I looked at it as an opportunity to assess what needs were being met and to ask, were we providing an important experience for our congregation and neighborhood?

Certainly there were enjoyable moments reminiscent of synods past, but this was the most brutal of the four synods I have yet attended.

This plant can’t be left to its own devices or it will overtake every inch of ground it can.

The fact that more people—almost 200 more—participated in this year’s survey is heartening. Check out some of the results here.

I received an unexpected letter in the mail in mid-January.

Thirteen of the 25 most-accessed online Banner stories in 2022 had to do with Synod 2022, which recommended the human sexuality report and declared that “unchastity” includes homosexual sex.

When the wind of passion leaves our sails, we beat the oars.

In her one question, I felt listened to, cared for, and not alone—and our conversation continued for quite a while.

How different my own mealtime prayers feel from the solemn longing of the men of Gondor. I suspect many of us might feel the same.

Now that I am co-managing my own household with young kids, I wonder regularly, could my babysitter have been sincerely grateful for the atmosphere at my childhood home?

These stories, some of which he told in his 1967 bestselling book God’s Smuggler, only scratch the surface of Andrew’s adventurous personality and the contributions he made to the church.

I think it is time to publicly reply to these questions about why we publish articles on issues where the denomination disagrees to benefit a wider audience.

Read the winning essay from this year’s Young Adult Writing Contest.

Read the second-place essay from this year’s Young Adult Writing Contest.

I signed up to volunteer with the resettling agency, remembering how I had been surrounded by immigrants daily as I navigated the streets of New York City.

Read the third-place essay from this year’s Young Adult Writing Contest: “Plastic walking sticks and hushed pilgrims poke through the gap where the hermitage’s rock melts into the hillside….”

Read the honorable mention essay from this year’s Young Adult Writing Contest: “Yellowstone and its surrounding towns experienced catastrophic flooding this summer, washing away roads, houses, and any hopes of a normal season funded by tourism.”

The only crown of victory ever offered to the Christian is that of martyrdom. We were never called to win, only to testify.

This belt was one way the early Iroquois people of eastern Canada preserved their way of governing and maintaining their laws.

When I am not sure but have to make a choice, I choose to risk erring on the side of love and inclusion.

When I was appointed as a delegate to synod the first week of March, and I was immediately asked about it, all I could say was, "I don't know."

 Jesus is effectively declaring in Luke 24:44 that the entire Old Testament is pointing to him.

Riding the bus home from the swimming pool several years ago, I found myself in a communication conundrum.