Later this month will mark the one year anniversary of Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico as its 3.3 million residents still reeled from the impact of the often forgotten Hurricane Irma which hit the island just two weeks before. As I type these words, I whisper the name Raúl Pagán, my father’s cousin—que en… Read More
RCL: Toward a Worthy Life
“Live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” writes the author of Ephesians. I can’t help but wonder if we have all forgotten that we are supposed to be living a life worthy of the love and grace we have been given. I don’t see much evidence of people striving… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
“A sound was heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted because they were dead.” Matthew 2:17-19 GOD’S WORD Translation “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way…”[i] Save… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: It’s All Connected
On this auspicious day, my attorney is pleading my case in my capitol city, having been arrested in the General Assembly building for “trespassing.” I spent a large part of my summer participating in the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Convened by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II and Rev. Dr. Liz… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Robbed of Full Humanity
Note: many of the articles linked to this article contain profanity, slurs, and triggers. In 1915, my grandfather was driven from his homeland and sentenced to die at the age of six. His crime was being born an Armenian in Turkey. American Ambassador Henry Morganthau, Sr. asked Talaat Pasha, lead architect of the Armenian Genocide,… Read More
Friday Prayer: Lamenting and Confessing
This week I was fortunate to be present for the A.C.T. Now! Anti-Racism Rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC. This prayer was born from my experience. When we do not see in one another the Imago Dei, we “other” them. May all who are Called be change agents for reconciliation and peace. Oh… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: White Folk, Are We Brave Enough?
White Folk, Are We Brave Enough?* Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12: 25, NRSV) Jesus is a strong (and long) talker in John’s gospel. John takes this saying that is found in similar forms across all four… Read More
Wednesday Prayer: For the state of our dis-union
Loving God, For the state of our dis-union in this nation caused by white supremacy, patriarchy, racism, and homophobia – forgive us and move us towards healing. For the state of our dis-union in this world caused by greed, hubris, xenophobia, and anthropocentrism – forgive us and move us towards healing. For the state of… Read More
RevGalBookPals: Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race
A U.S.- based organization with a substantial worldwide audience cannot only focus on the issues of the United States. In truth, we might be well-served by looking toward more than one book reviewer, so as to broaden the base of what gets recommended beyond the publishing areas of the U.S. The gift of electronic publishing… Read More
RevGalBookPals: The Hate U Give
This is the book: The Hate U Give. The picture is linked. You can buy the book today. You can be finished with it by Saturday. At the latest. And when you’re finished, you will have read a powerful first-person fictional narrative about a 16-year-old named Starr who is in the car when a police officer… Read More
