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.ย 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 ofย writing is the planning required. Yet, planning helps spread out all the other tasks, and makesย getting started one step. Otherwise, all the overwhelming steps come at youย 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? Iโm 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 Retreatย 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 Viewย When Iย 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,ย Dr. Cynthia Ganote,ย a sociologist and life coach, is…
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Review: “The Calling” Documentary
Review: โThe Callingโ 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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Wednesday Words for Writers – G
Go! Go! Gooooo!ย Sometimes the main thing holding us back from getting our writing done is simple inaction. We just need to go! Sit down. Open the document and go! We know what needs doing and simplyย need to do it.…
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Wednesday Words for Writers ~ D
Desk A clean desk invites fresh writing. And it can be a ritual or signal that it is the right time and place to write. Recentlyย I visited a man who has started numerous Montessori schools. If he said to me…
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Honoring Molly T. Marshall and Carolyn Blevins
Recently I contributed to festschrifts honoring Molly T. Marshall and Carolyn Blevins. Academic mentors helped me find my way into studies of practical theology, history, and ministry. Many teachers encouraged me and pushed me to do my best. Recently I…
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Honoring Carolyn Blevins
Todayย at a shared meeting between the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion and Baptist History & Heritage Society meeting in Waco, Texas,ย we will honor Carolyn Blevins with aย festschrift,ย which is anย academicย book that honors the writing and contributions of a scholar…
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Wednesday Words for Writers ~ C
Confidence Crisis This is part of theย occasional series Wednesday Words for Writers. Check out previous posts on the letter A and theย letter B. This post comes from a recent response I made to one of the academic writers that I…
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Introducing Martha – Anatomy of a Schism
When the search committee from Monroe Corner Baptist Churchย first phoned, Martha said to herself, โThis is never going to happen.ย They are not going to call a woman!โ Nevertheless, she took a riskย and entered the search process with them. To her…
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A Blessing for the Preachers
Festival of Young Women Preachers April 7, 2016 | Eden Seminary | St. Louis, Missouriย A Blessing for the Preachers Bless these hands as they handle sacred Scripture, and sacred stories, and sacred moments of the preaching and pastoral life.…
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