Fiction in faith formation: Stories that act as mirrors
After King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband to be killed, God sent the prophet Nathan to David...
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Pruning the vine
Guest commentary by Jason Schiller I am an aspiring gardener. I love the idea of tending to and cultivating fruits, vegetables and..
Aubade
Who would give birth to the god of death? Not brought forth in light, as if from clouds, but squeezed tightly into..
The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations
Toni Morrison Alfred P. Knopf, 368 pages Reviewed by J. Stephen Rhodes Toni Morrison’s death leaves the United States bereft of a..
Regarding Ruling Elders: Holy stories
(OGA) There are innumerable quotes, pieces of advice, and catch phrases related to hearing and knowing someone else’s story. The one that..
Reading as spiritual practice
When my first-grader began school this fall, I was reminded again and again during those first weeks of the school year of..
Stated Clerk talks social justice issues with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio
(OGA) More than 8.6 million people call New York City home. It is the most populous city in the U.S. Even with..
The Overstory: A Novel
Richard Powers W.W. Norton & Company, 512 pages Reviewed by Sarah S. Scherschligt Near the end of “The Overstory,” a character named..
Minnesota church fights to keep member from being deported
(OGA) To Gladys Mbonifor, the community of Apple Valley, Minnesota, is home and the Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church is family. Mbonifor is..
Stewardship invitations for Advent
“Advent is not the season for fundraising. You should not have made that kind of announcement this morning!” This was the message..
A Christian and a Democrat: A Religious Biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt
John F. Woolverton and James D. Bratt Eerdmans, 280 pages Reviewed by Rick Nutt This book contributes to the growing literature of..
What’s right about Community Presbyterian Church?
Community Presbyterian Church — Clarendon Hills, Illinois WELCOME. It’s a simple word, but it defines Community Presbyterian Church of Clarendon Hills. Fellowship..
A snapshot of bivocational ministry
When caring for ministers, we stand to gain if we better understand the service and needs of bivocational pastors. I use the..
Rozella Haydee White
“This is a glaring sign of privilege — turning away from that which you don’t want to hear and only taking up..
Immigration forum (10 years ago)
10 years ago — November 30, 2009 “It is estimated that approximately 12 million undocumented people reside in the United States and..
The Whole Church: Congregational Leadership Guided by Systems Theory
Kenneth Reeves Rowman & Littlefield, 280 pages Reviewed by Erin Keys There are a number of books on congregational life that claim..
Giving for my own hard times
Guest commentary by Pam Parker Thanksgiving time and stewardship time are linked in many church calendars. If pledges come in by mid-November,..
The right mistakes
The great jazz musician Thelonious Monk once told one of his sidemen, "You're making all the wrong mistakes!" Monk was known as..
To Count Our Days: A History of Columbia Theological Seminary
University of South Carolina Press, 424 pages Reviewed by Thomas W. Currie In the preface to this remarkable history of Columbia Theological..
If David were a queen
If only God created Eve first. Adam would be misinterpreted and objectified as Eve’s tempting, little helper. And perhaps Noah’s wife, after..
In the eye of the hurricane: Those who are unseen
The first time I heard the term “faceless people,” I was a student in sociology class. The professor used the term..
Kate Bowler
“Since most book buyers are female, it makes more [marketing] sense to play to a female audience. But when you want to..
And on this rock: Presbyterian disaster ministry
Disasters come in all shapes and sizes. Some come with ample warning, some come as a thief in the night. Some disasters..
Race Relations Sunday (80 years ago)
80 years ago — November 22, 1939 The 18th annual observance of Race Relations Sunday was approaching. The Federal Council of Churches..
Losing My Religion: A Memoir of Faith and Finding
William C. Mills Resource Publications, 170 pages Reviewed by Stephen McCutchan Father William Mills, or Bill as he prefers to be called,..