Service and Gathering Planning

For centuries, Jesus' parables have been--and still are--extensively interpreted by those who impose Christian dogma and tradition on a parable told decades before Christianity per se even existed. There was no Christian tradition when Jesus was teaching his followers, and he was teaching regular people, not theologians.

Drawing on forty years of teaching and mission experience, leading missiological anthropologist Darrell Whiteman brings a wealth of insight to bear on cross-cultural ministry.

Believe Like Jesus takes readers and groups on a 40-day journey to spiritual transformation. This is a fresh approach to spiritual growth, unlike anything you may have experienced before. These 40 days of transformation invite you to shift from believing in Jesus to believing like Jesus, from rising from faith in Jesus to the faith of Jesus, from being a disciple to being an apostle, all to become more Christ-like.

Since the beginning of Donald Trump’s populist campaign for President of the United States in 2015, there has been a notable rise in the popularity of nationalism among right-wing individuals and institutions in the United States.

n the Roman Empire, sexual abuse was rampant.  Male slave owners regularly raped their male and female slaves.  “Homosexuality” did not exist as a distinct social category at the time:  it was common for otherwise heterosexual men to engage occasionally in homosexual acts. 

Our major world religions all contain a promise of uniting humanity. Yet as we look at human history, we easily conclude that a major cause of our ongoing strife is religious differences.

What if Christian worship took place as a conversation at a round table spread with elements of earth's gifts of nurture and beauty? This book describes such a practice--Roundtable Worship--and lays out a fresh and challenging theological foundation for it.

Celia’s memoir reveals the astonishing personal experiences of her unbecoming evolution, and the intimate stories that led to the ultimate answer she was searching for.

On this journey, Wilbert shares her story of alienation and disorientation after years of religious and political unrest in the evangelical church. In doing so, she looks to an unlikely place—the forest—to learn how to live and even thrive when everything seems to be falling apart.

In the darkest corners of our lives, where sorrow, trauma, grief and pain reside, there exists a profound capacity for resilience and hope. Telling Stories in the Dark by Jeffrey Munroe is a uniquely inspiring non-fiction book that illuminates the transformative power of sharing our most profound experiences of suffering.

How can Christianity continue to bring good news into the world? That's the inspiring message readers will find in The Word Made Fresh.

She’s just found the most powerful relic in history – and she’ll need all the help she can get to protect it.

The natural world has the capacity to inspire a response of our wonder and awe of nature and to something intangible called religious or spiritual from humans, claims Australian progressive religious scholar Rex A E Hunt. In this collection of essays he invites us to thinking deeply about nature and our place as human beings in nature, no matter what our personal religious or secular outlooks may be in this time of global climate change, rampant species endangerment, and looming ecological crisis. Inspired by American theologian Bernard Meland’s 1930s work called ‘mystical naturalism’ Hunt claims that all religious traditi

Into the wilderness of our hearts let springs rains come, cracking open the hard shells of seeds, cleansing old wounds of shame and strife,

I was recently asked about ways that folks who might be more homebound than others can impactfully participate in resisting fascism and Christian Nationalism. I thought it was a great question!  

In these Holy Days of Lent, Ramadan, and with Passover coming soon, my mind and heart are troubled by how much violence happens in the name of God.

Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't.  ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.

Robert O’Sullivan discusses early Christianity, the development of ecumenical creeds, and their relevance today before an episcopal confirmation class.

The first in the projected series, Essays in Anti-Theology, The God who doesn’t Exist tells the amazing story of two Gods: one who doesn’t exist whom we created ourselves, and one who does exist whom we didn’t create.

The question of divine providence – what exactly God provides for us in response to all those prayers we endlessly pray – has always been where the rubber hits the road as far as the maintenance or otherwise of our faith goes

Join Mark and Caleb for this live recording as they enjoy a themed drink (or two) and bring their high-octane progressive Christian perspectives in consideration of the latest Bong Joon Ho film, "Mickey 17," starring Robert Pattinson.

