Author: Dwight J. Friesen

International Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today is the annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance. Its the day set apart to remember those people who have been murdered simply because they have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth. All violence

Dwight J. Friesen November 20, 2020November 24, 2021

“Get Ready!” Interview by Naomi Osinnowo

Naomi Osinnowo, Editorial Content Manager at Idea interviewed Tom Sine and I regarding our new book, 2020s Foresight. Her interview turned into article which now appears in the November / December 2020, issue of Idea Magazine. The theme for this

Dwight J. Friesen November 13, 2020November 24, 2021

THEOS… a UK think tank needed here

My friend, Tim Soerens of Parish Collective recently introduced me to the remarkable UK think-tank, THEOS, (follow THEOS on facebook). THEOS stimulates the debate about the place of religion in society, challenging and changing ideas through research, commentary and events.

Dwight J. Friesen November 12, 2020November 14, 2022

The Value of Sustainable Urbanization

UN-Habitat released its World Cities Report 2020 at the end of October. These reports inform the vital work of the Urban Shalom Society in our ecumenical and multi-faith collaboration toward activating our cities to plan for a more sustainable future

Dwight J. Friesen November 11, 2020September 26, 2022

Dr. Brian Bantum, 2020 Grenz Lecture

Last week The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology hosted the 8th annual Stanley Grenz Lecture series. The lecture was scheduled for November 2, 2020 . . . yes, that’s right! On the eve of 2020 Presidential election. Dr. Brian

Dwight J. Friesen November 10, 2020November 24, 2021

2021 R U ready? Webinar

So are you? Are you ready for 2021? If you’re like me, you’re ready for a new normal… eager to leave 2020 in the rearview mirror. However, just because the presidential election is over doesn’t mean this decade of accelerating

Dwight J. Friesen November 9, 2020November 24, 2021

“Lead Us to the End of Us versus Them”

Well, as we all know today is the US presidential election.  Everyone in this nation and many around the world are watching with bated breath to see what will happen in this country both today and in the days to

Dwight J. Friesen November 3, 2020November 24, 2021

Hindsight is 20/21?

What can we learn from 2020, so that we can be more ready for 2021? Will 2021 be any different than this year? If so how? Maybe more importantly, why? What are you and your neighbors doing now to shape

Dwight J. Friesen October 19, 2020May 6, 2022

Micah Global: Asia Regional Consultation

I participated in my first Micah Global in the Fall of 2018. Practitioners and thought leaders from all over the world with strong emphasis on majority world leaders gathered in the Philippines. Micah Global describes itself as a global Christian

Dwight J. Friesen October 16, 2020September 26, 2022

10 Personal Parish Practices & Postures During 2020

In this pandemic era many of us find ourselves walking our neighborhoods more than ever. Many are also experiencing limitations in terms of gathering together with others. So doing things with your group or your church may not be available.

Dwight J. Friesen October 12, 2020November 2, 2022

(Re)Integrate Podcast hosts 2020s Foresight

Bob Robinson, executive director of (Re)Integrate together with podcast co-host, Brendan Romigh recently Zoomed in with Tom Sine and myself for a conversation about our new book, 2020s Foresight. (Re)Integrate encourages and equips God’s people to reintegrate their faith with

Dwight J. Friesen October 6, 2020May 6, 2022

Five Signs of New Parish Expressions

Immediately following the release of The New Parish, Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens, myself, and a number of artists who joined us for legs of the tour hit the road. Our travels – which were a purposeful blending of on the

Dwight J. Friesen October 5, 2020January 13, 2021

Papal Encyclical “Fratelli Tutti”

Pope Francis released his sixth his encyclical letter today after visiting the Umbrian town of Assisi. In fact, he officially signed the letter at the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi after celebrating Mass at the tomb of the poverello

Dwight J. Friesen October 4, 2020November 2, 2022

All that’s Holy Blue Collar Podcast

Craig Morton and Cody Stauffer of the All that’s Holy Blue Collar Podcast (a podcast of The Mission Place) invited Tom Sine and I to a conversation about our new book. According to its site, the Mission Place is not

Dwight J. Friesen October 4, 2020May 6, 2022

Report on UN-Habitat “World Urban Forum 10”

Back in February of 2020, just before COVID-19 re-ordered life as we’ve known it, myself and a crew of international, multi-faith urban thinkers and place practitioners gathered in Abu Dhabi to participate the United Nations, Habitat’s tenth convening of the

