John Buchanan
Faith forums: A fairly civil conversation
Something Pope Benedict XVI said about immigration while he was in the U.S....
All in the family: One bread, one body
On the third Sunday of Easter I was in La Jolla, California, for the baptism of a granddaughter....
Hard words: Wright’s jeremiad
I wish Jeremiah Wright had made his point about America’s failings without saying “God damn America.” But not for a moment do I wish he had been less prophetic....
Good sermon, Reverend: Listening is even better
Martin Copenhaver’s insightful “Handshake ritual” catches the preacher’s attention....
Lines for Easter: The Christian news
A good friend and a favorite teacher in the church I served in Ohio was Walter Bouman, professor of theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus. We made him an honorary Presbyterian....
Doors open to the city: The privilege of serving downtown
Having had the privilege of serving downtown churches in Columbus, Ohio, and in Chicago, I have watched city churches struggle to respond faithfully to dramatically changing environments....
Providential roadblocks: Boundaries in pleasant places
Every time I happen upon Psalm 16:6, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places,” I think about how any of us comes to be who we are....
Blessed messes: Living in community
In his recent book The Jesus Way, the unfailingly helpful Eugene Peterson observes: “Community is intricate and complex. Living in community as a people of God is inherently messy....
Truth claims: In the realms of both science and religion
One of the most serious challenges a person of faith confronts is the classic tension between faith and reason, religion and science....
Fear not: A new kingdom is here
What an anomaly: while many Americans were gearing up for Christmas and singing the angels’ song of peace on earth, good will to all, the nation was considering the government practice of torture—o...
Christmastide: A lovely 12-day season
Though the liturgical calendar reminds us that it is Christmastide, a lovely 12-day season extending to Epiphany in January, you cannot live in this culture without experiencing how the air is let ...
Extravagant gift: Vulnerable love
One of the books I pull from the shelf each Advent is A Sprig of Holly, a collection of Advent and Christmas columns written for the Christian Century a generation ago by Halford Luccock, wh...
Altar plans: A vacuum of authority
On the day I read through Valerie Weaver-Zercher’s review of books about the wedding industry, I encountered a young woman at the chu...
Music to believe in: What great music does
Reading Jeremy Begbie’s article on music in this issue reminded me of one of the biggest mistakes I ever made....
Hope in October: The Cubs have done it again
The Chicago Cubs have done it again. After winning the National League’s central division, they were swept aside by the Arizona Diamondbacks....
Consequences: The lasting effects of 9/11
On the sixth anniversary of 9/11 I joined a spokesperson for the American Muslim community on a panel focusing on the lasting effects of 9/11 on “faith, media and society.” The presentation by Imam...
Graham's gift: The pure milk of the gospel
I was not prepared to enjoy as much as I did The Preacher and the Presidents: Billy Graham in the White House, by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy....
Heavy lifting: Reading theology
A few years ago one of my adult children picked up a book of theology I was reading, leafed through a few pages, then asked, “Dad, why are you still reading this stuff?” Good question....
Rocking-chair reading: So little time
"So little time, so much to do,” Winston Churchill once commented. I think about that observation as I assemble my summer reading list....
Travel tips: Commandments for drivers
My first inclination after reading “The Vatican’s Ten Commandments for Drivers” (reported in CenturyMarks, July 10) was to wonder if there were not more urgent matters for the papacy to be ponderin...