The CANA Initiative (Convening, Advocating, Networking, Acting) is a collective of faith-engaged people and entities (Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, and other Christians who believe the future for Christian life and mission will be different in many ways from the past and present), that brings together diverse and innovative leaders to collaborate in the development of new ways of being Christian. During Lent, Diana Butler Bass – a CANA initiator Read More …
Diana Butler Bass
Academic Teaching (in Church) (#1338)
Stephen Mattson recently proposed a list of seven things churches have largely stopped doing that he believes they should still be doing: discipline, testimonials, corporate prayer, challenge, academically teach, sacrifice, and practical ministry. Academically Teach While each item on his list is worth considering, I found myself most intrigued by #4: academically teach. Mattson writes: Churches used to be innovative leaders in education, but now all “higher level” Read More …
Learning from Diana Butler Bass (#1330)
After two years of planning, the big weekend finally arrived. Naples United Church of Christ welcomed Diana Butler Bass for our annual weekend lecture series. This year's theme was chosen to compliment Valentine's Day weekend: "The Romance of Faith." At the kick-off lecture on Friday night, Diana spoke on "The God Who Woos." She reminded us that our faith is supposed to be a romance, suggested that we consider our teaching of sexuality not as stop signs (what not to do) Read More …
Pastoral Prayer: Love (#1329)
I wrote this pastoral prayer for today's worship services at the Naples United Church of Christ. This unique service is the conclusion of a three day weekend event, "The Romance of Faith," which featured Diana Butler Bass. For this service, her sermon title is "The Journey of Love," and text is Song of Songs 8:6-7. In the tradition of this congregation the pastoral prayer includes a call to prayer, silent prayer, and then the pastoral prayer. The call to prayer connects all Read More …
A Unique Valentine’s Weekend (#1321)
Back in the summer of 2012, I invited Diana Butler Bass to spend some time at Naples United Church of Christ in February 2014. After eighteen months of planning by a great team, we are now ready for an unforgettable Valentine's Day and weekend. In the News Yesterday, the Collier Citizen ran an article by Mollie Page. Page interviewed Butler Bass about our event. Page writes: She’s a voice for theological sanity in an uncertain world. Religious historian Diana Butler Bass is Read More …
Diana Butler Bass: The Romance of Faith (#1284)
I am pleased to announce that Diana Butler Bass is coming to Naples, FL for a Valentine's weekend that participants will always remember - The Romance of Faith: Exploring New Ways of Thinking about Love, Faith, Spirituality and Theology. The event is hosted by the Naples United Church of Christ, and is open to all. Please purchase your tickets soon to receive the early-bird pricing shown below. Friday, February 14 The God Who Woos: The Romance of Spirituality 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 Read More …
Adult Enrichment – 2014 (#1222)
Earlier this week, Naples United Church of Christ's third annual adult enrichment booklet was published. I invite you to check it out below. If you happen to find yourself in Southwest Florida, please consider attending one or more of the events. This year's educational offerings include Diana Butler Bass, Lauren Artress, and Ted Coiné. So What? The 2014 edition is the third annual adult enrichment publication at Naples UCC. The idea for this format started in 2011 Read More …
Future of the Faith (#1077)
This past Thursday Yale Divinity School hosted a one-of-a-kind event: The Future of Faith. This two-part event featured author and scholar Diana Butler Bass and New York Times Op-Ed columnist Ross Douthat. The first hour,"The Future of Faith: Two Views," was moderated by Bob Abernethy, host of Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. The second hour, "Future of Faith and Church Life," was moderated by Lillian Daniel, a writer and United Church of Christ pastor. Bass' Read More …
A Spiritual-But-Not-Religious First (#0985)
Diana Butler Bass, popular speaker and the author of several books including Christianity After Religion: The End of the Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening, labeled President Obama's second inaugural speech "the first spiritual-but-not-religious inaugural sermon," while recognizing such is "a twenty-first century expression of American civil spirituality, embedded in but not dependent upon the ancient vision of American Protestant theology of and for God’s Read More …
Top 10 Books of 2012 (#0961)
Over the course of the past year, I have reviewed nearly 50 books written in 2012. Today, I share my top ten: Bass, Diana Butler Christianity After Religion: The End of the Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening Borg, Marcus J. Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written Crossan, John Dominic The Power of Parable: How Fiction by Jesus Became Fiction About Jesus Gyatso, Tenzin (the 14th Dalai Lama) Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole Read More …