by Laura Ellis Last year at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, a drone accidentally discovered a mass grave outside the city on Hart Island. The grave was full of the bodies of people who died in a time when the city’s morgues were full. The bodies were unidentified and unclaimed, … Continue reading
By Rick Burnette This past year of 2020 was the most challenging year I have experienced since beginning my role as the CBF Domestic Disaster Response Manager in 2018, due to the combination of COVID-19 and the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. We were relieved when the 2020 hurricane season finally faded way, … Continue reading
By Nell Green Well, here we are. Finally! We are approaching 2021. For many of us, Christmas décor has been stored away; we are back to zoom meetings; and we have picked up some of our routine. Not that much has been routine in 2020. However, some things have remained constant, even during this pandemic. … Continue reading
By Caleb Mynatt As the winds stirred and the sky turned to black on August 27, 2020, the citizens of Lake Charles, La., were confronted with a reality that is all too familiar. Hurricanes hitting the Louisiana coast have become an almost annual occurrence these days, but not often does a Hurricane Laura, a Category … Continue reading
By Kristan Pitts Advent is a season of paradox. It’s a season where we hold in tension the celebration of the birth of Christ and the anticipation of Christ’s second coming. 2020 has been an exercise of what it means to exist in tension. We have experienced a pandemic, increased visibility of structural injustice, polarizing political … Continue reading
By Andy Hale I’ve spent the last two decades deconstructing a theology handed to me by a tradition that I no longer embrace. There was a lot to unpack from the denominational tradition of my rearing; the long history of patriarchy, sexism towards female clergy and lay leaders, bullying local churches into creedal submission, and … Continue reading
By Rick Burnette Most of us are aware that the 2020 hurricane season was unrivaled. By the end of November there had been a record breaking 31 tropical systems, 30 named storms and 13 hurricanes, six of which were major. This includes the 12 storms that made landfall in the U.S.; also a record. Keeping … Continue reading
By Shauw Chin Capps With this year’s unusual Thanksgiving behind us, we are heading full speed into the Christmas season. This year, unlike any other, Christmas will also feel different as the pandemic puts limitations on our gatherings and activities. However, as followers of Jesus made in the image of a generous God, I believe … Continue reading
Since 1985, the Network on Ministry in Specialized Settings (“COMISS”) has observed the last week of October as Spiritual Care Week – a time when we celebrate the sacred work of chaplains and pastoral counselors. This year’s Spiritual Care Week theme is “Collaborative Healthcare: Chaplains Complete the Picture.” Sometimes a picture is more informative and revealing than words. Often … Continue reading
Since 1985, the Network on Ministry in Specialized Settings (“COMISS”) has observed the last week of October as Spiritual Care Week – a time when we celebrate the sacred work of chaplains and pastoral counselors. This year’s Spiritual Care Week theme is “Collaborative Healthcare: Chaplains Complete the Picture.” Sometimes a picture is more informative and revealing than words. Often … Continue reading