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Essays

Thoughtful personal reflections from a variety of perspectives about issues relevant to Christian leaders

Another small liberal arts college has closed, but this time it was mine

A graduate of Birmingham-Southern College reflects on the sudden closing of the school, and why it matters to the thousands of students who went there over the years.

By Anne Mitchell Whisnant Historian and director of Graduate Liberal Studies at Duke University

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Churches will have work to do no matter who wins in November

A new resource invites faith communities to prepare for their response on ‘day one’ after the upcoming presidential election in ways that continue important ministries and the provision of care.

Erin Weber-Johnson Thia Reggio

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Be vigilant and steadfast in Ordinary Time

In a long season that lacks the spectacle found elsewhere in the liturgical calendar, we can find space to focus and grow, writes the associate program director for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.

By James Wesley Dennis III Executive Pastor, Watson Grove Baptist Church

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Going to church under an oak tree

A visitor finds peace and belonging at New Life Lutheran Church, which worships outdoors in the Texas Hill Country.

By Mónica Tornoé Director of Latino/a Programs for Lifelong Learning, Austin Seminary

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President Jimmy Carter’s simple clarity of faith

The former president’s message was that the work of faith is hard but the calling is simple, writes a former executive director of the New Baptist Covenant who worked with Carter.

By Hannah McMahan King Nonprofit director

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When the church project doesn’t work out

After an effort to provide emergency shelter in their building proved unsustainable, some leaders of a church in Canada reflect on what went wrong.

By Sherwood Hines Writer

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Churches became one-stop shops at the height of COVID-19, but that is not sustainable

The pandemic pushed clergy into multiple new roles, and they responded. Now some of that work should be redirected to people better trained to do it, writes a director of grants for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.

By Victoria Atkinson White Director of Grants, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity

Image link to article: Churches became one-stop shops at the height of COVID-19, but that is not sustainable

5 tips on making your church anti-racist

Three sociologists suggest principles on becoming anti-racist based on research conducted on churches that have implemented such efforts.

By Gerardo Martí Professor of sociology, Davidson College

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Who is responsible? Ideally, more than one person

Becoming too reliant on any single individual can challenge a system and require recalibrating for growth and adaptation to occur, writes the executive director of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.

By David L. Odom Executive director, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity

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My ancestor was an enslaver. Here’s how I’m making reparations.

A graduate of Harvard Divinity School writes about her family’s history — which includes an ancestor active in the enslavement of Black people — and how she is taking reparative action.

By Morgan Curtis Facilitator and money coach

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