“There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free.”—Walter Cronkite cited by former U.S. Ambassador Charles A. Ray, 2010 “What is to save our schools from control of this kind [religious control]? Will constitutional provisions do it? They are at the mercy of the people. […]
From Vows to Action Part II: A New Commitment
This series was originally published on the Journey Fellowship website. In Part 1 of the series, we explored the vows that Seventh-day Adventists assent to as part of their baptismal ceremony. The vows shape members’ sense of place within the denomination and the wider Christian Church; they also serve valid institutional functions. What definitions lie […]
From Vows to Action Part I: The Agreements We Make
This series was originally published on the Journey Fellowship website. Thanks, Kymone Hinds, for the opportunity to write! Is it possible to geek out over church liturgy? It is, and I did it a few weeks ago. Early in June, I came across this vow from the baptismal covenant reading in the Book of Common […]
Going Places
“Oh, the places you’ll go!” The person who introduced me to this story was one of my biggest adult advocates. It’s the kind of “Go and be!” tale that encourages many of us to leave our nests and move out into the rest of the world to do whatever good we can. But I didn’t […]
Round-up: Responses to Exodus Closure
And away he goes, precious. Gone! Gone! Gone! Smeagol is free!” Several organizations have responded to last week’s announcement that Florida-based ex-gay/sexual orientation change ministry Exodus International will close. The National Religious Leadership Roundtable includes representatives of Christian affinity and interest groups including the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, the Unity Fellowship Church, the Metropolitan Community […]
The Exodus of Exodus International
Earlier this month, I wrote about the Seventh-day Adventist church’s early history with the sexual orientation change effort industry (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). Quest Learning Center and Homosexuals Anonymous both formed during the same era as Exodus International, a sprawling evangelical organization that taught LGBT people, their families, and their churches that “change […]
