Dec 12, 2018 | Weekly Words
Hope, joy, love, and peace are themes upon which we think as we celebrate and anticipate the coming of Christ during this Advent season. Hope, joy, love, and peace have been four emotions that I have encountered face-to-face this year. I have experienced the joy of...
Dec 11, 2018 | Weekly Words
In the 1950s, long before the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) schism of the 1970s, the chance of a Southern Baptist woman becoming a deacon–much less the lead minister of a local church–was unthinkable. Regardless of her qualifications, women were barred...
Nov 28, 2018 | Advent/Lent, Weekly Words
By now, the race is on. The Thanksgiving leftovers are cold, the Black Friday shoppers have come home with bags and bargains in tow, UPS is dropping off the Cyber Monday purchases, and the festivities have officially begun. For the next month, advertisements will...
Nov 27, 2018 | +Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task Force, Weekly Words
“Sally” was a young newlywed who went to her Baptist pastor for marital counseling. As she got up to leave his church office that evening, he wrapped his big arms around Sally and kissed her on the lips. She was shocked, pushed her pastor away, and quickly left. As...
Nov 14, 2018 | Weekly Words
You hear a lot as a pastor. You hear the voices of your congregation. Voices of excitement and hope. Voices of new possibilities. You hear a beautiful diversity of voices joining together in worship each week. But you also hear the voices of concern and complaint....
Nov 7, 2018 | +Leadership, Weekly Words
Mary F. Foskett is the Wake Forest Kahle Professor, Albritton Fellow, and Associate Chair in the Department for the Study of Religions at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She teaches in the area of New Testament Studies and has been a core...
