Dear Beloveds, I am writing to witness that for some of you, the election results from this week present an intense challenge and disappointment. My heart and my will are with you. It will be a time of adjustment for all of us, to move to a new administration. I want to write a for a moment specifically to those who are grieving, especially grieving the world that could have been. 1. It is real and reasonable that you... Read more
I want you to keep my name out of your mouth. It doesn’t matter where you go, East, West, North, or South, you’ve got at lot to say about me. I’m everything you need. I hold the key, to your success, but all you leave me with is fear. What comes next? Are you actually going to fix all the broken windows, broken lives, broken families, broken hearts? You want me to think this is where the solution starts. Here,... Read more
I’m writing this post to my fellow progressive, white Episcopalians, but I also write it mindful of the many allies out there who are not Episcopalian. While some of what I write may not pertain to those outside of the Episcopal Church, I believe this post is relevant to many who are dealing with the implications of this election and are trying to find a way forward. I want to be clear up front about where I am coming from.... Read more
I am writing this post in support of Jory Micah. Jory focuses her work on women’s equality in the church, specifically in the evangelical church. If you are not familiar with her work, I would encourage you to visit her site and give it a read. She’s a women’s equality warrior who has had a rough couple of weeks. Her life’s work has casually been dismissed in blog posts and she was trolled (aka harassed) endlessly for several day by... Read more
According to Dictionary.com, a microaggression is “a subtle, but offensive comment or action directed at a minority or other non-dominant group that is often unintentional, or unconsciously reinforces a stereotype.” This isn’t actually a new idea. The term was created by the psychiatrist Chester M. Pierce in 1970. I have heard many people dismiss the idea or say that it is just another silly part of politically correct culture. My first response to that is, why is it such... Read more
I absolutely adored Bible studies as a young evangelical. Finding my way into the progressive world, I desire to still dig in the Bible. So, here’s my first little Bible Study for you and your friends. Have fun with this! I’m totes just asking questions, and I’d like for you to reflect on the answers you dig up. 1. What were the scriptures Jesus would have accessed? A) Do you access those scriptures regularly? B) how do they inform your... Read more
Today marks almost exactly one month that I’ve been in Flint. I am the interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist congregation there. People read about Flint in the news, see videos about it on the internet and TV, but the real Flint is different from even that. The real Flint has a legacy of factories that contributed to the boom of the automative industry in the United States. For better or for worse, that making and doing is an important... Read more
As I see you standing there. I’m not sure what to do. I wasn’t expecting you. You never said goodbye. You never checked to see what happened. You never knew the answer. As to why I left. Why I walked away. Why I felt I couldn’t stay. It was all too much. It all fell apart. All I could do was go. I never thought I’d leave you. Never thought I’d say goodbye. I never thought there’d be a day... Read more
German Shepherds have always freaked me out. I remember being about 7 years old and watching a documentary about the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s with my father and seeing footage and pictures of men, women, and children, all of whom shared my dark skin, being attacked by German Shepherds in the street during a protest. I remember being confused about why the police were not stopping the dogs, and then I realized the police were telling the dogs... Read more
I am a progressive evangelical. I like to think of myself as a baptiscostal floating around in the mainline churches. What do I mean by that? I mean that: I take the Bible seriously. I don’t worship the bible, and I don’t interpret it literally. I try to use exegesis, and historical context to interpret it. I love the Bible. I love it’s 3,000 plus verses on God’s decrees of Justice to the marginalized. I love creation and I try... Read more
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