SojoMail - My commencement speech for the Class of 2024

A Commencement Speech for the Class of 2024 In this week’s SojoMail, Adam Russell Taylor writes to the Class of 2024, a group of people who have already faced tremendous challenges in life while demonstrating their resilience and fierce passion for justice: College commencement address season regularly delivers controversy alongside the clichés and this year was no exception, with students staging pro-Palestinian demonstrations and Kansas City Chief’s kicker Harrison Butker’s patriarchal, anti-LGBTQ, and antisemitic address at Benedictine College. As many have noted, many of this year’s college graduates had their 2020 high school graduation ceremonies canceled because of COVID-19. As a faith leader, I wanted to offer my own reflections to this group of young people. If you are a graduate or have a close family or friend that is graduating, this message is particularly for you, along with my heartfelt congratulations; I hope it offers some hope and spiritual sustenance in a time of such deep uncertainty. READ THE FULL ARTICLE Forward Share

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Our Latest Faith and Nonviolence Experts Commend ‘Peacemakers’ At Student Protests (by Shreya Agrawal) “One thing that I think is really critical here, particularly from a Christian perspective, is that these encampments are a form of nonviolent resistance,” Eli McCarthy, a Catholic peace expert, told Sojourners.  Does God Have a Favorite Sports Team? (by Sara Augustin) If one understands God to only be on their side — “Jesus vs. the opposing team” — you might fail to recognize the face of God in your opponent. ‘Abbott Elementary’ on Loving a Church That Doesn’t Always Love You Back (by Deirdre Jonese Austin) Barbara Howard is the cool church aunt who knows her scriptures, but won’t beat you over the head with them. Is It Harder to be Sober in Progressive Churches? (by Mitchell Atencio) Between fundamentalism and unhealthy drinking, Erin Jean Warde is working toward a sober-minded relationship with alcohol.

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From the Magazine Christian Wiman Pushes Back Against Despair (by Jenna Barnett) In Zero at the Bone, the lament is just as valuable as the sermon.

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