The Velveteen Rabbi has posted a great article "A Gesture of Repair" about the unexpected generosity of persons in the wake of certain acts of religious persecution in the USA.
Last week, a drunk man barged into the Al-Iman masjid in Astoria, Queens, and urinated on the prayer rugs. I tweeted about it, horrified at this display of Islamophobia (and also just plain atrocious behavior.) On Thursday, @stumark suggested that we raise money to replace the prayer rugs at the Al-Iman mosque in Queens. On Friday, I posted to this blog and to twitter asking for donations toward reimbursing the mosque for the costs of steam-cleaning their prayer rugs. My hope was to raise a few hundred bucks as a gesture of interfaith good will, a way of showing this one Muslim community that the actions of that drunk man do not represent the beliefs of most Americans.
Over the course of two days, more than a thousand US dollars poured in to my bank account. I decided to stop the fundraising when we passed the $1000 threshold, and posted to twitter saying that we'd reached our goal and could stop now; a few more donations rolled in while I was announcing that we'd raised enough, so our total is $1,150.
Reporting on the movement of the Church of England toward the ordination of women priests, the Guardian UK interviewed three women. They share their stories and their hopes for the future of women in ministry. Here's a taste:
I'm absolutely certain that women are changing the church, because the symbolism at the altar has changed. People can now see the image of their sister, their wife, or their mother there, which creates very different resonances in their psyche – for good or ill! The female has been recreated in the church as holy, rather than subordinate. (Clare Herbert)
What's your take? What is the role of women in ministry in your church's tradition and is it moving toward new models?
Jeffery MacDonald writes about "Congregations Gone Wild" for the NY Times, lamenting the negative effects of consumerism on the role of minister.
The pastoral vocation is to help people grow spiritually, resist their lowest impulses and adopt higher, more compassionate ways. But churchgoers increasingly want pastors to soothe and entertain them. It’s apparent in the theater-style seating and giant projection screens in churches and in mission trips that involve more sightseeing than listening to the local people.
As a result, pastors are constantly forced to choose, as they work through congregants’ daily wish lists in their e-mail and voice mail, between paths of personal integrity and those that portend greater job security. As religion becomes a consumer experience, the clergy become more unhappy and unhealthy.
What do you think? Is your congregation's demands on its ministers creating the sort of tension MacDonald describes?
Wendell Berry Withdraws his Support from the University of Kentucky.
As this story relates, Writer Wendell Berry, arguably one of the State of Kentucky's most significant literary figures, recently withdrew his papers fro the University of Kentucky's collection. Wendell is a long-time proponent of sustainable agriculture and opponent of mountaintop coal removal, whose actions are widely characterized as being a response to the University of Kentucky's increasingly close ties with the coal industry. He is, however, quick to point out that this is a symptom of what he sees as the larger issue of the University's having placed large industry concerns over the needs of the state.
"Rather than trying to be nationally or globally prominent as a great research institution, if the University of Kentucky would meet its local responsibilities and really meet the needs of the land and the people of this state, it would be a city on a hill."
The remarks published in response to this story are very interesting, ranging from coal companies and their advocates attempting to discredit Wendell, to people who have no real idea of who he is, to people who wold rally to his defense and the larger defense of his ideals.
Someone asked me this morning what I thought of Jesus' having been struck by lightning. It's not a biblical story that I'm familiar with, so I brushed off the question. Later, however, I discovered an article on Kentucky.com:
A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night and burned to the ground, police said. The "King of Kings" statue, one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.
Evidently, that tornado warning we had last night led to one big casualty. Our "Big Jesus" is no more! I can tell from the papers that many people see this as a sort of poetic justice. As for myself, I'm wondering about the message sent by folks who would spend a quarter of a million dollars on a "touchdown Jesus" when there are so many hungry and homeless people in the immediate metro area near that church. They had their reasons for doing it, I suppose. What do you think?
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a reminder of how our actions can have devastating effects on God's creation. PBS has setup a live video stream of the leak. Somehow watching it for a few minutes does more to underscore the magnitude of the problem than words or stats.
CNN is running a story today that raises questions about the growing trend for people to identify themselves as "spiritual without being religious."
