Recent Comments
Category Archives: Values, Faith, and Church
A Christian Response to the Trump Election
This post is for all persons who call themselves Christian and are facing a Trump presidency, whether or not you voted for him. As Christians, what is our response? What should we do? Here are six things that seem obvious to me. Continue reading
How to Fight for Change Without Being Mean
I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately, as I do more and more writing on this page, as I try to do more and more advocacy, AND as we prepare to launch a progressive community site for the … Continue reading
Posted in Values, Faith, and Church
2 Comments
Worship As B-Roll
We had an interesting moment in worship this morning. I was in my usual place, sitting with the choir in the loft, when I looked up and noticed a TV camera crew in the back of the sanctuary. The camera … Continue reading
This Use of Religious Freedom Is Wrong … and Dangerous
We’re all aware of the recent attempts by many across the country to use “religious freedom” as an argument for various actions. Whether it is denying service to certain people at retail establishments, or refusing to fill prescriptions for contraceptives … Continue reading
Posted in Values, Faith, and Church
4 Comments
Stop Repenting and Start Changing!
(a Lection Reflection on Mark 1:15) It’s just too easy, really. All I have to do is ask you to tell me the first picture that comes to your mind when I give you a word, and I bet many of … Continue reading
The Work of Christmas
For this morning’s Ephiphany service, we sang a setting of this poem by Howard Thurman. I did not know this poem, or this setting, until we practiced it a few weeks ago — but the first time we sang it, I cried. It is beautiful, moving, and pointed. May we spend 2015 doing the work of Christmas. Continue reading
Posted in Values, Faith, and Church
1 Comment
The Scope of Easter
(A Lection Reflection on Easter) One of the important concepts we use in project work is “scope.” It refers, of course, to the reach of the project or initiative. Does this web site rebuild involve only the interface, or are … Continue reading
Some Thoughts on Baptism
I taught a class last night on baptism, part of a class on various topics at church (worship, baptism, communion, liturgical year). The framework we followed seemed useful, so I thought I’d share it here. Perhaps it will help others … Continue reading
Historic Day at a Baptist Church
Memorial Day Sunday 2012 was a historic day at our church, Highland Baptist of Louisville.
Why? We ordained someone to the ministry.
“So what?” you say. “Churches do that all the time.”
True, they do. This was a little different, though. A local advocacy group (not the church) issued a press release; perhaps the headline will capture why it was historic:
“Highland Baptist Church Ordains Openly Gay Minister”
Yes we did, and gladly. Make the jump to learn more, and to celebrate with us.
Posted in Values, Faith, and Church
Leave a comment
Fight Fire with Love: Baptist Church READS Koran
Glad to share THIS news:
A Kentucky Baptist church will be host for an interfaith service Sept. 11 billed as a “peaceful, positive alternative” to a Quran-burning ceremony scheduled the same day in Florida.
The “Honoring Sacred Texts” service is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Highland Baptist Church in Louisville. The service is offered by Interfaith Paths to Peace, a Louisville-based non-profit organization that promotes inter-religious understanding, in partnership with Highland Baptist Church and the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship.
Other sponsors include various local Christian and non-Christian faith groups. The service will include a display of sacred texts from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Baha’i faith and other religions. The gathering will also include non-sectarian music and readings from the sacred texts by representatives of the world’s major religions on topics related to peace, cooperation and mutual understanding.
More below the fold …
Posted in Values, Faith, and Church
Leave a comment