The Mainline Minister

Alas, nothing profound today (but hopefully interesting!). The workmen have started erecting the scaffolding around our bell tower and on the roof as part of this fall's shingling and painting project at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon. Last week they used a giant cherry picker to gain access to the top of the meetinghouse. In the early 19th century, or "the olden days" as my son likes to refer to the past, oxen and very long ramps stretching to the town green were used to get the bell into place. Today we'd just park a crane next to the building and hoist the bell. Modern construction and preservation technology greatly eases caring for a legacy property like FCC; using modern tools we've been able to peak into (and behind) corners, measure the potential impact of vibrations from construction on ceilings and trusses, and grapple with issues that would not have occurred to those who build the place in the early 1800s (lead paint, anyone?). All this

Last night the State of Georgia executed Troy Davis, who had been convicted of killing Mark MacPhail, a Savannah police officer, despite a multitude of questions surrounding both evidence presented and evidence not presented in the case. Davis' execution is but the latest instance in which the death penalty has been applied even though there were reasonable doubts regarding the person to be executed was actually guilty. Statistical and anecdotal evidence suggesting innocent people are being put to death by the state has given rise to debate as to whether, under these circumstances, the death penalty should be used or set aside. This is all well and good and needs to be explored. But I believe that Christians have an obligation to take this discussion one step further: should the state be in the business of killing criminals at all? Strip away talk of "ultimate sanctions" (a bloodless euphemism for execution) and "deterrence" (there's no evidence that the

It's been 24 hours since the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law passed into history and the Republic still seems safe. Discrimination never does our nation proud and I'm glad that we've closed the book on this long, pointless, harmful chapter in our history (did it ever make sense while we were at war in Iraq to be dismissing Arabic-language specialists when we were suffering, and still are, from a shortage of personnel with this kind of expertise?). Given the ultimate purpose of the military is to defend the nation and, let's be honest, if necessary, kill the enemy, who you love seems completely irrelevant to pulling the proverbial trigger. The UK and Israel, countries with armed forces that have repeatedly proven themselves in combat, have long allowed gays and lesbians to serve in the ranks without any adverse effects. I have no doubt that this will be true of our armed forces, too. In an era when we're fighting two unpopular wars, pay is lagging, a

The New York Times ran a profile of evolutionary biologist and uber-atheist Richard Dawkins in this morning's Science Times section. Prof. Dawkins, an Oxford don, knows a lot about biology and is a brilliant scientist, but knows squat about religion; his rants against God show an understanding of religion and theology that are as simplistic (and, dare I say, simple-minded) as the approach to science shown by a number of religious and political figures on the right. None of this is news, really. But it is puzzling. Why does somebody like Dawkins abandon any sense of intellectual nuance when discussing something of which he disapproves? Surely he can do better than his standard "religion is the source of all evil" schtick (especially since it was religion, of the Roman Catholic variety to be exact, that invented the enterprise of which he is currently a part). Today's story makes me wish there were compelling religious figures who could command the same level of pres

A couple of years ago, a book titled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was published, launching an unexpected but highly popular (not to mention very lucrative) genre in which literature and the undead were mashed together. The success of PPZ inspired Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer (I kid you not). Given my interest in pop culture and my ecclesiastical responsibilities it seems to me that church history could prove a fertile field for this kind of book (Puritans v. Witches? A natural!). I'm thinking I could start off with John Calvin, Zombie Slayer ... though Zwingli, Zombie Zapper is awesomely alliterative...

Ten years on, and the wounds are still so raw for some. For others, the event seems to have faded into the background. As I reflect on the past decade, what I feel most is sadness, especially about what could have been. Do you remember the sense of unity, of purpose we experienced as a nation in the immediate aftermath of the attacks? During those September days, it seemed that great good could come out of our pain, that, to use church-talk, we could experience resurrection. It wasn't to be, though. Instead we chose to travel another path. But maybe someday it could be, can be. We can always opt for the Way of Jesus. On this 9/11 anniversary, it's clear to me that if there's anything the institutional church should be focused on it's not worrying about survival or focusing on relevance but finding a way to turn those intimations of the kingdom of God that we glimpsed into a reality for all people.

Boy, am I looking forward to using that as a sermon title later this fall! But, seriously, what are we to make of hell? Rob Bell's book "Love Wins" has stirred up a lot of controversy in evangelical circles for questioning the view of hell that has prevailed in so many quarters of the faith for so long. This is a good thing. People should be talking about - and questioning - core concepts like the afterlife. It's part of being a Christian, after all. (Ever notice how Jesus loved to ask questions?) One reader of this post asked if I had other books to recommend. Two I'd suggest: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis (the best conception of hell I've encountered) and N.T. Wright's Simply Christian, which does a great job of exploring the basics of the faith and then tackles what that means for how we live our common life as members of the church.

In case anyone's been wondering, I last posted an entry in April. That's right. April. Surely this has earned me a place in Blogger Hell. Blogger Hell. Surely you know it? In case you don't, it's the place where the only other posters are people seeking financial assistance in securing legacies from Nigerian dictators ("Provide me, dearly beloved sir, your social security and credit card numbers and I promise, really, truly, honestly, that I'll share my $45,000,000 inheritance with you) or offering various medications that will, um, enhance certain parts of my life (this is a family blog so, no more will be said). Is there a way out of this place, this seventh circle of Internet perdition you wonder? Honestly, I don't know. But if there is, I'm assuming it involves doing a better job of updating this blog. And speaking of hell, if you haven't read Rob Bell's book "Love Wins," I recommend you do. It's a quick but substantive r