On the eve of April 23, 2024, the long-awaited beginning of the General Conference that had been postponed from 2020, United Methodists around the world turned their eyes to Charlotte, North Carolina and held their breaths in anticipation of what might come of this international gathering of our denomination’s legislative body. I, on the other hand, an ordained queer clergyperson in the denomination, turned my eyes, heart, and mind away from Charlotte in anticipation of yet another heated battle over my sacred worth and the legitimacy of my call to ministry within the denomination. This was t ..read more

The Season of Creation is a time that communities across Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations observe from September 1, which is the Day of Prayer for Creation, through October 4, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. As the Season of Creation website says, this season invites all Christians “to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together.” If you are new to the Season of Creation or are interested in resources to help your community inhabit this season this year, we’ve got you covered. This article provides a ..read more

Editor’s Note: This article was written by the Northern California Vivian Traylor Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians and originally published in the Diocese of California newsletter on May 28, 2024. We are republishing it here with minor edits with the authors’ permission. I have been enslaved, yet my spirit is unbound. I have been cast aside, but I sparkle in the darkness I have been slain, but live on in the river of history. Pauli Murray Most Americans know that the Juneteenth federal holiday commemorates June 19, 1865 when the 250,000 slaves in Galveston, Texas finally learned t ..read more

The Season of Creation takes place from September 1 – October 4. This is an ecumenical season for Christian communities to celebrate God as Creator and all of God’s creation. It is also a time to remember our call as human beings and people of faith to care for, respect, and live in right relationship with our non-human fellow creatures. In this crisis moment in the life of our planet, both we and the rest of creation need this season more than ever. We need time and space to notice and listen to all of creation, to wonder at and delight in all that God has made, to mourn and protest the dest ..read more

Looking for devotionals to recommend or use in your community? The options can seem endless. To help you discern which resources may be most helpful for your context, we at Building Faith have put together a working list of our devotional top picks. In this list, you will find our favorite devotional resources for people of all ages based on theology, availability, and pedagogy. We’ve focused this list primarily on materials published within the last five years that can be used at any time or season of year. If you would like additional support in choosing a resource, join Lifelong Learning ..read more

I believe that those of us in ministry positions should constantly check in with ourselves. This questioning is not necessarily to push us to the next position, but to judge whether we enjoy the work at hand. It is the first step in measuring personal health within roles that ask a lot from us timewise and emotionally. Here are five questions that I recommend asking yourself about your ministry. Ultimately, be gentle with yourself as you walk through the questions. 1. What about this work gets me jazzed or excited? When you share with your friends, family, or random strangers about your work ..read more

If you’ve ever searched for Bible study resources and felt completely overwhelmed, you’re not imagining the mountain of materials available, and you’re not alone. The sheer number of resources and tools geared toward Bible study today can make it difficult to know where to begin and how to determine what will be most useful and beneficial for deepening Bible study in your context. That is why we at Building Faith have curated a list of resources and tools that can be helpful for Bible study groups and leaders. This list encompasses various translations of the Bible, commentaries, digital tool ..read more

“The Lord is my shepherd.” What line would you say next in Psalm 23, verse 1: “I shall not want,” “I lack nothing,” or “I will not be in need”? What about John 3:16? Do you expect the verse to include “only begotten son,” “whosoever believeth,” and “everlasting life”? Or are you more familiar with “one and only son,” “whoever believes,” and “eternal life”? English translations of the Bible vary, sometimes in small ways and sometimes substantially. If you’ve ever wondered about the differences between English Bible translations, this article will offer a brief guide to help you navigate popula ..read more

In February 2021, the Diocese of Maine Climate Justice Council met for the first time. The council, consisting of nine lay and ordained Episcopalians who include the three of us, crafted a resolution that asked the bishop to declare a climate emergency. The resolution also encouraged each parish to appoint an Earth Keeper who would work to create and oversee the implementation of a Covenant to Care of Creation. The resolution passed by an overwhelming margin. Calling & Equipping Earth Keepers The council sent a letter on Earth Day 2022 along with a letter from Bishop Brown urging each par ..read more

The Feast of Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter Sunday. This holy day whisks us into the presence of God alive and on the move, rushing and stirring around, among, and within us. It is a day to celebrate and welcome the Holy Spirit, who reveals God’s love and hope for all of creation. In the Spirit, we encounter divine joy and creativity. We find consolation in pain and struggle. We witness a power like no other that subverts death and oppression with life and liberation. We also become empowered to proclaim with “all flesh” God’s prophetic, redemptive, and transformative words for a world ..read more