It was the middle of the Bill Clinton impeachment hearings. My dearest friend in the world had taken me and some guys to see Will Campbell, in his writing cabin in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. We drove down to Campbell’s favorite barbeque pit, a cement block 12 x 18 building with four tables and no customers. And we talked politics. “What do you think about the impeachment hearings?” one of the guys asked Campbell. “Well,” he answered, “Bill Clinton is an... Read more
Pentecost was yesterday. My favorite Christian holy day. While it’s not the shiniest, or the loudest, or even the most significant (some would say) theologically, it’s still my favorite. Pentecost has great elements: fire, heat, light, freedom, wind, caring, and preaching. But best of all, Pentecost has the Holy Spirit. (more…) Read more
Mother’s Day has just passed. Families around the United States gave their mothers flowers, beautiful handmade cards, and breakfast in bed. You know what else they gave mothers? Primary responsibility for their children, including financial and caregiving responsibilities. You know what they didn’t give mothers? They didn’t give them access to affordable childcare, extra family leave for children with special needs, or even equal wages. Working mothers deserve celebration. They also deserve a break. P.S. Here’s an interesting piece from a... Read more
I’ve just read the amazing story of Martha Mullen, who arranged for the body of the elder Boston bomber brother’s body to be buried in Doswell, Virginia. It’s a courageous act, after all the controversy that burying Tamerlan Tsarnaev has created. (more…) Read more
It’s been a while since I blogged. So I thought I’d do a quick update to catch you up on the goings-on in my life. (more…) Read more
I wrote this on December 18, 2007: I didn’t know her, but her life informed my life as much as anyone ever has. All the news reports said she was an exotic dancer, and they flashed a stock photo of a strip club on the screen. The weekend report asked people to look for her. The next weekend reports showed her former boyfriend and security guard being taken into police custody. Then the morning news reported that they had found... Read more
According to the an article in the New York Times, a Nevada brothel owner has been elected to a seat on the Storey County Board of Commissioners. Lance Gilman, the owner of the Mustang Ranch is entering politics. There are some who believe that brothel owners should be seen and not heard, but others who believe that because brothels are legal and legitimate businesses in Nevada, owners should participate fully in the political process. I particularly like this statement from... Read more
It’s not about trafficking. It’s not about trafficking. It’s not about trafficking. My new book, I Heart Sex Workers: A Christian Response to People in the Sex Trade is available as an eBook, as of this weekend. And guess what?!? It’s not about trafficking. Yes. Trafficking is awful. Yes. Trafficking is massively unjust. Yes. Trafficking is very sexy right now. This book is not about trafficking. It’s about women, including trans women, and men who are trading sex, whether by... Read more
I’ve participated in a bunch of rituals. From creating them, to fixing them, to just letting someone else create them, and rituals have an amazing amount of power. Unless you do them wrong. I can think of a lot of ways they were done wrong. At a local Transgender Day of Remembrance service I attended, the participants read out the names of the trans women and men who had been killed that year, then lit candles. You would think that... Read more
Note to self: Come up with a better way to title these posts. The third Sunday of the Narrative Lectionary has us learning about Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, grandson of Isaac and Rebeka, and great grandson of Abraham. Read about him here. There’s a myth that I have never believed. I never believe that violence is singularly motivated by jealousy. In the days following 9/11, people said that the attacks were because of jealousy. I think that... Read more
Rogue Reverend
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