In Ancient Greece, “hypocrite” refers to the actor on the stage - the one who dons the thespian’s masks and makes believe - the pretender paid to entertain. Commentator Craig Evans notes that this idea of performance is likely in the background of Jesus’ warnings about...
Over the past several years we have encouraged church boards to ‘dig deeper wells’ of meaning and mutual understanding that can nurture their leadership in the midst of complexity and ambiguity. And then this week, author Seth Godin gave some nicely related advice: “Dig your...
Pilgrimage Formation Curator Ryan Bonfiglio speaks with the Rev. Jamie Butcher (Covenant Presbyterian, Atlanta) and the Rev. Kelly Chatman about the push and pull of dislocation, the connection between belonging and accountability, and their reflections on our Northern Ireland immersion experience. Listen here....
Twenty-one years ago, I graduated seminary and was quickly called to my first ordained position – an Associate Pastor for Discipleship at a large, thriving, multicultural, urban church. I was excited and eager to pursue my vocation. My first day on the job, I met with...
Program Director Adam Borneman continues his conversation with Elizabeth Lynn (Lake Institute on Faith and Giving) and Andrew Yeager about the disruptive power of parables, the important tension between prescriptive and open interpretation, and how stories can help preachers engage their congregations....
Consider these stanzas from the opening section of Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Road: Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. … (Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, I carry...
Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Andrew Yeager and Elizabeth Lynn (Lake Institute on Faith and Giving) about our cultural fragmentation, the challenge of the attention economy, and their view from the pew as active laity....
“The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll...
As we approach Holy Week, we share a hymn by James Montgomery (1771-1854), who was born in Scotland to Irish parents. When he was just five years old, James’ parents left him in care of a Moravian community in Ireland, while they answered a call...