After 23 years at the Cathedral of Hope (UCC) in Dallas, TX, Michael Piazza accepted a call to the Virginia-Highland Church (UCC) last year. In addition to his pastoral ministry in a congregational context, Piazza serves as co-executive director of the Center for Progressive Renewal and as president of Hope for Peace & Justice. In the latter role, he wrote these challenging words earlier this week: The progressive church has a long and noble history of engaging the political system around Read More …
Discipleship
Silence in Worship (#0789)
Mark Vernon's recent article explores how limited silence is a part of most Christian worship services today. The current preference for services filled with sound is an historical aberration. To consider the topic in greater depth, he defers to Diarmaid MacCulloch (pictured at right), professor of the history of the church at Oxford University. MacCulloch chose the silence in Christian history as his topic for the prestigious Gifford Lectures, which are available online. So Read More …
The Summer Slump (#0787)
Joe Smith, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church (Lakewood, WA), recently blogged about one common approach to dealing with drops in attendance and giving in local congregations during the summer months: sending a "summer slump letter" (a letter sent to members encouraging them to keep their giving regular during the summer months). This unhelpful and unhealthy approach "corrodes community" and reaches the wrong audience, since those who are most active are most likely Read More …
Our God is Greater? (#0786)
Kurt Willems, an Anabaptist writer preparing for a church planting project with the Brethren in Christ, recently blogged about some of his concerns with a catchy worship song: Our God is Greater. Interestingly, he affirms the theology of the lyrics yet proposes that singing the words may have the ability to somehow make God "seem less great." The lyrics include these words: Chorus: Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Read More …
Thinking Theologically – Social Media (#0783)
It is important that Christian leaders understand and engage in social media. This activity must include both learning about new social media tools and theological reflection. Since finding the balance between these two is difficult, many have given inadequate attention to the theological component. Verity A. Jones, project director of the New Media Project and a Research Fellow at Union Theological Seminary, recently wrote an article that should be required reading Read More …
God is Not (#0780)
On this Independence Day far too many Americans make astounding theological assumptions about our nation and God's role in it. If it has been awhile since you considered many of the documents of historical importance, I encourage you to consider reading Stephen Prothero's new book The American Bible (I reviewed it yesterday). While I realize there is much I don't know about God, I am sure God is not an American. In fact, I am certain God is not many of the things people commonly Read More …
Is Technology Good for Religion? (#0768)
In a recent Washington Post article Lisa Miller argues that technology is good for religion. Building her argument primarily on the views of adherents rather than experts, she focuses on the value of apps to support rather than replace religious practices. In short, she believes: Technology can greatly enhance religious practice. Groups that restrict and fear it participate in their own demise. So What? Religion involves connection with the divine and with other people following Read More …
It’s Always Pentecost (#0766)
While Pentecost appears on the liturgical calendar just once a year, it is something we can (perhaps even must) experience daily. Watch my Pentecost sermon below and consider your experience of the Life-Giving Wind. So What? Wherever the Life-Giving Wind blows, the church is about unity not uniformity change not constancy renewal not repetition The Holy Spirit's activity is something worth pondering every day. Which of these is the most challenging for you? for your Read More …
Exploring God’s Activity (#0765)
J. Bennett Guess has served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ since 2000. He was the Director of Communications for the denomination from 2007-2011. In 2011 Guess was elected to his current position: Executive Minister of the United Church of Christ's Local Church Ministries and a member of the UCC's five-person Collegium of Officers. In the Spring/Summer edition of the Still Speaking magazine, Guess concluded his article about the denomination's Read More …
Review of Still (#0764)
Meet the Author Lauren. F. Winner is Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality at Duke Divinity School. She is the author of numerous books, including Mudhouse Sabbath (2003 - read my review here). Additionally, a number of her shorter pieces have been published, including a chapter in A Spiritual Life: Perspectives from Poets, Prophets, and Preachers (2011 - read my review here). Winner has appeared on PBS’s Religion & Ethics Read More …