Why our church's centennial was worth celebrating
“The history of a church,” one member wrote in an old scrapbook I found, is “an unfolding pageant of life.”
My kids don’t have school today, and I’m cheering for their teachers
School closures are difficult and disruptive. But this is how public protest works.
A feel-good story's power and limits
There is a danger in responding to a film like Hidden Figures by congratulating ourselves on how far we’ve come.
The joy of things and the trap of excess
An ethicist and an anthropologist ask: How much is too much?
Recipes for a revolution
The More-with-Less cookbook called for responsible eating long before it was cool.
Equipped for your needs: My church's magical supply closet
On the seventh floor of Hogwarts, Harry Potter and his friends discover a magical room. My church contains such a room.
North Carolina's absurd anti-discrimination bill isn't the final word
I love North Carolina. I’m not a native, but I’ve been here for a while now. The midwesterner in me still thrills at the possibility of a day trip to the mountains or the beach. I regularly try to convince my friends to move here. It’s a great place, I tell them … except for the state legislature.
Last week, the legislature outdid itself in embarrassing the state in front of the rest of the country, a feat it has perfected in recent years.
Virtual church on a snow day
I was concerned that this was a ridiculous idea that would result in a giant train wreck forever archived in cyberspace. I was wrong; it was awesome.
Names with faces: An ID card turns strangers into neighbors
A lack of ID caused problems for immigrants—as well as for the police who encountered them. Through a series of dialogues, a solution emerged.
The church assembled: Why I love denominational gatherings
How should we Disciples make GA work going forward? I don't know the answer. I do know that we are obligated to one another only by our relationships.