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June 29, 2022

Volume 139, Issue #13
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Features

The spirituality of slow fashion

I have found joy reusing, recycling, and repairing clothing.

by Dana Allen Walsh

Readers Write

Threshold: Essays by readers

We gave our readers a one-word writing prompt: “threshold.”

Embracing Marc Chagall’s refugee Christ

The painter’s Exodus calls to mind the Passover, the Shoah, Ukraine, and the southern border.

by Zac Koons

Title 42’s disastrous—and illegal—legacy at the southern border

The Biden administration has reversed Trump’s rhetoric around migrants but not all of his policies.

by David A. Hoekema

The old “distraction” slur against advocates for justice

This line of attack goes back to the White Christian opponents of the 19th-century abolition movement.

by Mark Glanville

Books

How Christians in Korea helped build American evangelicalism

Helen Jin Kim exhumes the Korean roots of three major evangelical organizations, all present at a 1973 Billy Graham rally in Seoul.

by J. Y. Lee

Luke Timothy Johnson’s scholarly life

The prolific biblical scholar offers an engaging account of his career—and of the spiritual journey that helped shape it.

by David Heim

Climate change requires adaptive faith

Debra Rienstra urges Christians to create spaces of transition and new growth wherever we are.

by Liuan Huska

Joel Agee’s novel of childhood wonder and terror

Fantastical things surround six-year-olds everywhere.

by Joshua B. Grace

Departments

Our Lady of La Vang

The power of the Virgin Mary for Vietnamese Catholics—at home and in diaspora

by Philip Jenkins

First Words

Looking ahead

Life isn’t meant to be lived in the rearview mirror.

by Peter W. Marty

On Art

The Rich Man and Lazarus by James Janknegt

Painting the parables is a special calling for James Janknegt....

art selection and comment by John Kohan

Faith Matters

White supremacy’s wee little men

Zaccheus doesn't mind the indignity of scrambling up a tree, as long as he’s on top.

Brian Bantum

From the Editors

The Palestinian refugee camp where journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was murdered

Why do these camps still exist? Who is responsible for keeping them safe?

News

MC USA repeals ‘Member­ship Guidelines,’ passes LGBTQ-affirming resolution

At a special assembly held May 27–30 in Kansas City, Missouri, delegates from the nation’s largest Mennonite denomination shifted Mennonite Church USA’s stance toward LGBTQ people in an affirming direction....

by Paul Schrag

People

Mildred “Bonnie” Hines, first woman AME Zion bishop, dies at 67

Bishop Mildred “Bonnie” Hines, the first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, has died at age 67....

by Adelle M. Banks

People

Ecumenical leader Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima dies

Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, a leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Turkey, a noted scholar, and a popular ecumenist, died June 1....

by Dawn Araujo-Hawkins

People

Brett Opalinski to lead Methodist studies at Candler School of Theology

Brett Opalinski has been selected as the next dean of Methodist studies at the Candler School of Theology. He will also serve as an assistant professor in the practice of spiritual formation and church leadership....

by Dawn Araujo-Hawkins

Interfaith leaders join protest outside NRA meeting

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered under the scorching Texas sun on May 27 to protest outside the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting, just days after 21 people died in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that has reignited a national deba...

by Katherine Keenan

Episcopal Church presses gun manufacturer to study lethality

The Episcopal Church on June 1 was part of a successful push by shareholders of gun manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co. to pressure the company to study the lethality of its products and include the findings in a human rights impact report....

by David Paulsen

How the Southern Baptist report almost didn’t happen

For three minutes last summer, a call to investigate how Southern Baptist leaders have dealt with sexual abuse was dead in the water. Then a little-known denominational bylaw and a pastor from Indiana saved it....

by Bob Smietana

AME Church alleges former retirement services exec embezzled tens of millions

The African Methodist Episcopal Church has sued a former executive who oversaw its pension plan’s investment portfolio, charging that he and others embezzled money and defrauded AME clergy and church employees who were relying on its annuity plan ...

by Adelle M. Banks

Lectionary

July 17, Ordinary 16C (Luke 10:38-42)

I wonder whether Martha could feel cared for by Jesus.

by Crystal DesVignes

July 10, 15C (Amos 7:7-17)

The prophets God sends among us are often vilified, distorted, and silenced.

by Crystal DesVignes

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