The UMC is recently atwitter about a proposed protocol of the future of the denomination. This post is not about the specifics of the protocol but in the one person who was able to broker such a deal between a diaspora of UMC theological ideas. Kenneth…

If art is anything, it is provocative. For anyone who has ever looked at a bit of art and thought, “My kindergartner can paint that! Why don’t you give her $120,000 for her play-do…

Some of us hold that all of humanity is defaulted to hell or separation from God. Some of us hold that all of humanity is defaulted to heaven or union with God. Perhaps our approach to “the other” is dependent on how we see salvation’s default?

Default settings influence behavior. According to Behavioraleconomics.comRequiring people to opt out if they do not wish to donate their organs, for example, has been associated with higher donation rates (Johnson & Goldstein, 2003). Similarly, mak…

The brothers came to Antony and said to him, “Tell us: How are we to be saved?” The old man said to them, “You have heard the Scriptures. That should teach you how.” But they said, “We want to hear from you, too, Father.” Then the old man said to them,…

When I listen to people who are seeing marriage I hear them discuss all the ways that they love one another. Most of the time the list of things are all the things the other person does or is. Expressions of kindness, generosity, humor, and care are to…

There will be countless articles and hot takes given on how to “survive” Thanksgiving table conversation. We know the unwritten but often expressed rules of Thanksgiving conversation:No PoliticsNo ReligionNo past hurts Keep it light and happyIf you can…

Instead of guides for how to “survive” Thanksgiving, the Rev. Jason Valendy offers suggestions for how to listen to one another.

The truth is that conversation is easier than observation, writes the Rev. Jason Valendy. Teaching by conversation does not require one to be open to the Spirit of resurrection. Teaching by observation does.

The truth is that conversation is easier than observation. Teaching by
conversation does not require one to be open to the Spirit of resurrection.
Teaching by observation does.