I would wager that the boards, top administrators, and biggest donors of most self-identified evangelical schools would vote Republican at around 95 percent. Recall that in every recent presidential election, 75 to 80 percent of white evangelicals have voted for the GOP candidate. Evangelical Christian universities walk a tightrope. They are precariously balanced between the need... Read more
Dear Mr. Falwell, In the tradition of your father, you made some reckless and inflammatory statements to your students the other day. Just as I appreciate it when peace-loving Muslims, Hindus and others repudiate hostile and reckless statements made by prominent members of their religions, I feel impelled by conscience to repudiate your words as not being representative of authentic Christianity as I, and thousands like me, understand it. For us, authentic Christianity is the loving, peaceful, just and generous way... Read more
Brian McLaren
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