By: Adam Harris on October 12, 2023
During last week’s discussion I mentioned the natural temptation to categorize people into groups. I continually caught myself trying to pin down Francis Fukuyama’s political affiliation in his book Identity with little success. While reading I would think, he must be a democrat…well… maybe he is a republican…. libertarian? People who can critique and call…
By: Todd E Henley on October 12, 2023
The spring of 1978 my 6th grade class was preparing for graduation by rehearsing the song, “The Greatest Love of All”1 Every time we sang it, there was one line we nearly screamed at the top of our lungs, “No matter what they take from me. They can’t take away my dignity” This was because…
By: Mathieu Yuill on October 12, 2023
In my city, the stark divisions between neighborhoods are more than just geographical boundaries; they are metaphorical objects that separate communities with contrasting realities. These divisions are often represented by elements such as train tracks, specific streets, or even a park, and they bring to light severe income disparities and, at times, ethno-racial differences. It’s…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on October 11, 2023
Identity is defined as “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual”(1) I read it a couple of times so that I could let it sink in. I then tried to find a single, only one, distinguishing character that makes me ‘me”! I could not. I am so many things, a beautiful and complex combination…
By: Cathy Glei on October 10, 2023
Each year, when our school district returns from summer vacation the staff are presented with a new inspirational focus, or buzz word, to frame our collaborative work. It is a method for framing our thinking around our collective mission and pursuits. This year, when we returned to begin the 2023-24 school year, we were presented…
By: Kim Sanford on October 9, 2023
“If we do not agree on a minimal common culture, we cannot cooperate on shared tasks and will not regard the same institutions as legitimate; indeed, we will not even be able to communicate with one another absent a common language with mutually understood meanings.” [1] In his book Identity: The Demand for Dignity and…
By: Jenny Dooley on October 9, 2023
Since returning to the United States in 2014, I have been confused by the political and social climate. The reverse culture shock of returning home where everyone is clamoring to be heard, no one is listening, and sides must be taken has been difficult to navigate. After decades of embracing collectivistic cultures in which the…
By: Mathieu Yuill on October 9, 2023
Recently, the pastor at our church, along with a pastor from another church began discussing amalgamating the two churches. I actually learned of this while we were on our Oxford advance and as I have learned more, I made the decision to view this through the lens of both David Bebbigton’s, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain,…
By: Dinka Utomo on October 9, 2023
In my encounters and conversations with Evangelical pastors in Indonesia, one significant thing that I’ve come to admire is their unwavering dedication to spreading the Gospel message. Through these encounters, I can feel the fervent spirit within them, driven by their deep love for God and unwavering obedience to His word. This devotion is particularly…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on October 6, 2023
I must admit that I felt a little intimidated by the thought of reading Dr. Jason Swan Clark’s Dissertation. It felt weird to read his work and write about it, not sure why but it was not a task that I was anxious to complete. Perhaps it’s his over 6-foot stature or maybe the English…
By: Adam Harris on October 5, 2023
David Bebbington’s, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain, is an honest analysis of Evangelicalism’s evolution in Britain’s recent history. Although this stream of Christianity did morph, develop, and adapt to the culture over time he argues that it maintained four specific characteristics and emphasis throughout its journey (conversions, activism, biblicism, and Jesus’ work on the cross). However,…
By: Todd E Henley on October 5, 2023
As a child I had the privilege of not growing up in a religious home. In fact we never went to church, not even on Easter of during the Christmas season. There were no religious paintings on our walls and God, the bible, church, or religious words were never mentioned in our home. God miraculously…
By: Cathy Glei on October 4, 2023
In a recent conversation with a volunteer in one of my buildings, the word evangelical was tossed into the conversation. The person was commenting on a former leader of the United States using uncensored language and many expletives to describe the leader and her overall disgust at the person’s leadership style. We shared similar disappointments. …
By: Jenny Dooley on October 2, 2023
In Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A history from the 1730s to the 1980s D.W. Bebbington examined the four qualities of Evangelicalism: conversionism, activism, biblicism, and crucicentrism.[1] The book placed my experience of coming to faith in perspective and illuminated my understanding of the Christian and theological world into which I was born. Raised in the…
By: John Fehlen on October 2, 2023
I distinctly remember when Ted Haggard had his very public “fall” from the evangelical heights, especially having served as president of the National Association of Evangelicals(NAE) from 2003 until November 2006. Haggard resigned from that role as well as his senior pastorate after making headlines for engaging in sex with a male prostitute and buying…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on September 15, 2023
Oxford I will honestly admit that I did not hold the fascination with Oxford that so many people have. I always perceived it as a place that I had little to no connection with. As my departure date grew closer, it seems as though my interaction with people that are completely enamored with Oxford strangely…
By: Dinka Utomo on September 14, 2023
Undefended leadership is about a kind of generous hospitality: a giving of ourselves to the world that transforms it, an opening-up of space in our lives in which the ‘other’ is welcomed and, indeed, utterly changed (Simon P. Walker) The allure of power resides in its capacity to influence others and fulfill personal desires. Possessing power…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on September 14, 2023
“Alexa, Stop!” Before I can write about AI and the applications of it to my studies, I must first talk about my Nemesis Alexa. I was an enthusiastic, early user of Alexa. I was completely captivated by the idea of having her respond on command. I bought an Echo Dot for every room in the…
By: Jenny Dooley on September 14, 2023
For years I dreamed of pursuing a doctorate. I considered social work, psychology, ministry, missiology, and even Southeast Asian studies. I secretly hoped to become a docent at the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore. Needless to say, I am surprised by my choice and surprised by leadership. In Leading with Nothing to Lose: Training in…
By: Todd E Henley on September 14, 2023
As I read Walker’s book two verses kept burning in my heart. With every page chills went up and down my spine. The verses below screamed off nearly every page. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been…
