The second of the three Black theologians I'd like to hear and celebrate this Black History Month is Verna J. Dozier. Dozier (1917-2006) was an educator by training and vocation. She taught high school for thirty years while leading Bible Studies for her parish in her spare time, and later taught courses in Bible at … Continue reading The Dream of God: The sanctified imagination of Verna J. Dozier
Sometimes the Scriptures are a goad, a spur that drives us to the work we are called to do. We've had a lot of that the past few months: a consistent message to wake up and do the work of justice and love. Other times, however, the Scriptures are a balm to soothe to soul. … Continue reading …To Those Who Wait (A Reflection on Isaiah 40.21-31)
One of my favorite projects last year was the week in which I posted daily posts celebrating, in my small way from my small platform, the voices of African American theologians. I don't mean this in a self-congratulatory way; but I genuinely loved getting out of the way to give space for these largely under-appreciated, … Continue reading The Life Worth Living: The Prophetic Spirituality of Howard Thurman
There's a great scene in a classic episode of The Simpsons in which Homer, having been chosen to go into space as an 'every-man', breaks an ant farm, sending the ants everywhere in the zero-gravity environment. One of the ants, panicking, screams, "Freedom! Horrible horrible freedom!" It's a line that comes to my mind often, … Continue reading The Freedom to Love: A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8.1-13
I remember many years ago listening to a dialogue between two theologians, one Protestant and one Orthodox, about our language surrounding light and darkness. The Protestant — I sadly don't remember who the participants were — made the statement that he didn't believe we would be able to successfully address racism in our culture until … Continue reading The Darkness of God
Matthew Root 