Word&Way News: Dec. 15
Here’s the weekly roundup from Word&Way. In addition to a review of a book on work and religion that is free for anyone to read, paid subscribers to A Public Witness received a report on a church-state controversy in a state Capitol.
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Top 5 at wordandway.org
Lawsuit: Priest Says First Gas Execution in US Poses Threat to Religious Liberty. Kathryn Post reported on Rev. Jeff Hood’s challenge to Alabama’s execution plans in January.
Review: The Gospel According to James Baldwin. Robert D. Cornwall reviewed The Gospel According to James Baldwin: What America’s Great Prophet Can Teach Us About Life, Love, and Identity by Greg Garrett.
Before He Was House Speaker, Mike Johnson Represented a Creationist Museum in Court. Here’s What That Episode Reveals About His Politics. William Trollinger argued that Johnson’s association with Ark Encounter makes sense given the strong connection between Young Earth Creationism and Christian Right politics.
In Texas, Debate Over School Chaplains Escalates School Board Culture Wars. Jack Jenkins reported on the ongoing debate over a new law in the Lone Star State as some conservative Christian activists seek to turn public schools into a “mission field.”
Preaching to Polarized Congregations: A Responsibility and a Challenge, Clergy Say. Adelle M. Banks reported on clergy who say reducing polarization is both a spiritual necessity for them and an ever-increasing part of their job description.
Unsettling Advent
Our Advent series continued this week, with devotionals by Wendell Griffen, Kristel Clayville, Samuel Perry, David Gushee, Brian Kaylor, Beau Underwood, and Janna Louie. You can sign up to receive the rest of the daily devotionals each morning in your inbox:
Dangerous Dogma
This week: R.L. Stollar on the Kingdom of Children
Another noteworthy podcast this week:
The latest episode of Hark! (a seasonal podcast on Christmas carols) explores the song “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”
by Brian Kaylor, Word&Way Editor-in-Chief
This week, the advocacy group Mothers for Democracy released a powerful ad about the need for action to stop gun violence against children. Their ad imagined what it would look like if we reacted as a society to a child drowning in a swimming pool like we do to mass shootings.
The premise of the ad is correct. Offering “thoughts and prayers” while refusing to act is meaningless. It not only doesn’t stop the violence, it also offers a poor witness. Here’s how I explained it to the Washington Post in 2019 as they wrote about the backlash to “thoughts and prayers” rhetoric: “If prayer becomes merely a political shield for one side that feels like they need to defend their gun rights or their political ideology, and the other side cedes that ground, I think that that not only hurts the political debate about this issue, but it also hurts faith.”
Of course, James said it better: “Faith without deeds is useless.”
Other News of Note
Reuters reported on a political activist mobilizing pastors in Iowa to back Donald Trump.
Joan Frawley Desmond of the National Catholic Register reported about a U.S. visa rule change this year that is making it more difficult for foreign-born clergy to remain in the U.S.
A leading Catholic cleric in Nigeria said Christians should not be worried about the nation’s new administration led by Muslims.
Jason Smith of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America wrote about a visit to the Peace Cathedral in the nation of Georgia that models interfaith cooperation.
In Poland, some Nativity scenes traditionally include political figures — like Vladimir Putin as the devil.
“All nations know how to pick up swords. They don’t need encouragement to do so. But they may need help finding ways to put them away.” —Esau McCaulley in a New York Times column about “the theological truth we must press during war” and how he sees many U.S. pastors missing that amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.
A lavish Christmas pageant at a Texas megachurch is again sparking online criticism (we wrote about the flying drummer angels last year).
A church in St. Paul, Minnesota, built tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness.
Jim Patterson reported for The Christian Century about an airport exhibit sponsored by United Methodists that highlights Indigenous heritage.
Akosua Frempong compiled for Christianity Today videos of “African Christmas hits.”
Photo of the Week
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