Religion

When more than 12,000 Southern Baptist messengers gather in New Orleans on Tuesday and Wednesday for the 2023 annual meeting they will tackle a host of issues that some say will shape the evangelical denomination in the future. 

As usual, we were an eclectic group — Jewish, Christian, agnostic — each person with their own mode of involvement in the powerful story of the long-ago Exodus event and of ongoing liberation presented in the Passover Haggadah (order of service). Over the years I’ve been particularly attracted to the portion of the service in which we hear of four sons — one wise, one contrary, one simple and one who does not know how to ask questions.

Elaine Snider, 66, began training earlier this year with the Spokane Chapter – American Pilgrims on the Camino to traverse the ancient path Sept. 11. She plans to cover 750 kilometers, or roughly 500 miles. She's hoping people will to pledge pennies per mile toward regional causes: Spokane Women's Hockey, American Cancer Society's voucher program for families staying in hotels near treatment, and a bridge for the monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho.

In the rural town of Cottonwood in north central Idaho, lies the home of the sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude.

I see the whole creation story as a metaphor. It’s an ancient story that wonderfully tells how the world began and how humanity was introduced into that creation. In this garment-sewing detail, God’s first post-creation act is to love the creatures who seem overwhelmed with a primal shame that never seems to go away.

This precept isn’t just about sex. It’s about the oneness of body and mind.

Nearly a year after alumni and students asked Whitworth University to define its position on LGBTQ+ faculty and staff, the school’s board of trustees has yet to take action.

At first I thought this was about stealing, which seemed simple enough. But as I studied it more, I realized it is also about giving.

I attended the “Women, Life, Freedom” panel March 22 on Eastern Washington University’s campus. Arezoo Davari, an EWU associate professor of marketing, organized the event. She felt she had to do something in solidarity with the latest phase of the women’s rights movement in Iran, going on now.

“It’s the central mystery of our faith,” Bob Feeny, pastor at Westminster United Church, said. “That Jesus Christ rose from the dead and that life beyond what we believe is possible in God.”

When the Rev. John Mike was an associate pastor at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church four decades ago, he left an impression with his seemingly boundless energy, his outgoing personality and his ability to connect with young people.

“As long as movements like Christian Science and spiritualism represent an unmet need, and so long as the accredited representatives of the Christian church fail to meet this need, people will seek help and solace in unusual ways,” said Bishop Herman Page.

"It's definitely been an emotional time for me," said Nirmal. "It's been quite a long time. I definitely feel emotional and happy, in so many different ways." 

Kyla Scott always wanted to attend the same religious denomination in which she was raised.

It’s a tale of a church and two congregations.

A candidate for Spokane County commissioner said a citizens’ committee “came to me and wanted to know if I was 100 percent American and Protestant.”

I know this little column won’t put to bed (pun definitely intended) the controversies about “woke” and “wokeness.”

“Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I undertake to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals," the principle says. "I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.”