Redeeming Our City’s Spaces

Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network. Karam Forum 2022 continued our tradition of hearing from people doing the work of bringing life to the world in the cities where we meet. In Denver, we were grateful to our friends at the Denver Institute for Faith and Work for providing a rich exploration of how two graduates of their fellows program are…

A Biblical Framework for Understanding Poverty

Reprinted from the Chalmers Center. Bryant Myers, a leading Christian development thinker, argues in Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development that in order to effectively address material poverty, we need to consider the fundamental nature of reality, starting with our triune God as the Creator of that reality. God, eternally existing as three-in-one, is inherently relational, and as…

Restoring God’s Creation

By Pam Tinsley, reprinted from Living God’s Mission. As the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi approaches with its beloved – and joyful – tradition of the Blessing of the Animals, this year I’m particularly struck by St. Francis’s relationship to Creation Care. Thanks to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Creation Care is one of the three priorities of the Episcopal…

Review: Do Nothing

By David Gill, reprinted from The 313. Celeste Headlee is an award-winning journalist and professional speaker.  Her TEDx talk on ten ways to have better conversations had more than twenty million views as of the writing of Do Nothing in 2020. In her more than twenty-year career in public radio, Celeste has anchored NPR’s Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered and Weekend Edition. I…

Work for God, Like God, with God

By David Williamson. In the creation narrative, it is said that humankind was created in the image of God and then immediately given a task: “Let them have dominion.” (Genesis 1:26) The Creator invites – no, directs – the creature to enter into a partnership to manage creation and develop the world. We are called to exercise faithful stewardship for…

Giving Your Money a Mission

By Hannah Oliver, reprinted from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure…

Benevolence Ministry: Different Churches, Different Needs

Reprinted from the Chalmers Center. In our Helping without Hurting in Benevolence Ministry training, we share principles and tools to help you build a ministry that leads to real change. But there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every church. In order to create a benevolence program that works for your specific church context, you may need to make adjustments to fit your…

Listen, Believe, Act

By Pam Tinsley, reprinted from Living God’s Mission. Over the past several weeks I’ve noticed a common theme in several sermons and reflections. “Listen, believe, and act” were the words of wisdom that my late friend Rena offered to her son-in-law years ago. In another instance, an engaging preacher reminded the congregation that “gratitude, study, and reflection” are the principal…

Workplace Discipleship Videos

Reprinted from The 313. Workplace Discipleship 101: A Primer is a twelve-part introduction to the basics of following Jesus Christ (“discipleship”) in our workplace, wherever and whatever that may be – paid or volunteer, novice or veteran, blue collar, management, art, technology, child care . . . it all counts. It is available in print, e-book, and audiobook formats. And now…