The "I'm spiritual but not religious" community is growing so much that one pastor compared it to a movement. In a 2009 survey by the research firm LifeWay Christian Resources, 72 percent of millennials (18- to 29-year-olds) said they're "more spiritual than religious." The phrase is now so commonplace that it's spawned its own acronym ("I'm SBNR") and Facebook page: SBNR.org.
But what exactly does being "spiritual but not religious" mean, and could there be hidden dangers in living such a life?
See the full article here.
The article quotes various religious leaders and speculates that the reasons for being a part of a religious community are largely: for accountability, for survival (of religious institutions), or for doctrinal structure.
Are these really the best reasons for being part of a faith community? Is faith really just about me, my perspectives and my needs? I don't think so. Community provides a much needed space to share and shape perspectives, and recognizes that there is only so much we can discover alone. Community is also about serving others... we care for, support and challenge one another.
What do you think? Is being part of a community of faith a necessary part of spiritual development?
CNN is running a story today that raises questions about the growing trend for people to identify themselves as "spiritual without being religious."
The "I'm spiritual but not religious" community is growing so much that one pastor compared it to a movement. In a 2009 survey by the research firm LifeWay Christian Resources, 72 percent of millennials (18- to 29-year-olds) said they're "more spiritual than religious." The phrase is now so commonplace that it's spawned its own acronym ("I'm SBNR") and Facebook page: SBNR.org.But what exactly does being "spiritual but not religious" mean, and could there be hidden dangers in living such a life?
The article quotes various religious leaders and speculates that the reasons for being a part of a religious community are largely: for accountability, for survival (of religious institutions), or for doctrinal structure.
Are these really the best reasons for being part of a faith community? Is faith really just about me, my perspectives and my needs? I don't think so. Community provides a much needed space to share and shape perspectives, and recognizes that there is only so much we can discover alone. Community is also about serving others... we care for, support and challenge one another.
What do you think? Is being part of a community of faith a necessary part of spiritual development?
The United Methodist Church reports on a study out of Duke University. The study found that clergy were more likely to be obese than others in the same age range, and that nearly half of the clergy surveyed were obese.
The Clergy Health Initiative is a $12 million, seven-year effort, funded by The Duke Endowment, to improve the health and well-being of United Methodist elders and local pastors serving churches in North Carolina.
A study published online in May in “Obesity,” the journal of the Obesity Society, found that the obesity rate among United Methodist clergy ages 35 to 64 is close to 40 percent — 10 percent higher than other North Carolina residents.
Is the issue similar in other denominations and faith groups?
The report speculates that stress might be a major cause of the obesity.
One of the stress-related findings for the conference to consider is “a higher than anticipated feeling of isolation among our pastors,” she said. Often, pastors do not feel comfortable about turning to church members to talk honestly about the unsatisfactory parts of their lives.
The United Methodist Church reports on a study out of Duke University. The study found that clergy were more likely to be obese than others in the same age range, and that nearly half of the clergy surveyed were obese.
The Clergy Health Initiative is a $12 million, seven-year effort, funded by The Duke Endowment, to improve the health and well-being of United Methodist elders and local pastors serving churches in North Carolina.
A study published online in May in “Obesity,” the journal of the Obesity Society, found that the obesity rate among United Methodist clergy ages 35 to 64 is close to 40 percent — 10 percent higher than other North Carolina residents.
Is the issue similar in other denominations and faith groups?
The report speculates that stress might be a major cause of the obesity.
One of the stress-related findings for the conference to consider is “a higher than anticipated feeling of isolation among our pastors,” she said. Often, pastors do not feel comfortable about turning to church members to talk honestly about the unsatisfactory parts of their lives.
If you watch the TV series "Lost," you might find this interactive tool interesting. Provided by USAToday, the interactive segment allows you to choose a character and learn about the role faith played in their role. Several video clips are offered... some with the show's writers, who explain how religion and faith influenced their writing and the storyline.
The recession has hit many congregations hard. The Wall Street Journal has gathered some data on joblessness among clergy:
While the economy appears to be recovering from the worst downturn in generations, more clergy are facing unemployment as churches continue to struggle with drops in donations. In 2009, the government counted about 5,000 clergy looking for jobs, up from 3,000 in 2007 and 2,000 in 2005.
Church staff are feeling the pinch, too. In an October survey, about one in five members of the interdenominational 3,000-member National Association of Church Business Administration said they had laid off staff amid the recession.
