COGNOSCENTI | Why our family still makes time for church on Sundays
"On Sunday mornings, our family does something unusual. We wake our three teenagers earlier than they want, shower and dress up a little bit, and drive seven minutes up the…
Screenshot of cover photo for the Christian Century essay
Christian Century: Worshiping at the church of Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift more or less plays on repeat when I’m driving around with our kids, so the recent arrival of The Eras Tour film, a new version of “Cruel Summer,” and 1989 (Taylor’s…
Screenshot of cover graphic of RNS essay
RNS | Why do I still go to church?
READ THE RNS ESSAY: Why do I still go to church? For many Americans, going to church has become outdated, impractical, and in some cases even a sign of oppression.…
There Are Good Reasons for Leaving Church. Why Do I Stay?
There are good reasons for leaving church: scandals, abuse, hypocrisy, patriarchal structures, intolerance. Nearly 40 million American adults were once churchgoers but aren't any longer, according to Jim Davis, Michael…
3 Ways to Find an Ordinary Church
We need to go back to church. I feel like a little old lady wagging a scolding finger when I write that, and the last thing I want to do…
Hillsong was extraordinary. That’s the problem. | RNS
I watched the FX documentary, The Secrets of Hillsong last week, and it struck me that the allure of Hillsong was also the cause of its downfall. If you aren’t…
I’m a Denominational Mutt
When it comes to Christianity, I am a denominational mutt. I was baptized as an infant in an Episcopal church. I was confirmed as a tween in a Presbyterian one.…
The Blessings of a Small Church
One Sunday morning, I walked in late to church, looking for our family. I spotted Peter’s head and joined him and Marilee in the pew. They weren’t hard to locate.…
Small Talk Is 8!
We’re celebrating the eight-year birthday/anniversary of my book Small Talk: Learning from My Children About What Matters Most. I hope you’ll join me in enjoying these words! (You can watch…
S5 E20 | Disability Belongs in Church with Dr. Amy Kenny
While Jesus welcomed the disabled, the poor, and the outcast, Christian communities are often spaces of exclusion. Dr. Amy Kenny is a disabled scholar, a Shakespeare Lecturer, and the author…