Today marks the end of the first 100 days of Trump 2.0. Simply put, it has been horrible. We’ve seen early capitulation and collusion from major American institutions. A full-on attack on valued programs that support civic life. The purposeful undermining of the Constitution, especially when it comes to civil rights and freedom of speech.

In July of 1925, a 24-year-old high school teacher named John Scopes was arrested for teaching the theory of evolution through natural selection. At the time, Tennessee’s newly passed Butler Act made it illegal to teach anything in the classroom that contradicted the Bible. A century later, states are once again attempting to force the Bible into public education, this time not by banning evolution, but by promoting scripture as curriculum.

Anyone who is threatened by evil will struggle with the admonition to appease bullies, even when they are violent and seek to take away everything. Was Jesus really telling us to give in to bullying and violence? Is that the essence of pacifism?

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In Spiritual Friendship Distilled, readers are invited into a robust conversation about the miracle of friendship and the practical ways that we can cultivate our friendships with God, others, ourselves, and the earth.

God of the Mind is a personal exploration of the intellectual problems of evangelical Christianity, the pressures that keep people from being honest about their doubts, and the importance of sincerely seeking for truth.

When it becomes clear that their beloved pastor is all too non-human, it’s then up to the faithful themselves to offer their own particular gifts for ministry in order to keep the Spirit moving.

Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't.  ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.

In order to begin to grasp the levels of evil and the unending darkness of Trump 2.0, it's important to understand some of the background that explains his behavior.

The story I try to impress upon folks is that we are Beloved Partners who have agency, choice, gifts and callings that we must use to heal ourselves and the world. This partnership is our responsibility.

The central idea in the Old Testament is that God is revealed in history. I don’t know how much actual history these stories represent, but they do reveal a God. Sadly, with few exceptions, this is a God I don’t want to have anything to do with.

There is that ritual re-enactment in the Christian faith tradition of spiritually healing with some balm, of sorts. It’s known as the oil of Chrism. Traditionally, it’s a blend of olive oil and balsam.

We’ve all heard the term RINO. It means “Republican In Name Only.” Tragically, a significant segment of American religion has become what I call CINO—“Christian in name only.” Numerous examples follow.

Court orders are being ignored, people are unlawfully detained, those who speak out are intimidated and threatened, universities lose grants, and millions of innocent people are treated as though they did not exist.

Anyone studying the psychology of the public knows full well that if you want that public to approve and accept something, like tax policy that helps the rich, make it sound like an irresistible brownie and ice cream. How about a tax break, ya’ll? 

Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't.  ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.

Join Mark and Caleb for this live recording as they enjoy a themed drink (or two) and bring their high-octane progressive Christian perspectives in consideration of the first episode of season 15 of "Doctor Who": The Robot Revolution.

Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't.  ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.

Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't.  ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.

Join Mark and Caleb for this live recording as they enjoy a themed drink (or two) and bring their high-octane progressive Christian perspectives in consideration of "Star Trek: Section 31"

Join Mark and Caleb for this live recording as they enjoy a themed drink (or two) and bring their high-octane progressive Christian perspectives in consideration of the second season of Apple TV's big hit show, "Silo."

Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't.  ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.

Queer & Christian by Brandan Robertson offers a powerful and affirming perspective for those at the intersection of queer identity and Christian faith.

In the third verse from the very end of The Book of Job’s last chapter, the narrator reveals that Job has taken action that would have been shocking to an ancient-world readership: He has granted inheritance of his estate to his daughters as well as his sons.

As one of the most conservative administrations in recent times settles into the White House, concern grows on the left around what this means for reproductive rights. The overturning of Roe v Wade, back in June 2022, was a seismic decision by the Supreme Court and one that has made abortion one of the most important and divisive issues in the United States, but why?

Yes, Jesus lived and suffered under a tyrant all his life.       However, the  Herods are scarcely remembered, but we even date our calendars from Jesus' birth,  and billions think he is the one to go to when we search for the purpose and meaning of our lives.

There is a lot of room for misunderstanding... You have to know what you are looking for, and you have to state it clearly. Perhaps most worrisome is the lurking fear that you may be being misled by the answer you are inclined to trust.