Dwight J. Friesen September 30, 2020November 2, 2022

Ruah Space Podcast “2020s Foresight”

Phil Vestal of the Ruah Space podcast invited Tom Sine and I to a conversation about our book 2020s Foresight. Ruah Space focuses on making space for the Spirit in our everyday lives. And pays attention to spiritual disciplines can

Dwight J. Friesen September 23, 2020May 6, 2022

For A New Beginning

For a New Beginning by John O’Donohue In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched

Dwight J. Friesen September 17, 2020May 12, 2022

Faith(s) for the Environment – Call to Action

The ongoing collaboration between the Parliament of World Religions together with the UN-Environment Programme, has set forth a “Faith for Earth: A Call for Action.” This beautifully compiled document describes the essential, unshakeable reverence that all religions have for creation

Dwight J. Friesen September 2, 2020September 28, 2022

Is it Hard for a White Person to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

Today my school posted a short blog post I wrote as part of a summer long conversation amongst our core faculty regarding race, systemic and personal black-body racism, and white privilege. The post can be found Here. I titled the

Dwight J. Friesen August 31, 2020November 8, 2022

Prophetic Now! Walter Brueggemann & Kenyatta Gilbert

Totally loved this conversation between two wise Christian thinkers. Together, they explore the contours of “the prophetic” in times like these. While this conversation was recorded prior to the murder of George Floyd it – in my opinion – stands

Dwight J. Friesen August 20, 2020November 8, 2022

Wolterstorff on the Gospel & Shalom

Vale University philosopher and theologian, Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff in conversation at Biola’s Center for Christian Thought offers a very helpful critique a shallow evangelical interpretation of the Gospel as only “getting to heaven,” and discusses the implications of the Gospel

Dwight J. Friesen August 19, 2020November 8, 2022

Help me Launch my New Book

Hey friend, I’m looking for a few folks who might be willing to help me launch my new book. 2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change is going to be released on September 1,

Dwight J. Friesen July 28, 2020November 8, 2022

Closer to the Edge, Dr. Ron Ruthruff

My friend and colleague, Dr. Ron Ruthruff delivered a short talk at my school the other day drawing on some of the themes of his latest book. Ron’s new book is Closer to the Edge. He’s a good guy. A

Dwight J. Friesen June 27, 2020December 21, 2022

The Ground Beneath Your Feet

Recently watched The World Before Your Feet, it’s a documentary film directed by Jeremy Workman and executive produced by Jesse Eisenberg . The film follows Matthew Green on his quest to walk every street, park, and beach in the five

Dwight J. Friesen June 27, 2020November 8, 2022

Inhabit Conference 2020 @ Home Edition

In the revelation of this moment with COVID-19 and systemic racial injustice – is it too late to reorganize the church in the neighborhood for a more equitable future? For far too long, we as a society have ignored the

Dwight J. Friesen June 24, 2020November 8, 2022

Theological Anthropology

This week I’m finishing up assessing end of term papers in which my students articulate their theological anthropology through the question ” What is a human being fully alive?” Which as you may hear is drawing from Irenaeus’ famous quotes, “the

Dwight J. Friesen June 23, 2020January 14, 2021

“To the Great Unknown”

Recently a friend invited me to take a closer listen to some of the music of Minnesota-based, Cloud Cult. I’m really glad I did. On a peripheral level I was aware of them through KEXP (the world’s greatest independent radio

Dwight J. Friesen June 22, 2020August 31, 2022

Juneteenth – Celebrate Freedom

Happy Juneteenth! The 2020 observation of Juneteenth may well be the most significant since 1865. From the abundance of media coverage this year more white Americans (myself included) are learning that Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the US. 

Dwight J. Friesen June 19, 2020November 8, 2022

My first Juneteenth

Tomorrow will be my first time intentionally observing Juneteenth. So I am writing this post as a part of my own ongoing education and discovery. I’m still learning. Juneteenth is a grassroots, national celebration of the ending of legally sanctioned

Dwight J. Friesen June 18, 2020November 8, 2022

Webinar: Lament & Shalom

WEBINAR 3 – Lament & Imagination: A Theological Response to a Covid-19 World Wednesday June 24, 9:00–11:00 AM Eastern Time… that’s 6:00AM for those of us on the West Coast of the USA. I will serve as a participant in the third

Dwight J. Friesen June 17, 2020November 8, 2022