Meanwhile, placement offices for Jewish rabbis say the average length of the job search for rabbis has increased, but that few temples and synagogues have resorted to layoffs.
Read the full article here.
Has your congregation had to make staffing adjustments due to economic pressures?
The recession has hit many congregations hard. The Wall Street Journal has gathered some data on joblessness among clergy:
While the economy appears to be recovering from the worst downturn in generations, more clergy are facing unemployment as churches continue to struggle with drops in donations. In 2009, the government counted about 5,000 clergy looking for jobs, up from 3,000 in 2007 and 2,000 in 2005.
Church staff are feeling the pinch, too. In an October survey, about one in five members of the interdenominational 3,000-member National Association of Church Business Administration said they had laid off staff amid the recession.
Meanwhile, placement offices for Jewish rabbis say the average length of the job search for rabbis has increased, but that few temples and synagogues have resorted to layoffs.
In many parts of the world people of faith continue to suffer persecution - often at the hands of one another. A new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom offers sobering details:
The numbers are shocking: 12,000 people killed in a cycle of violence between Christians and Muslims stretching back more than a decade.
The location: Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, lying on the continent's fault line between the largely Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
Other countries are also cited, including Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and others.
In many parts of the world people of faith continue to suffer persecution - often at the hands of one another. A new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom offers sobering details:
The numbers are shocking: 12,000 people killed in a cycle of violence between Christians and Muslims stretching back more than a decade.The location: Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, lying on the continent's fault line between the largely Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
Other countries are also cited, including Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and others.
The Huffington Post raises the question: Is the evangelical movement no longer attracting and keeping younger generations?
We are in the midst of a shift in American Christianity, as Evangelicalism is failing to reach a new generation. For the last couple of decades, Christians looked to the Evangelical movement to show us how to gain new members and keep our churches relevant. They showed us how to attract young members. Even stodgy denominational congregations could not hide their curiosity when megachurches took root in our nation's religious landscape. They watched as families drove to the sprawling parking lots of the giant suburban church -- the one with the rock band, theater seating, and that charismatic guy at the center of it all. Evangelical talking heads began to pop up on news programs, claiming that they represented vast swaths of the American population. But now those megachurch crowds are graying and there is something about Evangelicalism that is not transferring to a new generation.
What do you think? Are many of the dynamics that helped grow evangelical churches now working against them? Do you have experiences that confirm or deny the article's premise?
NPR takes a look at Churchrater.com, where people can "rate" churches, much as people rate restaurants on Yelp.com.
While some people who run churches aren't thrilled by online reviews, the trend also worries those who teach ministry.
Dwight Friesen, who teaches theology at Mars Hill Graduate School, which is not affiliated with the church, says these reviews are akin to an "ecclesiastical bandstand," with people ranking places of worship as if it were an Olympic competition. He also says online reviews present bigger theological problems.
"It reduces church to a commodity to be consumed," says Friesen. "The church, at the end of the day, is not a commodity — it's more like a family."
We're not reviewing our families on Yelp, at least not yet. But as Hager, the military housewife, sees it, houses of worship are communities that can become surrogate families. So doing due diligence, including reading online reviews, is part of the selection process.
See the full story.
What do you think? Would you check a website to help make a choice about a church?
NPR takes a look at Churchrater.com, where people can "rate" churches, much as people rate restaurants on Yelp.com.
While some people who run churches aren't thrilled by online reviews, the trend also worries those who teach ministry.
Dwight Friesen, who teaches theology at Mars Hill Graduate School, which is not affiliated with the church, says these reviews are akin to an "ecclesiastical bandstand," with people ranking places of worship as if it were an Olympic competition. He also says online reviews present bigger theological problems. "It reduces church to a commodity to be consumed," says Friesen. "The church, at the end of the day, is not a commodity — it's more like a family."
We're not reviewing our families on Yelp, at least not yet. But as Hager, the military housewife, sees it, houses of worship are communities that can become surrogate families. So doing due diligence, including reading online reviews, is part of the selection process.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, The "Theology After Google" conference at the Claremont School of Theology looked at the affects of technological advances on the church:
(Church 2.0) was, in fact, one of the terms used last week during a three-day conference about the future of American Christianity at the Claremont School of Theology. Pagitt was among about 150 ministers, laypeople and academics who gathered to discuss "Theology After Google."
The consensus: It's a whole new world out there. Churches will ignore it at their peril.
