For many Ukrainian Orthodox Christians, and clergy in particular, the question of religious identity in relationship to the Russian Orthodox Church is both personal and political. What is a chaplain’s answer to men and women who have chosen to defend a country under siege since
Columnist Terrell Carter writes that Jesus gave his disciples an earnest rundown of how their lives would be changed due to following him. Although discipleship would be a blessing, it would also carry a cost with struggle, conflict, and separation in many ways.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged religious leaders on Tuesday to challenge “inaccurate and harmful messages” that are fueling rising ethno-nationalism, stigma, hate speech and conflict as the coronavirus pandemic circles the globe.
God has created a world where we have the privilege of interacting with diverse people with diverse experiences and experiencing diverse circumstances. These relationships with people who are different from us and experiences that we would never anticipate are not always bad things.
There is nothing like being a pastor or being a church leader in a congregation that works well. However, some within a congregation can believe pastors, staff, church leadership and other church members are opponents who somehow work against them.
American Baptist clergy in Nebraska learned that some approaches to negotiation in business also might work in ministry. Longtime psychologist and business consultant Karl Slaikeu shared his Preferred Path concepts with about 30 clergy in a three-day retreat Oct. 6-8.
 |
Ukrainian Baptists have stepped up ministry as conflict continues to tear at their country, Slavik Pyzh told pastors and lay leaders in Missouri.
The president of Ukrainian
Directors of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America voted recently to authorize funding for conflict transformation training in Sudan/South Sudan and the Philippines and to assist with creation of a Baptist Peace Fellowship of Latin America and the Caribbean.
DETROIT (ABP) -- Much of the global unrest that keeps political cauldrons boiling across the world emanates from a religious center, so Baptist peacemaker Dan Buttry taps the peace traditions of various faiths to bring factions to non-violent resolution.
This is a six-part series on the prevention of church conflict. The author is Wade Paris, former pastor and retired director of missions. He also is a former Word&Way trustee.