Opportunities

Challenge
BJC (Baptist Joint Committee) special podcast series on Christian nationalism - “what it is, how it shows up, and what people are doing about it.”
Christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org - supporting separation of church and state.

Texas Impact - a non-partisan, multi-faith community helping “people live out their faith in the public square, moving the faith community from charity to justice.” Learn about being involved as a change-maker toward Beloved Community.

Equal Justice Initiative - founded by Brian Stevenson, public interest lawyer and author of Just Mercy (an excellent, informative read and movie)

Consolation
Faith and Grief - “gatherings, retreats & workshops for those who have lost a loved one, where they can share their stories with others on a similar journey.”

Listening (there are many stories to listen to! my particular interest is toward equity and criminal justice)
1619
Ear Hustle - “the daily realities of life inside prison and those living it, and stories from outside, post incarceration.
Marshall Project - journalism about criminal justice
Snap Judgment - one of my favorite story-telling podcasts
OnBeing with Krista Tippet - exploring the human condition and connection in Spirit
Codeswitch - exploring society with empathy and humor

Reading

Course Work
I have completed my coursework at Brite Divinity, TCU with a project pending toward a Doctorate of Ministry. I am curious about how we can create space to connect the head and heart of faith in the interest of the common good according to the experience of the social activist, Jesus. The following books are some of the ones I enjoyed having “conversation with” in my studies.

All things Howard Thurman!
With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman"
The Luminous Darkness
Jesus and the Disinherited
Deep river and The Negro Spiritual Speaks of Life and Death
The Search for Common Ground
The Creative Encounter: An Interpretation of Religion and Social Witness
Disciplines of the Spirit
Sermons on the Parables
Mysticism and Social Action

Transforming Practices:Spirituality, Leadership and Justice
David Jaffe, Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal and Social Change (2016)
Philip Sheldrake, Spirituality: A Guide for the Perplexed (2014)
Margaret Wheatley, Who Do We Choose to Be? Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity (2017)

Leadership: Pastoral and Systemic Power
James McBride, The Good Lord Bird (2013) - A fascinating read in historical fiction
Mary Beth Rogers, Cold Anger: A Story of Faith and Power Politics (1990)
Peter Steinke, Uproar: Calm Leadership in Anxious Times (2019)
Elizabeth Ursic, Women, Ritual, and Power: Place Female Imagery of God in Christian Worship (2014)

Forgiveness, Justice and Community
Chanequa Walker-Barnes, I Bring the Voice of My People: A Womanist Vision for Racial Reconciliation - a rich ‘go-to’ for healing and inclusivity of all people
Simon Wiesenthal, The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness - challenging and thought provoking on exactly what the title suggests
Shelly Rambo, Resurrecting Wounds: Living in the Afterlife of Trauma - dense theologically but with a meaningful perspective on living with our scars and the story they tell
Pauline Boss, Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss - learned a lot with this one

Sort of Recent Reads
So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo. Oluo shares her experience with vulnerability and honesty that will push the reader’s vulnerability and honesty. Reading this book in partnership with others for discussion was beneficial.
Make It Stick - The science of successful learning. Peter C. Brown. Backed by research and interesting examples, this book discusses ways to learn that help ‘make it stick!’
The Jewish Annotated New Testament. This is a long-term read and I am nerd-ily excited about it! The JANT bring to light the distinctly Jewish context in the time these words were written.
Talking With Strangers. Malcolm Gladwell. Super engaging and interesting plunge into why we misunderstand each other.
Anointed - a personal story of redemption from generational poverty written by my friend Alicia (Chocolate) Watson who is living hope into her South Dallas neighborhood. #where friends are made and lives are changed.
Bird by Bird, Anne Lamot - I feel like I am sitting in front of Anne talking about what’s involved in writing, but even more so, what is waiting to be noticed and lived.
Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens - a fun read that takes place in the marshes of NC, engaging beautiful depictions of nature, the many elements of humanity with a captivating thread of mystery.
All the Light We Cannot See. Anthony Doerr - honestly, I was a bit frustrated with the jumping around of timelines but it is a revealing story of the human condition
Ordinary Grace. William Kent Krueger - all I can say is, ahhh.

Forever Books
Evolution of the Word, Marcus Borg. The New Testament presented with brief commentary before each book, and, presented in the order in which the words were recorded - beginning with the 7 letters of Paul. An enlightening perspective of an ever evolving relationship with God.

Jesus and the Disinherited, Howard Thurman. My favorite mystic theologian, who engaged the spirituality of justice. This book reexamines and challenges the understanding of Jesus’ mission.

The Cross and The Lynching Tree, James Cone - whew. Cone, American theologian and advocate for black liberation theology, challenges the silence regarding the truth of our history and the silence that keeps it hidden.