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Magazine

Sojourners Magazine: July 2022

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Many pastors are stepping away from ministry. The institutional church will never be the same.

Features

Illustration of a vestment-clad clergy-member carrying a box with candles, a cactus, cross, and two Bibles

As 38% of pastors give "real or serious consideration" to stepping away from ministry, our faith landscape could fundamentally shift.

by
Peter Chin
Magazine
Features
Illustration of a group of people rolling rainbow-colored carpet up the steps to a university building

Student and alumni activists seek to protect LGBTQ rights and challenge Title IX exemptions on Christian university campuses.

by
Lexi McMenamin
Icons of an Sumatran orangutan mother and child and a loggerhead sea turtle

Angela Manno's "Sacred Icons of Endangered Species" shed light on the holy work of loving the Earth.

by
Andrea M. Couture

Voices

Voices
Mobilizing Hope
Illustration of many hands of different skin tones clutches pieces of an American flag

Required readings for resisting destructive forms of patriotism that bleed into extremist nationalism. 

Voices
From The Editors
An illustration of Kehinde Wiley with his quote, "Art is one of those few spaces where we can ask unresolvable questions."

Three articles in our July issue show how God is exchanging the old wineskins for new.

by Jim Rice
Voices
Commentary
Illustration of a clock casting along shadow

While it is tempting to resume "normal" life and to ignore the empty pews and medical complications of ailing congregants, we must resist this easy way out.

by
Céire Kealty
Illustration of human figure within a church building created with black and white blocks

In the U.S. today, two-thirds of white Christians practice a “religion of whiteness,” a new study finds.

by
Michael O. Emerson
Illustration of cages floating in the air casting shadows on human figures

Dreaming of a just future offers an opportunity to undo extreme sentencing practices. 

by
Nicole D. Porter
Voices
Columns
Illustration of a pinecone emerging from the bell of a green bugle

Our ancient biblical stories remind us how complicated silence is — and that some transformations only emerge within it.

by
Rose Marie Berger
Illustration of a human face overlaid over the edge of an ear

Part of the journey to wholeness is listening to the body God made.

by
José Humphreys III
Voices
Eyewitness
Starbucks employees hold raised fists in the air during a union vote

"It was the most emotionally charged experience I have ever had in my life."

by
Michelle Eisen
Voices
Contributing
A headshot of Peter Chin

"It’s a calling that I’m continuing to be faithful to."

by Liz Bierly
Side profile of Blane Asrat

"I just want to be an artist sometimes."

by Liz Bierly

Vision

Vision
Culture

Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" is a masterpiece of moral formation, motivating us "to make a better tomorrow."

by
Julie Polter
Black and white photo of Natalie Bergman holding an electric guitar and singing into a mic stand

Singer-songwriter Natalie Bergman navigates deep loss and fervent faith in her solo work Mercy.

by
Mitchell Atencio
A confident, well-dressed Black, trans woman walks through a crowd toward the camera

Pose reminds us that brokenness is paradoxically used to make something more whole.

by
Da’Shawn Mosley
Vision
Books

The Swimmers isn’t a ghost story, but the characters are certainly haunted. 

by
Elinam Agbo
A husband and wife stand close to each other and enjoy falling snow

Three culture recommendations from our editors.

by
The Editors

Boycott is a call to mobilize against destructive legislation before it becomes — or supersedes — precedent.

by
Liz Bierly
Vision
Poetry

A poem.

by
Joy Ladin
Vision
Living The Word

July reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary, Cycle C. 

by
T. Denise Anderson
Vision
H'rumphs

The following terms end after 40 days and 40 nights ... unless it rains the whole time.

by
Joey Chin