"I think things like denomination and ordination are part of the old system of control and domination that has to go," Pagitt, 42, said as he relaxed after the conference's first day at the Theo Pub set-up for participants. Around him, beer flowed and conversation leaped from Twitter to evangelism to church formation to corn toss, a beanbag game popular in the Midwest and Appalachia that is gaining a toehold among the theologians in Claremont.
Read the full story in the LA Times.
What do you think? WIll technology bring profound changes in the church in the years to come?
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, The "Theology After Google" conference at the Claremont School of Theology looked at the affects of technological advances on the church:
(Church 2.0) was, in fact, one of the terms used last week during a three-day conference about the future of American Christianity at the Claremont School of Theology. Pagitt was among about 150 ministers, laypeople and academics who gathered to discuss "Theology After Google." The consensus: It's a whole new world out there. Churches will ignore it at their peril.
"I think things like denomination and ordination are part of the old system of control and domination that has to go," Pagitt, 42, said as he relaxed after the conference's first day at the Theo Pub set-up for participants. Around him, beer flowed and conversation leaped from Twitter to evangelism to church formation to corn toss, a beanbag game popular in the Midwest and Appalachia that is gaining a toehold among the theologians in Claremont.
Check out this great story from the New York Times on the Passover Seder in the White House:
When Passover begins at sunset on Monday evening, Mr. Obama and about 20 others will gather for a ritual that neither the rabbinic sages nor the founding fathers would recognize.
In the Old Family Dining Room, under sparkling chandeliers and portraits of former first ladies, the mostly Jewish and African-American guests will recite prayers and retell the biblical story of slavery and liberation, ending with the traditional declaration “Next year in Jerusalem.”
Mr. Obama began the Seder by invoking the universality of the holiday’s themes of struggle and liberation. Malia and Sasha quickly found the hidden matzo and tucked it away again, so cleverly that Mr. Ziskend, the former advance man, needed 45 minutes to locate it. At the Seder’s close, the group opened a door and sang to the prophet Elijah.
Check out this great story from the New York Times on the Passover Seder in the White House:
When Passover begins at sunset on Monday evening, Mr. Obama and about 20 others will gather for a ritual that neither the rabbinic sages nor the founding fathers would recognize.
In the Old Family Dining Room, under sparkling chandeliers and portraits of former first ladies, the mostly Jewish and African-American guests will recite prayers and retell the biblical story of slavery and liberation, ending with the traditional declaration “Next year in Jerusalem.”
Mr. Obama began the Seder by invoking the universality of the holiday’s themes of struggle and liberation. Malia and Sasha quickly found the hidden matzo and tucked it away again, so cleverly that Mr. Ziskend, the former advance man, needed 45 minutes to locate it. At the Seder’s close, the group opened a door and sang to the prophet Elijah.
Rev. Patrick S. Cheng, PhD. says that it is time to shift away from a “legal model of sin.”
“I believe that it is time to shift away from a legal model of sin (whether Biblical law or natural law) and towards a christological model of sin. Under this model, sin is defined not by Biblical law or natural law, but rather by our opposition, as Christians, to what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. That is, sin is a mindset; it is a mode of existence that stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the good news of the Word made flesh. In other words, sin is a matter of deliberately turning one's back on what God has done for us in salvation history.”
Standing in the shadow of the cross and in the garden of an empty tomb, what is your view of sin?
Rev. Patrick S. Cheng, PhD., in an exploration of how the church views sin, says that it is time to shift away from a “legal model of sin.”
“I believe that it is time to shift away from a legal model of sin (whether Biblical law or natural law) and towards a christological model of sin. Under this model, sin is defined not by Biblical law or natural law, but rather by our opposition, as Christians, to what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. That is, sin is a mindset; it is a mode of existence that stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the good news of the Word made flesh. In other words, sin is a matter of deliberately turning one's back on what God has done for us in salvation history.”
Someone asked me this morning what I thought of Jesus' having been struck by lightning. It's not a biblical story that I'm familiar with, so I brushed off the question. Later, however, I discovered an article on Kentucky.com:
If you watch the TV series "Lost," you might find this interactive tool interesting. Provided by USAToday, the interactive segment allows you to choose a character and learn about the role faith played in their role. Several video clips are offered... some with the show's writers, who explain how religion and faith influenced their writing and the storyline.
