Virtual Church: Opportunity or Mirage? By John Mason Lock Since the pandemic began, I've heard many clergy celebrate the extension of the church’s ministry through virtual worship. The refrain I hear again and again goes something like this: “We ... Read More...
Billy Joe Shaver and Music for the Land of Nod By John Mason Lock With the political morass we've been enduring during this election cycle and the pressures of leading a church in a pandemic, I was about a week late in learning of the passing of one of m... Read More...
Reading Boccaccio’s Decameron in the Time of Corona By John Mason Lock A friend recently posted on social media that he had gone to the bookstore, and they were out of Boccaccio's The Decameron. This admittedly English-major-type joke is that Boccaccio's clas... Read More...
Toni Morrison’s Beloved: A Retrospective Review and Contemporary Application For Black History Month I have been revisiting the works of Toni Morrison, especially what is arguably her greatest novel, Beloved, a kind of literary reflection on the traumas of slavery.
Narcissism, Psychiatry, and Pastoral Care A growing number of younger clergy are looking to reclaim the theological heritage of the church, but we must also recognize that not all personal problems are theological problems.
Visiting Your Church Is Like Going to the Dentist It's fairly obvious that people do not like going to the dentist or the doctor, and I suspect a large part of this reticence is due to the fear of shame and guilt, especially if there has been a longer period of time since the last visit.After my visit and reflecting on my own aversions to going to the dentist, I began to realize that this is how most people feel about going to church.
Are Children Theologians? We not only follow in the way of our parents, but we all share in the guilt and sin of humanity.
‘Honest to God’ and the Language of Death and Mourning The language of the prayer book acknowledges the pain and sadness of death. “Out of the deep have I cried unto thee. O Lord, hear my voice.”
