You can't do real ministry for long without it changing you. I'm not talking about the career pastor who sets up a building and attracts people just like them who believe like him and want what he wants. There may be moments of doing real ministry when someone is in crisis, or passes away and … Read more about Available versus Accessible
Response to the Nashville Statement’s position on Egalitarian Doctrines
The Nashville Statement is a controversial statement that has been released by CBMW.org, a strongly Patriarchal and very gender driven organization that is devoted to defending a hierarchy between men and women in the church and the home. Prior to this Statement it might have been argued that the … Read more about Response to the Nashville Statement’s position on Egalitarian Doctrines
#PhoenixProtest
I live in a little place outside of the actual city of Phoenix but we're all lumped into "Phoenix" because we're all in the same Valley of the Sun and you can't really tell where one little town ends and the next begins. One corner has every corner in a different city. We're a big city because of … Read more about #PhoenixProtest
What’s “common” about Charlottesville?
There's a concept in the New Testament that a lot of people don't realize is there. It's the idea of being "common." Most people know something about kosher food -- a basic idea that there are clean and unclean things. Clean is good; unclean is bad. Most people don't think it applies to … Read more about What’s “common” about Charlottesville?
CBE – Voices of Color
We are so privileged to share this interview with you. The interview questions were sent with no idea that they would return such a beautiful community response. As I read the answers I was moved to tears at the amazing things God is doing! I hope you will be as encouraged as I am. … Read more about CBE – Voices of Color
Getting excited about an upcoming interview
with Oghene'tega Swann from CBE's Voices of Color. While we wait for the interview I thought I would get you as excited as I am by sharing a recent article she shared. So when I advocate for Women’s Rights, I am in keeping with my heritage as a person of faith of color! And I do so in the full … Read more about Getting excited about an upcoming interview
What I believe about homosexuality and those who profess faith in God
I know this isn't Crystal Talks but since I'm the one overseeing the site and my voice will be here I wanted to share some things about what I believe. This isn't a "Statement of Faith" and this isn't a comprehensive summary of everything I believe about everything. Rather, this is a general … Read more about What I believe about homosexuality and those who profess faith in God
15 micro aggressions women in the church deal with on a daily basis
I admit I'm borrowing the idea and the list from this article (be warned, there is a bit of language though it's not the author as much as the examples of the micro aggressions and while I'm at it, I used some gif's with language too. Some things are just best expressed with certain words. Sometimes … Read more about 15 micro aggressions women in the church deal with on a daily basis
Subordinationism . . . is that still a thing?
I grew up with the idea that women weren't allowed to preach, but I didn't really get exposure to teachings on why that was. I even went to churches that allowed women to be ordained, but those churches did not have women in Associate or Senior Pastor roles so they didn't really challenge my … Read more about Subordinationism . . . is that still a thing?
On Complimentarianism . . . or, “But I know a marriage that . . . “
One of the things that I've encountered over the years of being egalitarian is the reference to some man who said X or some marriage that works in some way the person speaking of it believes is wonderful and healthy and mutual. There is an idea perpetuated in Complementarian circles that … Read more about On Complimentarianism . . . or, “But I know a marriage that . . . “