Rev. Jann Aldredge-Clanton has shared a new recording and video of her song “Let Justice Like Waters Roll Down,” performed by the Chancel Choir and congregation of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, conducted by Rev. Larry E. Schultz. The words of course are from the book of Amos in the Hebrew Bible, and the tune is one familiar to many Christians (listen!). Here are a few of Jann’s words about this song and its intentional words toward... Read more
This is my third and final post related to our national observation of Black History Month during February. For the first two, click here and here. Over at SoulRevision, Kim Moore is taking a new angle on the standard Black History Month profiles: During Black History Month we spend a lot of time talking about our wonderful black pioneers of the past (MLK, Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois etc), and the paths they’ve paved for us and how they’ve helped shape our future. However, I... Read more
I first met Darcy Baxter several years ago at a Faith and Feminism conference at Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran in San Francisco, and have had the joy of getting to know more about her and her work through our participation in The Faith & Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute at The Center for American Progress in Washington D.C. this past year. This month, she wrote an excellent piece for UUWorld, the quarterly magazine for the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. In it, she... Read more
On Saturday, the Illinois College Board of Trustees voted to promote me to Professor of Religion. For those of you not familiar with the academic hamster wheel and ladder, this is the highest ‘regular’ rank that a professor can achieve. Full Professor. It’s what comes after lecturer, instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor. Beyond this, it’s on to endowed and named chairs, or a shift to administrative leadership like dean, provost, or president. And so I’m prompted to reflect on... Read more
My colleague and fellow participant in the Faith and Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute at The Center for American Progress, Rev. Matthew Westfox, has an excellent ‘open letter‘ to conservative Christians opposing the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act over at The Melissa Harris-Perry Show page. Here is an excerpt where he suggests that we all understand the proper place for promoting and preaching religious beliefs: To be clear, I have the deepest respect for your religious beliefs regarding the morality... Read more
Over at SoulRevision, Kim Moore is taking a new angle on the standard Black History Month profiles: During Black History Month we spend a lot of time talking about our wonderful black pioneers of the past (MLK, Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois etc), and the paths they’ve paved for us and how they’ve helped shape our future. However, I believe in progression and I feel it’s time that we start talking about what WE are doing, what WE can do and how WE can work... Read more
There are a lot of reasons that I should like Refuse to Do Nothing. Written by women whose consciousness has been raised to the realities of exploitation and oppression, stories of grassroots organizing toward justice, pages of practical advice on what the ordinary reader might do to combat injustice … these are things I champion and affirm. And there are many good suggestions, resources, and suggestions for taking action in the new book on global human trafficking by Shayne Moore... Read more
Mary Hunt makes some fantastic points in her reflection on the resignation announcement of Pope Benedict XVI. First, conscience is important for all Catholics: Conscience, Benedict reminds us today, is still primary for Catholics. Examination of conscience: that is just the formula millions of us use to explain why we use birth control, enjoy our sexuality in a variety of ways, and see enormous good in other religious traditions. Conscience is the ultimate arbiter, and the Pope relied on his.... Read more
Ms. Magazine offered this round-up of suggestions if you want to mark Valentine’s Day with feminist activism: As a feminist, how about joining a political campaign in honor of Valentine’s Day? Saint Valentine was arrested for marrying couples against the wishes of Emperor Claudius II, so what better way to honor the day than to continue fighting for the right to marry? Celebrate Freedom to Marry Week, which concludes on Valentine’s Day, by adding your voice to those supporting the freedom to marry or by asking... Read more
What if we gave up violence against women for Lent? Or, gave it up forever? Gave up tolerating it, looking the other way, shaking our heads, and gave up swallowing our rage? The intersection of the Christian season of Lent, when so many of my Christian and clergy friends are reflecting on what they are giving up and/or committing to, with VDay and the One Billion Rising campaign invites a reflection on what might happen if the two come together.... Read more
Caryn Riswold
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