Over the years I have been told many times that the Church should not engage in politics. However, having read scripture and come to understand our Presbyterian tradition more deeply, I have a hard time understanding how the Church cannot be involved in politics. To be involved in “politics” (from the Greek word polis, which … Continue reading “On Sanctuary, Social Justice and Advent”
Category: humility
Jesus the Radical Lover #Ferguson
This is a piece I wrote for our church’s weekly email announcements, which went out yesterday. It is difficult to know what to say or do in the face of such tragedies as the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the communal cries from decades-old tensions in the aftermath. It is difficult to … Continue reading “Jesus the Radical Lover #Ferguson”
#MigrantTrail
On Monday of this week a group of 50 or so people from various backgrounds and of various religious and political beliefs gathered to begin the 11th year of a 75 mile trek from Sasabe, Mexico to Tucson, Arizona, through the brutal Sonoran desert, for the 11th annual Migrant Trail Walk. They will arrive in … Continue reading “#MigrantTrail”
Faith = Risk-taking
My inner pride over the congregation I serve (99% white) taking on questions around race, racism and Christian faith is beginning to bubble over. Our guest for the first of four weeks in our annual Mission Month was the Rev. Dr. Joseph D. Small, former director of the Office of Theology and Worship for my … Continue reading “Faith = Risk-taking”
The Upside Down World of God
Both our Hebrew and Greek scriptures hold a vision of the kingdom of God where the rich and powerful are knocked down off their pedestals of arrogance and pride, and the poor and marginalized are lifted up out of the pits of despair, and all people are called to live in harmony and at least … Continue reading “The Upside Down World of God”