Gissendaner

Faith Leaders Unite to Spare a Life

February 28, 2015 By Leave a Comment

As of Friday night at 8:00 p.m., 96 ordained clergy in the state of Georgia and surrounding regions have signed a petition, pleading to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to spare the life of Kelly Gissendaner— an inmate on death row, scheduled to be executed Monday, March 2nd, 2015. Gissendaner was denied clemency last Tuesday, and the response from many has been outrage and sadness.The petition was created by Atlanta-area clergy, seminarians, and professors—including many affiliated with Emory University—in an effort for a "Campaign of Compassion".  The petition describes a unified belief in th … [Read More...]

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Prayer doesn’t answer with discrimination

February 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Prayer is a powerful motivator. In heart and mind, one reaches out to God, a higher power, and asks for well wishes, grace, humility, peace and guidance. Prayer is powerful because once an answer is derived, it is believed to be true and a direct answer from an all-knowing spirit or being.But history is littered with stories about horrible deeds and decisions supposedly inspired by the Lord. Last week, the nation received its latest perplexing conservative-leaning hypocritical decision as Jami and Krista Contreras’ 6-day-old baby, Bay Windsor Contreras, was denied medical care from a p … [Read More...]

Teaching faith and humility to Congress

February 13, 2015 By Leave a Comment

I was having dinner about 18 months ago in D.C. with some friends when they asked me why I care so much about religion, faith and politics. I told them that when both sides stop talking, will not work together and would rather throw mud than praise, there are only two options to bridge the divide.Aside from a giant kegger on the National Mall, sharing of one’s faith, religion and values is the next best step. One of the few times both Democrats and Republicans occupy the same space v … [Read More...]

A Better Politics: Modeling Civility, Embracing Difference

January 26, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Toward the end of President Obama’s sixth State of the Union address last week unexpected applause prompted the President to improvise. After declaring “I have no more campaigns to run,” much to the delight of some Members of Congress, the President grinned, and reminded the audience why: “I know, because I won both of them.” I smiled as my Facebook and Twitter feeds immediately erupted with praise for the President’s quick wit. The Huffington Post labeled it as the “best moment” of the speech. … [Read More...]

A New Year’s Hope: End the Death Penalty

December 31, 2014 By Leave a Comment

On December 9 2014 despite objections from anti-death penalty activists, a last minute petition to the Supreme Court, and media outcry, the state of Georgia killed Robert Wayne Holsey. Convicted in 1997 for murdering sheriff’s deputy William Robinson, Holsey’s guilt was never in question. And yet, in the weeks and days leading up to his execution, bolstered by severely negligent representation in his first trial and questions regarding his intellectual capabilities, Mr. Holsey’s case garnered sig … [Read More...]

Celebrating the Power of Light at Christmas

December 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

At every Christmas Eve service my favorite part is always the final singing of Silent Night. Watching the warm orange and yellow light from the flickering candles one-by-one is a joyous sight as new faces, old faces, and those who have been away the past year are welcomed into one union celebrating the birth of Jesus.My Christmas tradition is spent with my in-laws in rural central Pennsylvania with congregations comprised of many who would not consider themselves progressive or De … [Read More...]

A Tale of Two Seasons: Election vs. Advent

December 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment

As elections wrap up and Advent begins, I cannot help but to think of the ostensible paradox that the two seasons represent. It is an overlap of one season defined by divisive, partisan spectacle—all inclusive of attack ads, pontification and sentimentality—with a season of waiting, humility, reflection and for many people, togetherness.Amidst a harsh political culture, oddly enough, the season of Advent tends to bring people together. Families, friends and colleagues who cannot be in the sam … [Read More...]

Pope Francis to visit Philadelphia

December 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Last month, Pope Francis announced he’s coming to Philadelphia in September 2015 for the World Meeting of Families. Regardless of religious affiliation, it’s an exciting time for the City of Brotherly Love. Yet despite the elation surrounding the visit, it’s perhaps prudent to understand the struggles Philadelphia faces and how the pope’s visit is a rare opportunity to highlight populist, progressive solutions that can and should be taken to strengthen the family unit and society at large. … [Read More...]

Missing Values, Missing Votes in the 2014 Mid-Terms

November 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

With some time now to properly digest the Mid-Term blue-to-red Election results, I found myself saying that my fellow Democrats didn’t stand for anything this November. There were plenty of issues to be proud of and tout, yet the more the electorate heard about these victories, the less impact they made.The simple question that is every Election Day is “Why?” Why vote for one candidate or party? For the GOP, that answer was opposing the president, and all the fuel the Republicans doused the W … [Read More...]


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