The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander This afternoon I had a long drive from Atlanta to Nashville, and I decided to start a book I’ve been wanting to read . . . by letting my iPad read to me.…
Read MoreLent I – Black History Month
Selma I began this first Sunday in Lent by traveling to Harlem in the heart of New York City. After a week of sleet, snow and ice in Nashville, I was grateful for the sunshine, and even the slushy sidewalks. People…
Read MoreAsh Wednesday – 2015
Gimme All Your Love So tell me what do you want me to do… You want me to lay down and play dead and do backflips for you? Walk in your shoes for a while? Tell me, what’s right? Gimme…
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Scholastica: A Saint for Women Called to Ministry
Women breaking new ground in ministry need a network of peer support. February 10 is the Feast Day of Saint Scholastica, the twin sister of Saint Benedict and founder of the first Benedictine convent for women. These “holy twins” were born…
Read MoreBlack History Month – Rose Marie McCoy
Hidden Talents Black History Month – Day 3 This afternoon I heard on NPR a remembrance of Rose Marie McCoy, who died at age 92 in on January 20. She was “one of the most prolific songwriters you’ve never heard of,” and she…
Read MoreBlack History Month – Maya Angelou
Caged Bird Black History Month – Day 2 In the fall of 2014, I taught a course in World Religions to 25 men in prison. It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had as a teacher. It…
Read MoreBlack History Month – Ms. Lauryn Hill
Who’s Lovin’ You? Black History Month – Day 1 At 13 years old Ms. Lauryn Hill took the stage at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC. Already her fierce determination shows through when she keeps singing in the face of the…
Read MoreScholastica: A Peer Mentoring Initiative
Scholastica When I was starting out in ministry, I drove four hours every couple of months to meet up with three other women in ministry for connection and support. We laughed and cried together and told each other about our lives, ministries,…
Read MoreAdvent III – #AdventVigil Prayers
Advent Vigil O Lord, deliver us from believing that surveillance is a substitute for relationship. Turn us away from thinking cameras alone can deter violence. Give us instead new eyes to see one another with trust and new hearts to…
Read MoreAdvent II – #AdventVigil
#AdventVigil In late November, I started planning some posts and op-eds to participate in awakening other white friends, family and followers to reflect on Advent After #Ferguson. That was before the failure to bring an indictment in the #EricGarner case.…
Read MoreAdvent I – APT Presentation – Eileen Campbell-Reed
Emerging Employment Spaces: Alternative Pathways If you are thinking about a career in theological education, you will be taking a hard look at the current employment situation. This slide show and voiceover offers my analysis on the present crisis, and offers…
Read MoreOrdinary Time VI – Sermon Checklist
Sermon Checklist Planning a sermon has a lot of moving parts. Especially for beginners, when you get caught up in the sermon itself, it’s easy to forget logistical details. Here’s a checklist that may help, so you don’t find yourself tripping into the…
Read MoreOrdinary Time V – Prayers for Ferguson
Prayers for #Ferguson – Tuesday Yesterday I posted a sweet message about my child’s back-to-school day. Today I’m posting a prayer for the children of #Ferguson who were scheduled to begin classes today, August 19, 2014. Schools will remain closed this…
Read MoreOrdinary Time IV – God is (Still) Waiting
God Is (Still) Waiting More Baptist churches are calling women as pastors, but the gender gap remains large. This coming Sunday, Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, N.C., will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ordination of a woman in…
Read MoreOrdinary Time III – Closing the Mentoring Gap
Closing the Mentoring Gap A major key to closing the gender gap in ministry is mentoring to help women improve skills and knowledge and introduce them to networks that lead to jobs. This week more than 2,000 Baptists, who openly…
Read MoreOrdinary Time II – Celebrating Pam Durso
Celebrating Pam Durso* The world of Baptist Women in Ministry was waiting for you. And you, my dear friend, you have been a gift. You continue to be a gift to Baptists, to historians, to women in ministry, and to…
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Ordinary Time I – Deep Peace
Deep Peace This prayer has wound its way in and through my life for at least 15 years now. I saw it in print, prayed it in a steady breath prayer, and offered it as a blessing many times before I…
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Eastertide XI ~ Pastoral Imagination
Learning Pastoral Imagination Project My work and vocation take me in a lot of directions: writing, teaching, coaching, and consulting. Topping my list of responsibilities, however, is my research as co-director of the first ever, national, ecumenical and longitudinal study of ministry.…
Read MoreEastertide X
GAs Gone Bad Over the next few days a group of women who study Baptists and gender will gather. It will be our second gathering. The actual group is about three times the number of these pictured. Six of us will…
Read MoreEastertide IX
“Baptist Preacher Girl” An Evening of Entertainment National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion May 19, 2014 Readers’ Theatre By Kryn Freehling-Burton with Susan Shaw In a denomination that historically has centered on soul competency, what happens when women hear…
Read MoreEastertide VIII
Closing the Gap Despite progress, the gender gap among Baptist pastors remains persistent. In recent weeks two prominent progressive Baptist churches moved to call well-known Baptist pastors. Notably in both calls the pastors are women. Riverside Church in New York…
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