Reconciliation's Challenge for New Monastic Communities (by Jason and Vonetta Storbakken)

In August 2006, before having ever heard the term "new monasticism," my husband, Jason, and I founded Radical Living, an intentional community in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. When I (Vonetta) was 12 years old, I emigrated from Guyana …

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (by Virginia Lohmann Bauman)

"Vote Out Poverty! Vote Out Poverty!" shouted the diverse group of clergy and faith leaders as they marched in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, at our ecumenical public witness event last October. That was the last time I saw Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in …

Daily News Digest (by Duane Shank)

The latest news on the Democratic Convention, March on Washington, McCain VP, Immigration raid, Global Warming, Global Poverty, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Pakistan, Kenya, Passing, Editorial and Opinion.

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Verse of the Day: 'The days are evil'

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

- Ephesians 5:15

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Voice of the Day: Jose Comblin

Far from directing understanding inwards on themselves, the experience of the Spirit launches men and women out into the world as though imbued with superhuman energy.

- Jose Comblin
Catholic theologian in Brazil

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Ordinary Radicals Film Premieres Sept. 4 (by Becky Garrison)

On Sept. 4, I'm going to Philadelphia to attend the premiere of The Ordinary Radicals, a documentary directed and produced by Jamie Moffett, co-founder of The Simple Way. The trailer gives a sense of this project.

While I can't speak for the others who were …

The Democratic Nomination's Historic Significance (by Leroy Barber)

I have been watching the Democratic National Convention this week, and I think when Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech tonight it is going to be an important historic moment. This is not to tell you who to vote for. That's up to you. But I can't help but …

Cakes, Crumbs, and Surprises in Zimbabwe (by Nontando Hadebe)

The "cake" vs. "crumbs" power-sharing struggle continues in Zimbabwe. One of the reasons for the breakdown in the talks is that the government (ZANU-PF) wants the "whole power cake" and wants to give the opposition "crumbs." The intention of negotiations was to …

A 'Postmodern Negro' Perspective on Not Voting (by Brian McLaren)

I'm voting in this election, not with naivete but with sincere enthusiasm. Not with any messianic hopes, but with a deep sense of moral responsibility as a shareholder or steward of the richest, most dominant, and most well-armed nation in the world. I had …

Putting Some Labor Back in Labor Day Weekend Services (by Kim Bobo)

Labor Day weekend is often a slow time for congregations. Members are attending family gatherings. Parents are getting children ready for school. Neglected summer projects are undertaken or (like my garden) abandoned until next summer. Aside from the occasional …

Fannie Lou Hamer's America, 44 Years Later (by Burns Strider)

I am overwhelmed at the historic nature of what's happening this week, and it's important that we all think about this. It's important for me as a Mississippian. For me, I can't stop thinking of the Mississippi Freedom Democrats and Fannie Lou Hamer. I wish Hamer …

Rev. Otis Moss on Prophetic Faith (by Jim Wallis)

Somebody came up to me in Denver and said, "At the Democratic Convention of 2008, faith is cool!" That is indeed a big change from recent years. As I have been saying at the many "faith forums" in Denver, faith must have a different and better role than it has …

Bishop Charles Blake's Remarks at DNC Interfaith Service

Excerpt from Bishop Charles Blake’s remarks at the Interfaith Forum, Sunday, August 24, 2008, Denver, Colorado:

“Our children have sacred value, and every child is equally valuable.

May I observe, as a Pro-Life Democrat, that some of us have philosophic, …

'People of Faith Challenge Democrats' (by Jim Wallis)

On Monday, I wrote that one of the things I would be looking for at the political conventions was "whether the people of faith who are here are able to offer that prophetic role that faithfulness requires, that would hold politics accountable to real moral …

Voice of the Day: Thaddee Matura

Jesus calls to himself those who are overburdened and offers them rest, but he does not blunt the cutting edge of his demands.

- Thaddee Matura
Franciscan scholar and theologian

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Daily News Digest (by Duane Shank)

The latest news on the Democratic Convention, Immigration Raid, Poverty and Health Insurance, Global Poverty, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and North Korea.

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Invisible Evangelicals' Insight on the Common Good (by Andrew Wilkes)

Evangelical women and minorities, it seems, exist on the muted margins of political discourse in America. If a justice revival is to sweep over America once more, from the suburban megachurch to the urban storefront church, then Christians must pursue a vision of …

Verse of the Day: 'Repent'

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

- Matthew 4:17

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'I No Speak Good Engrish' (by Eugene Cho)

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) confirmed that players' memberships would be suspended if they don't learn to speak English and pass an oral evaluation. 

Yuck.

In reality, many believed it was inevitable because there are so many South …

Why Faith at the Conventions Matters (by Jim Wallis)

I am now in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, and I will be in the Twin Cities next week for the Republican National Convention. I am speaking at both about the moral issues the faith community believes are important -- among them poverty, the …