Welcome to Advent, the start of a new church year! I am glad for new beginnings and I am delighted to launch a new project at the opening of this particular spiritual and liturgical season of the church year. Eight…
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Adventures in Cooking: Thanksgiving Edition
Every year for the last 18 with a few exceptions (in the early years of graduate school and then motherhood) the weekend before Thanksgiving involves my attending the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, and in most of…
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Three Minute Ministry Mentor
New Weekly Video Series Launches in Advent Everyone in ministry needs a mentor. Whether you have one currently or feel like you could really use one, our new video series, Three Minute Ministry Mentor, is created exactly with you in…
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State of Clergywomen in the U.S. Report (2018)
We invite you to download the State of Clergywomen in the U.S. Report! To get your free copy, sign up today! State of Clergywomen in the U.S. Report | 2018 from Eileen Campbell-Reed on Vimeo. I am deeply grateful for…
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Anatomy of a Schism: Reviews
What have scholars and reviewers been saying about Anatomy of a Schism? Here are a few excerpts. Review and Expositor This is not your father’s interpretation of the twentieth-century Southern Baptist schism. Eileen R. Campbell-Reed has produced an original perspective on…
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Immigration Sermon 6-23-2018
The following homily was offered on June 23 as part of an action to “Stop Jailing Families” which called on Nashville Mayor Briley and Sheriff Hall to untangle their relationship with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and stop detaining immigrants,…
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Wednesday Words for Writers ~ F
Feedback This month I’ve been taking a class in creative non-fiction over at The Porch. A dozen or so women sit around a big plank table each week, and we talk about delicious classics like “You Blow My Mind! Hey,…
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Flourishing in a Culture of Disbelief
Three Keys for Women Leading Churches Women starting out in ministry need space to learn. So do men. All people with a pastoral calling need room to grow into the practice of ministry. Too often, however, a culture of disbelief…
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Tennessee Baptists: Why Should We?
Why should we deny the gospel? Why should we sin against God’s call? Why should we reject the gifts of the Spirit? Right now sitting in your seats, imagine the most important woman in your life. Who are the most important…
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Reformation and the Economy of Salvation
“Here I stand. I can do no other.” So said Martin Luther. At the time he was on trial by the Holy Roman Church for writing heresy. It was 1521. On that day he refused to deny his arguments against…
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Anatomy of a Schism on ClearStory Podcast
The 29th Annual Southern Festival of Books charmed me in ways I did not expect. I met amazing people and had some great conversations. Before I got away, River Jordan interviewed me about Anatomy of a Schism for ClearStory Radio.…
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Clyde Edgerton: 8 Practices for Writing
Southern Festival of Books This weekend I met Clyde Edgerton and got to ask him about his practices for writing. Our interaction was one of many joys I found at the 29th Annual Southern Festival of Books (2017)! On Sunday…
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Public Theology in the Face of Tragedy
This morning as we consider another major tragedy in real time, let’s consider how to do this with more grace and less sensationalism. When responding to tragedy… 1) Lift prayers for peace, love, grief & loss. It’s not the only…
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Pastoral Wisdom Part 1 ~ Mentoring
Seeking Pastoral Wisdom Part 1: Mentoring It is something most ministers want. And it can feel impossible to find. Yet seeking pastoral wisdom is vital for the work of the church and for leading people of faith. Becoming pastorally wise…
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Ordinary Time: “Hangry”
Almost simultaneously this summer I was invited to preach at three churches. My home church, Glendale Baptist would be first, and we spent the summer exploring the Beatitudes. So I took Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst…
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Wednesday Words for Writers ~ P
Planning One of the harder tasks in the world of writing is the planning required. Yet, planning helps spread out all the other tasks, and makes getting started one step. Otherwise, all the overwhelming steps come at you at once. Even writers long…
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Why I Marched – Epiphany
Recently someone asked me: Why did you feel compelled as a person of faith to march on Saturday? I’m a Love-God and Love-Your-Neighbor type of Christian. I believe that love is to be practiced with heart, mind, soul, and strength.…
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Wednesday Words for Writers ~ R
How to Plan Your Writing Retreat Have you ever wished for an uninterrupted time of focused writing or editing? Yet you don’t want to sink back into binge writing that drains your life and energy, making you want to abandon…
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Wednesday Words for Writers ~ E
Eagle’s Eye View When I began my dissertation some moons ago, I attended a workshop where I learned a few strategies and approaches that I still use today when I write. The workshop facilitator, Dr. Cynthia Ganote, a sociologist and life coach, is…
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Review: “The Calling” Documentary
Review: ‘The Calling’ a hopeful portrait of religious leadership* Becoming a pastor, priest, rabbi or imam is no simple matter. The Calling, a new four-hour documentary premiering on PBS, follows seven men and women on their paths to becoming religious…
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Ordinary Time: Wild with Words
The Body Remembers The grass was warm and dry under my bare feet. The labyrinth brought back the familiar feeling of rushing to the center, and long pausing at the middle, and dragging my feet with a desire to stretch…
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