There is an African proverb from Ethiopia that says, "When spider webs unite they can tie up a lion." What a graphic illustration of power that emerges as an outcome of networking, partnership, and ...

I recently celebrated the ninth annual Hatch family reunion on Cape Cod, my favorite family gathering. I recently celebrated the ninth annual Hatch family reunion on Cape Cod, my ...

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do ...

In a <a title="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/08/06/the_phony_optimism_on_darfur/" href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/artic ...

Two contrasting images recently brought into focus a growing chasm: a forty-something man in jeans and T-shirt squeezing the microphone at a community forum on immigration, face tight with anger a ...

Julie Polter We can overcome obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula could be a curse from the book of Job, if J ...

Mimi Haddad The rich history of evangelical feminism. One of my friends works in Christian ministry at a large ...

In recent days, it seems that the Religious Right is trying everything they can to derail the health-care reform our country so desperately needs. In recent days, it seems that th ...

I've heard from many of you who liked <a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/07/17/kids-need-all-the-positive-words-they-can-get/">last month's post</a>, or were at least relieved b ...

Want to know how to win a culture war? Don't fight one. The soul of our nation has been marred from a perpetual state of culture war. Want to know how to win a culture war? ...

<p>An autographed photo of Jimmy Carter sits on our piano. A friend of ours wrote to Carter and told him that he was one of our sons' favorite presidents, and would he please send them a signed phot ...

Judge Sonia Sotomayor's approval as a U.S. Judge Sonia Sotomayor's approval as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice may be a forgone conclusion at this point, but her nomination ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/07/13/women-leaders-in-the-early-church-2/">In last week's post</a>, I argued that because the apostle Paul commended the work of Phoebe-a ...

<p>I've been following the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/13/new.zealand.brothel.olympics/index.html#soundoff" target="_blank">news story</a> of Ne ...

"When the previous youth minister was here, he always filled in when the pastor was out," Bethany, a youth minister at a church in the southeastern U.S. told me. "W ...

<p>As you may know, the question of whether women can serve as deacons has been recently debated among many evangelicals. Since scripture makes clear that Phoebe served as a deacon in the church in Cench ...

I really hope no one gets offended I really hope no one gets offended I guess i'm a "nice white I guess i'm a "nice white lady", since I have r ...

Today Brave New Foundation launches the fifth segment of the <em>Rethink Afghanistan</em> documentary, <em><a title="http://rethinkafghanistan.com/" href="http://rethinkafgh ...

Jennifer Hosler I appreciated the article on eating disorders and wholeheartedly agree that the church needs to speak about it more (“Body ...

Evan Jones The letter “Women and Islam” (Letters, April 2009) points out that Islamic law often forces women into subservient social and r ...

<p><a href="http://www.ryanrodrickbeiler.com/gallery/7664262_f2SVv#494818117_uXdMB"></a>I graduated from a wonderful Christian college about a year ago, and it was a great experienc ...

Throughout the Bible, God's people are instructed to care for those who often cannot thrive on their own, most often widows and orphans. Throughout the Bible, God's peop ...

<p>I have been doing my best to keep up with the ongoing events in Iran. I don't know enough to truly understand the nuances of the election or the political science behind it all, but like many oth ...

An interview with a man and his children in an Internally Displaced Person (refugee) camp quickly devolves into a father desperately trying to sell his smallest child to the cameraman. ...

In March, I had lunch with Asra Nomani at Sticky Fingers, the vegan bakery across from the Sojourners office. In March, I had lunch with Asra Nomani at Sticky Fingers, the vegan b ...

Few biblical figures stand out for their bravery as Esther does. Faced with a looming order for the systematic extermination of her people, she risked her life and broke the silence. ...

If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. <em>If you teach his wife how to fish, you feed the whole family for a lifetime</em>. ...

"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:31, NRSV)</p> "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:31, NRSV) H ...

One of the everyday things Vasco has enjoyed most since arriving in Chicago from Malawi five weeks ago is being able to go into the kitchen and pour a cool glass of crystal clear water, from the si ...

Is it possible that we as Christians just aren't angry enough about injustices like human trafficking and slavery? Perhaps we've grown too desensitized, domesticated, and docile. ...

Yesterday on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/how-i-and-other-pro-life_b_209747.html"><em>The Huffington Post</em>, former religious-right leader Frank Schaeff ...

We were in Masisi, a small town in the endless rolling green mountains of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We were in Masisi, a small town in the endless rolling green mounta ...

Rose Marie Berger Francis Perkins was the consience behind the New Deal. When Frances Perkins was appointed S ...

Glen Stassen The right supports can reduce abortion rates. Shirley Bogard was an impressive teenager in the Ke ...

Julie Polter A promising new movement leaves the bumper-sticker platitudes behind and offers the potential to actually reduce abortion. ...

I, like <a href="../2009/05/22/was-iraq-a-holy-war/">Aaron Taylor</a> before me, noticed the <a href="http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_9217"><em>G ...

I heard a preacher once say, "Don't let facts blind you to the truth." What did he mean? Facts, misunderstood or taken out of context, can take us further away from, rather than closer to, truth ...

Many in the Republican Party and some noteworthy Christian leaders have come together to call Judge Sotomayor a racist. Many in the Republican Party and some noteworthy Christian ...

The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States by President Barack Obama has electrified the Latino community in America. The nomination of Sonia Soto ...

I realize that I have been guilty of overlooking "conversations of faith" with friends and family -- conversations that reflect the spirit of faith similar to that of the heroes and heroines record ...

Against the backdrop of protest and spectacle that threatened to overshadow graduation at the University of Notre Dame last week, President Obama delivered a graceful commencement address that stan ...

<p><a href="/sites/default/files/images/protest1.jpg"></a>I spent my Monday lunch hour, and maybe longer due to D.C. traffic, standing with some 30 protesters across the street from ...

After weeks of controversy surrounding Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama to receive an honorary doctorate as this year's commencement speaker, we have seen both the American democratic tra ...

This is a challenge to President Obama and Congress written in light of his commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame. This is a challenge to President Obama and Congres ...

As friends and I met for dinner to enjoy pictures of mutual friends' wedding, their four-year old joined in the fun. As friends and I met for dinner to enjoy pictures of mutu ...

Scandal has again surfaced in the American Catholic Church, but, gratefully, this time it is not over child abuse or mismanagement of funds. Scandal has again surfaced in the Amer ...

I really like Marlena, but that doesn't mean she is a good person. She is smart and easy to talk to, but only if you are talking about her stuff. I really like Marlena, but t ...

I enjoy addressing the contributions of women in history at Christian colleges or universities. I enjoy addressing the contributions of women in history at Christian colleges or u ...

<blockquote><p>Arise, all women who have hearts! Whether your baptism be of water or of tears! Arise, all women who have hearts! Whether your baptism be of water o ...

Many of you have attended a class at church designed to help you discern your spiritual gifts. Many of you have attended a class at church designed to help you discern your spirit ...