I am deeply saddened today by news of the mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina, a crime apparently motivated by racism. Ferguson, Baltimore, Charleston—and the many places that never make national headlines. When will it end?
The people of Baltimore have been much on my mind lately—and on many of our minds, I suspect. Reader Mary has shared her thoughts on watching coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality cases while watching the Baltimore protests.
This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day seems weighted with extra meaning in the wake of events in Ferguson, Missouri and elsewhere that have brought increased attention on our country’s racial inequalities. The problem is daunting, with no single or simple solution. One thing we parents can do, however, is to talk with our children about racism and Dr. King’s legacy—not just today, but all year long.
I’ve been lighting the Hanukkah candles with my 11-year-old son this week and thinking about how we all could use a little light right now.
Sometimes, the world renews my faith in it. Back in July, I wrote about the First Church Congregational in Rochester, New Hampshire, which had two Pride flags stolen within a week. Here’s what happened when the pastor then asked people to send in rainbow flags to cover the building.
The First Church Congregational in Rochester, New Hampshire, part of the United Church of Christ (UCC), has had two rainbow Pride flags stolen in the past week. In response, Pastor Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy, who is raising two children with her spouse Marcey, is asking for people to send them rainbow flags so they can cover the church building and lawn with them.
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, a poem from the divine Emily Dickinson: Color – Caste – Denomination Color — Caste — Denomination — These — are Time’s Affair — Death’s diviner Classifying Does not know they are — As in sleep — All Hue forgotten — Tenets — put behind — Death’s large
For those of you interested in the ideas sparked by my post yesterday on coming out in a religious context, here’s another good read: “Why Anti-Gay Bullying is a Theological Issue,” by Baptist minister Cody J. Sanders at Religion Dispatches. Sanders writes: More difficult to address are the myriad ways in which everyday churches that
(Originally published in Bay Windows, April 16, 2009. I wrote it as coverage for a local event, but I think it has broad interest, especially in light of a recent ruling by the Judicial Council, the highest court of the United Methodist Church, which said clergy may not officiate at marriages of same-sex couples, even
Two men and two teenagers have been arrested in the December 13 gang rape of a California lesbian. Police are investigating the attack as a hate crime. According to several of the news sources reporting this, tips from local residents led to the arrests. Word from folks I know in the local area, too (h/t
