How “Left Behind” prepares us for Trump’s America

July 31, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

For some time now, moderate and progressive Christians have been wondering aloud how evangelical Christians can support Donald Trump in all his obvious clash with Christian values – xenophobic, materialistic, fear-mongering bloviating. What’s the question again caller? It recently occurred to me that NO greater clue exists for this apparent disconnect than a linchpin in the billion dollar industry that is evangelicalism – the Left Behind media empire. Let me back up, here are the Cliff’s Notes for those who... Read more

Gay Christians, You Have WAY Better Options: A Review of “Us vs. Us” by Andrew Marin

June 27, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

Deborah Arca, my friend and Patheos editor, invited me to the Andrew Marin book club this month to review his new book, Us vs. Us. Rumor has it, I was one of the Patheos bloggers selected by Marin himself, or at least one of his people to take up this task. Now, I’m not trained in the delicate art of book reviews, so the best I can hope to do here today, is share with you my experience of reading this piece... Read more

Sure, you can be Orlando too

June 15, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

Sunday, June 12, 2016 dawned for us like most other seemingly boring days in our life – waking to smiling eyes and a gentle kiss, sipping a cup of coffee while reading an early morning devotional, taking a long walk with the pups and getting ready for a ridiculously hot day of our homosexual lifestyle – summer yard work in Florida. But before I laced up my work boots, I checked Facebook. Orlando. In the hours and days following the deadliest... Read more

Peanut Butter Cups and the First Amendment

May 19, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

Hey! You got your religion in my government! Hey! You got your government in my religion! Peanut butter and chocolate may be two great tastes that taste great together, but government and religion are not. That is why in 1791 the First Amendment was added to the Constitution of the United States of America. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;... Read more

An Open letter to the United Methodist Church: Repent of your sin

May 16, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

Dear United Methodist Church, I am writing to you today as a sister in ministry, a southern-born graduate of Candler School of Theology, a wounded healer, a daughter, sister, mama, friend, partner…and lesbian Christian. It is because I have witnessed over and over again the suffering of dearly beloved friends who identify as United Methodists that I am writing to you today. It is my hope to speak truth in love, and though I will try to do so gently,... Read more

The Rainbow Flag on Main Street: Guest blogger Jonathan Chapman

May 13, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

Friends, it is my honor to share this post from friend and seminary colleague, Rev. Jonathan Chapman. Two days ago, I dragged the stepladder through our front door and set it up at the base of one of the wooden columns that line the front our our 1850s home. The house that we’re renting (mobility is a valuable commodity for pastors these days!) sits on the corner of a major intersection in our little town in Northeastern... Read more

It’s not a gay kiss, it’s a kiss. An open letter to the straight friend.

April 22, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” ― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life I’m in love! I am wildly, madly, deeply, paradigm-shiftingly, make up words if I want to, in love. And yes, I am in love with a woman. Dear straight friend, The other day when we were all hanging out, you with your husband and teenagers and I... Read more

Bruce ain’t goin’ to NC, but I am…and we’re both right.

April 10, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

Major corporations, film and television productions and even broadway musicals are boycotting North Carolina over legalized LGBT discrimination in HB2, a law that explicitly bars transgender individuals from public bathrooms for the gender they identify as. This, my friends, is the very definition of unconstitutional because it is in direct violation of the 1st and 14th amendments. About the first – HB2 establishes a state religion (but it ain’t really Christianity y’all, its the worship of power and money masquerading as conservative Christianity. Make no... Read more

Why I am still going to Wild Goose Festival In North Carolina

April 8, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

Wild Goose Festival! For some of y’all those words get your tummies all a flutter with excitement. For some of you, whut the heck are you talkin’ about?? And for some of my friends, even though they have been and dearly love this weird and wonderful festival, they can’t bring themselves to attend this year. Why? Because North Carolina. In light of the horrific HB2 and the important boycotts of NC, I can totally respect this decision. I’ve struggled with that... Read more

Good Friday Pop Quiz: Who Killed Jesus?

March 25, 2016 By Kimberly Knight

I did. I do. If Borg and Crossan are right, and I hang my theological hat on the hunch that they are, that “the execution of Jesus was virtually inevitable. Not because of divine necessity, but because of human inevitability…” and that “Jesus did not die for the sins of the world. The language of substitutionary sacrifice for sin is absent from his story. But in an important sense, he was killed because the sin of the world. It was the injustice... Read more