Moral discernment

As the mainline Protestant denomination that is out in front of the movement for full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the church, the UCC is often portrayed in the media as some peculiar exception to “what Christians think” – or ignored altogether. So I thought this development was an encouraging sign:
It [...]

Equality and justice for all

Published in the Loudoun Times-Mirror, June 17, 2010
In a few weeks, we’ll celebrate the Fourth of July and recall a Declaration of Independence that says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, [and] that among these are Life, [...]

Beyond Afghanistan – A Time to Break Silence

The above title is based on some words of Martin Luther King, Jr. spoken at the Riverside Church in New York on April 4, 1967 – exactly one year before he was killed. It was at a meeting of CLERGY AND LAITY CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM, and he began:
“I come to this magnificent house of [...]

The cheapening of religion

An interesting comment by a reader of Andrew Sullivan’s blog describes the “cheapening of religion” that seems to have found its essential expression in the absurd outburst by Brit Hume. It seems to me that we’ve been seeing quite a bit of this sort of thing in Loudoun, such as in the recent outburst over [...]

Health care is a human right

Below is a podcast (with videos!) of our recent Faith and Life Forum. Thanks to all the participants for the great questions, and to Dr. David Baltierra of PHYSICIANS FOR A NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM for coming out to be with us not once, but twice. His eloquence, knowledge and kindness, as you will see, are [...]

Iowa Supreme Court affirms religious freedom

The unanimous ruling this morning from the Iowa Supreme Court is a resounding affirmation of religious freedom. Faith communities in Iowa that celebrate the sacred covenant of marriage for all couples, regardless of gender, will now be able to convey the same legal recognition when solemnizing those unions as do faith communities that only celebrate [...]

Aren’t we all God’s children?

I was listening to a very “conservative Christian” radio commentator the other day. She was rejoicing in the signs of springtime appearing around us, reflecting on the idea that everything must die in the winter in order for there to be the resurrection of life in the Spring. Did she know that she was expressing [...]

A need for victims

You may have heard somewhere in the news recently about the Connecticut legislature considering a bill that would provide oversight of the financial and administrative affairs of the Catholic Church there, and the outrage that proposal has generated. The action by the lawmakers is being called unconstitutional, a grave violation of religious liberty, and an [...]

Brokenhearted about God

I began the Bible as a hopeful, but indifferent, agnostic. I wished for a God, but I didn’t really care. I leave the Bible as a hopeless and angry agnostic. I’m brokenhearted about God.
These are the words of author David Plotz, discussing his project of blogging the Bible for Slate, Good Book: What I learned [...]

When you pray, move your feet

This Saturday we will be hosting a screening and discussion of The Asphalt Gospel, a film about Crosswalk America’s 2006 journey from Phoenix to Washington DC:
On Easter 2006, six ordinary people left their homes, jobs and families for a journey on foot into the heart of America. Their intention, as Crosswalk America, was to start [...]

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