Where do we go from here?

Where Does Our Nation Go From Here? Adam Russell Taylor In a week filled with such promise and peril, I wrestled with what to share in this column. Our nation continues to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, having surpassed the sobering milestone of 300,000 American lives lost to COVID-19. And yet, after the FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use last Friday, images of frontline workers receiving the vaccine offered profound hope, signaling the beginning of the end of this horrific pandemic. Last weekend we also saw dangerous mayhem in Washington, D.C.: Trump supporters, including members of the white supremacist hate group the Proud Boys, protested without masks, fomented violence, and vandalized downtown churches — an alarming consequence of President Trump’s unconscionable and anti-democratic efforts to discredit and overturn the election; these efforts should be condemned across the political spectrum. At the same time, the Electoral College vote on Monday officially made Joe Biden the president-elect and Kamala Harris the vice president-elect, enabling our nation to turn a corner. It is on this forward-looking note that we share the prophetic words of the historians, theologians, artists, and activists featured in the latest Sojourners cover story: “Finding Our Way in a Post-Trump America.” I’m deeply grateful for these timely and powerful insights — including reflections from Margaret Atwood, Wajahat Ali, Valarie Kaur, Otis Moss III, and more — and pray they help us determine where our nation should go from here. READ THE ARTICLE HERE Forward Share

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Faith and Justice Scholarships for Graduate Studies Boston College School of Theology and Ministry is delighted to announce a new series of scholarships, the Agent of Transformation Awards, which offer up to full tuition funding for qualified applicants who are committed to working toward a more just and inclusive Church and world. Director of Faith and Neighboring Practices – resumes due by Jan 4, 2021 Coach 3 cohorts of 5 congregations for 2 two-year cycles on faith & neighboring practices for the Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA. Goal: increase congregational vitality through deeper connection to God & better understanding how God is already at work in the communities, using spiritually-centered faith practices and faith-based organizing methodology.