Public execution! Child Sacrifice! Rising from the dead! Just the kinds of stories you want to tell your kid(s), right? Yeah…me either. As a Children’s Pastor in a Progressive Christian church, Easter is…well…it’s rough. For me, anyway. I am responsible for children birth-5th Grade and teaching this central Christian story to kids is one of my biggest challenges. No matter what I do with the Easter story, someone is likely to be upset. If I tell it flat-out, I not only... Read more
As we approach Holy Week, those of us involved in children’s ministry are once again considering of ways to observe this season with the youngest ones among us. I know what I am about to say may break from conventional wisdom, but I have been feeling strongly about this for quite some time so here it goes… I believe Christian Educators, parents and pastors should shield children from the details of the passion narrative/crucifixion story during Holy Week, if at... Read more
People are changing profile pictures into yellow to spread awareness of the deadly chemical attack in Syria. Yellow symbolizing toxic gas. Our hearts are devastated, once again, by the tragic news that seems to endlessly stream out of Syria. This time, a terrible chemical attack killing many people (exact numbers to be determined), including children. Already, photos and videos of the attack are being shared from both traditional and social media—gruesome and disturbing graphics of dead Syrian children shocking our senses.... Read more
I interview author, Meredith Gould, about her new book as it relates to Unfundamentalist parenting: Many of my readers here at Unfundamentalist parenting grew up evangelical Christian, but are Somes and Dones. Meaning, they don’t identify with much if any of the Christian faith anymore. And yet, they want to raise their children with a moral core and be open to spirituality. How do you think service and acts of kindness can be a family practice to cultivate without triggering... Read more
Image: Pixabay Sometimes the quirks of evangelical subculture becomes fodder for inside jokes and on better days, helpful critical analysis within the subculture. But recently, one particular feature of evangelicalism has made its way into public consciousness, a habit called the Billy Graham Rule. Named after the famous evangelist, the rule is Graham’s self-imposed standard that he should never spend time alone with a woman without his wife present, in order to avoid temptation and compromise integrity. Mike Pence, the... Read more
When the group of prophets at Jericho saw Elisha, they said, “Elijah’s spirit is now on Elisha!” They came to meet Elisha. They bowed very low to the ground before him… Elisha went from that city to Bethel. He was walking up the hill to the city, and some boys were coming down out of the city. They began making fun of him. They said, “Go away, you bald-headed man! Go away, you bald-headed man!” Elisha looked back and saw... Read more
Image: Pixabay There are a lot of wonderful progressive Christian podcasts out there, and a lot of parenting podcasts, but hitting that sweet spot of progressive Christian parenting, the conversation I’m trying to start with this blog, is harder to find. But here’s what I’ve found so far, specific podcast episodes that deal directly with the values that align with this community, so I thought I’d share. I hope you’ll enjoy, @ me and let me know if you’ve tried them... Read more
Image: Pixabay “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” ~ Frederick Douglass I used to add (& women) at the end, the way I do with hymns or other texts written in times where people weren’t aware of gender inclusive language. But I’m going to leave this one as it is for now, because I am realizing that broken men encompasses the problems in our world for both men and women. Broken men hurt women.... Read more
Image provided by author of blogpost: Dr. Joani Lea Jack and daughter, Gracie At the tail-end of a Sunday-afternoon nap, I was awakened by the sound of sleet. My first thoughts were of the yuckiness of snow and sleet in March… followed very quickly by the panicked realization that 16 year old was out somewhere driving. Gracie has a good head on her shoulders, but she’s only had her driver’s license for a few months. And sleet in East Tennessee... Read more
Children play many roles within biblical stories. They do many good, brave acts: for example, the prophetic critique of Miriam, the courageous speech of Samuel, and the faith of Naaman’s slave girl. Children also do much evil: consider the sibling abuse inflicted by Cain on his brother Abel, the money-lust of the servant boy Gehazi, and the spoiled children of Eli. In many American churches, these stories about children are valued less than stories about adults. The stories are often... Read more
Unfundamentalist Parenting
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