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ruminations, fulminations, and cogitations on the spiritual life

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Religion

Billy: Grief and Gratitude

All of us who knew Billy (William J.) Abraham (1947-2021) were stunned last week when we received the grievous news of his death.  Since then, I have read several moving remembrances. Some of Billy’s seminary and graduate students have written

Stephen Rankin October 12, 2021 General, Ministry, Religion, The Church, Uncategorized, United Methodism No Comments Read more

Boundary Questions Refuse to Go Away

Imagine that you just moved into a neighborhood and, as you get acquainted with one of your new neighbors, you discover that the two of you share a commitment to community engagement.  The new acquaintance invites you to join a

Stephen Rankin April 7, 2021April 7, 2021 Doctrine/Theology, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 10 Comments Read more

An Open Letter to Adam Hamilton and Other Centrists: Where Lie the Boundaries?

Dear Adam (Hamilton) and Other Centrists, When I wrote, recently, about my conviction that the current United Methodist Church needs to divide, I don’t think I made sufficiently clear that I recognize this admission as a sign of failure. Sometimes,

Stephen Rankin March 25, 2021March 25, 2021 Ministry, Preaching/Teaching, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 19 Comments Read more

Church-Like Schools?

As a companion to the previous installment, in this post I want to advocate for a thesis that long ago fell into disfavor. I’ll put it in its simplest and most straightforward form and then explain. Church-related colleges and universities

Stephen Rankin February 18, 2021February 18, 2021 Higher and Theological Education, Religion, The Church, United Methodism No Comments Read more

We Need School-like Churches.

As a kid, I was bookish.  I loved sports.  I took piano lessons.  I participated in 4H.  I liked to hang out with my friends.  But I also loved to read.  Sometimes I got so absorbed in what I was

Stephen Rankin January 18, 2021 Christian Life, Doctrine/Theology, Religion, The Church 9 Comments Read more
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Recent Comments

  • North Texas Congregant on A Bishop Reinstated
  • Carylon Flax on Boundary Questions Refuse to Go Away
  • Danny Blue on Dogma as Drama – Thank You, Dorothy Sayers
  • James W Lung on An Open Letter to Adam Hamilton and Other Centrists: Where Lie the Boundaries?
  • Stephen Rankin on Boundary Questions Refuse to Go Away

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Meet Steve

I serve as Executive Director of the Spiritual Maturity Project, a ministry some of us have recently started.  For 25 years I worked in higher education as a professor and chaplain and before that as a pastor.  I love to help people grapple with big and basic questions to grow into real ,grown-up Christian discipleship.

I ruminate on all manner of theological, biblical, historical, and cultural topics. I believe followers of Jesus need to be more like members of Issachar’s tribe, able to read the times. Read more

 

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