A Pastor Writes … Book Group says “Yes”
This past fall, 22 people in my congregation committed to doing a deep dive with your book “Do I Stay Christian?” There were two groups; we met 6 times over the course of nearly 3 months, for 2 hours at a time. Slow and steady, painful, illuminating, revealing, vulnerable, strengthening, maddening, clarifying, affirming ... our conversations were rich indeed. It was the right book at the right time, and we’re more committed than ever to saying “Yes” to a new kind of Christianity.
-- It's always encouraging to hear that people turn a book into a conversation. What a great way to learn -- and build community.
For others interested in using Do I Stay Christian?, the first appendix offers some guidelines and questions for forming a meaningful reading group.
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A Catholic and a Protestant walk into …
A Catholic and Protestant walk into the internet ... I believe you'll want to read and share this piece cowritten with my friend Patrick Carolan ... https://www.redletterchristians.org/its-time-for-a-franciscan-renaissance/
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Why I’m not traveling as much this year …
This year, I'll be present for about 15 live events, which is relatively few, especially compared to my pre-Covid pattern of 80-100 days per year on the road.
There are five main reasons for reducing my travel. First, like every sane person, I love the Earth, which makes me feel ambivalent about even important air travel. (Each year I pay a voluntary "carbon tax" by contributing to forest preservation to help compensate for the travel I do engage in.) Second, I'm getting older and I don't have the stamina of the younger me. Third, I love being home, and Grace is happier to have me around too. Fourth, COVID taught us that a lot could be done online via videoconferencing. True, a lot of us have Zoom fatigue, and being together in person is a delight, but overall, online is a good option environmentally and in terms of affordability and ease of access. Finally, this year, I'm working on my next book, which is probably the most difficult and important challenge I've taken on, and I need extended time to read, listen, and reflect, as well as write and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite.
So you'll find details of my in-person speaking events here:
https://brianmclaren.net/events/list/
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A Poem for Doubters
Diane Brady-Leighton kindly sent me this beautiful poem inspired by Do I Stay Christian? She generously offered to share it with you all. Thanks, Diane!
For the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned*
It is no secret, if you examine the evidence,
that what passes as god,
has too often been used as a sword
And now, as I write this, there are
those who say Jesus,
to hawk guns
Who see the devastation
of the earth a highway
to salvation
It takes time to sort out the laundry,
the papers that reproduce, the expired
condiments
the beliefs you once held dear
To winnow down to what is
nourishing, nurturing,
necessary
What if, at the start, the
biggest bang,
there is only love?
And our job,
our only job, is to
find our way back?
What if, wherever we looked,
we saw
light?
In us too, reflected in
the mirror, not flaws and follicles
but beauty?
*Inspired by the book Do I Stay Christian?
Brian D. McLaren
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Four Stages of Faith Development Chart
Thanks to a generous reader, Beth Vann!
Beth created this downloadable chart and offered to share it with you all. It's based on versions available in my books Faith After Doubt and Do I Stay Christian?
Here's the chart:
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