“Our ecclesia is broken because it cannot find a way to accommodate differences, let alone embrace them. These are differences that are surfacing in ecclesias around the world: worship styles, memorial service format, gender roles, attendance levels, engagement expectations, and a lost sense of belonging.”

“Christianity offers a deeper and richer morality of sex, that requires consideration and respect for the well-being of the other person. The precondition for sexual intercourse is not just consent, but reciprocal desire and reciprocal benefit, expressed through commitment and fidelity.”

“By looking at the internal evidence of the Bible texts and also at the external evidence from archaeology, we see something very different from the simplistic picture of a violent conquest of the land and the annihilation of entire populations. For me, what emerges is a better understanding of the purpose of scripture, and reassurance that the God revealed through Jesus is the same as the God who revealed himself to ancient Israel.”

“It is important to remember that our ultimate goal in renewing our ecclesias and systems is to create spaces where people can encounter God, grow in their faith, and find solace, safety, and belonging. The pursuit requires humility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to challenge conventional structures that may inadvertently create barriers to authentic worship and genuine community.”

“If you are loving to your neighbor, then you should also be loving to yourself. As the original command used one to teach you how to do the other, I submit that the same logic applies. You are to use your love and acceptance of others to teach you how to love and accept yourself.”

“The Bible’s Revelation is a book full of symbols. For many of us, those symbols seem really hard to understand so that instead of revealing the message, they obscure it.”

“Sexual intercourse is a gift from God. It is a blessing that God has given to humans as the basis of strong, healthy, and intimate relationships. It is a blessing that God has created to bring joy to marriage and to give physical expression to emotional connections. There is nothing inherently sinful about sexuality or sexual desire. It is only when enacted in the wrong circumstances that sexual intercourse becomes sinful.”

“I soon realized the news is actually full of hope. There are stories about lifetime accomplishments of service and of love; articles focusing on advancements in medicine, education, and technology; and whole sections devoted to beauty in art, music, and creation. The news is full of hope in a better future.”

“Once the dust had settled, I realised I too had drifted off course. I had distanced myself from my family, from my friends, and from my Heavenly Father in pursuit of a relationship that proved to be but a breath of wind. I needed to find that narrow path once more and to put my faith firmly back in God’s ever-loving hands. I had to place my faith back in the invisible, back in the very real sensation of God’s guidance and love.”