Shalomic Imagination

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

King County Equity Now

For those in King County, this is helpful information on demands in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.  King County Equity Now. March on June 19, 2020.

Dwight J. Friesen June 7, 2020May 12, 2022

My Grandmother’s Hands

My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem Menaken encourages us to “stop trying to address white supremacy through dialog. Don’t expect to change the world by teaching tolerance. Forget about

Dwight J. Friesen June 6, 2020January 25, 2021

Can “White” People Be Saved?

I recently reread Willie James Jennings‘ essay, “Can ‘White’ People Be Saved?” (highly recommended), after defining ‘whiteness’ and walking through the tragic history of the collusion the Christian faith with white supremacy Dr. Jennings writes: “As I close – I

Dwight J. Friesen June 5, 2020May 12, 2022

George Floyd

The Reverend Al Sharpton delivered a powerful message of change the funeral for George Floyd today. “It’s time for us to stand up in George’s name and say, ‘Get your knee off our necks.’” “The reason we could never be

Dwight J. Friesen June 4, 2020May 12, 2022

COVID-19 Teaching us about Traffic?

Really helpful article by Joe Cartright who runs the think tank and blog City Observatory. Cartright’s article is posted on Strong Towns, its called: What COVID-19 Teaches Us About How to Fix Highways, by Joe Cartright The Small Towns‘ podcast

Dwight J. Friesen May 20, 2020September 26, 2022

Educational Metaphor

I find the metaphor of a gardener to be a fertile one in helping me feel and think my way into my work as a formational educator.  Rather than tending to fruits, vegetables, and flowers, I picture my formational role

Dwight J. Friesen May 15, 2020May 12, 2022

Risen!

Christ is risen! _ _! “Death and taxes,” well… after the resurrection of Christ, I suppose taxes are the only inevitable thing remaining. Death doesn’t win! The grave isn’t the last word. Thanks be to God! It’s often said because

Dwight J. Friesen April 12, 2020May 12, 2022

Nothing “Good” About It

If I can speak candidly for a moment, I’ve never understood why we call Good Friday “good.” Don’t get me wrong, I understand the historical and theological rationales, and yet… I hate Good Friday, and I see nothing about it

Dwight J. Friesen April 10, 2020May 12, 2022

Having Difficult Conversations

I recently came across this insightful, and immediately helpful TEDx talk by Adar Cohen, PhD, titled, “How to Lead Tough Conversations.” Here’s a link to a short article about his TED talk summarized by Daryl Chen. Dr. Cohen highlights three

Dwight J. Friesen December 21, 2019November 2, 2022

“Indigo”

Indigo by Ellen Bass As I’m walking on West Cliff Drive, a man runs toward me pushing one of those jogging strollers with shock absorbers so the baby can keep sleeping, which this baby is. I can just get a

Dwight J. Friesen December 14, 2019September 9, 2022

“Enjoy Your Pint”

Enjoy Your Pint by Pádraig Ó Tuama At the bar, in an unknown part of Birmingham I bought two pints and paid with paper money from the northern part of Ireland. That’s not British money, the publican said. And I

Dwight J. Friesen December 6, 2019November 6, 2022

Thriving Cities Framework

One of the most vital conversations at the intersection of: cities, humans, environment, design, and faith is happening at Thriving Cities. As their website says, “Thriving Cities Group uses a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together decades of research, training, community

Dwight J. Friesen September 29, 2019November 29, 2022

Daniel Lee on being part of the Asian American Experience

A couple of years ago Fuller Seminary posted a series of short videos stories under the simple title: “Neighbor.” I found many of the stories to really beautiful. I commend them to you. One story that really touched me was

Dwight J. Friesen August 19, 2019May 13, 2022

Grieving the Death of Dr. James H. Cone

“The gospel of Jesus is not a rational concept to be explained in a theory of salvation, but a story about God’s presence in Jesus’ solidarity with the oppressed, which led to his death on the cross. What is redemptive

Dwight J. Friesen April 29, 2018May 13, 2022

Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, 2017 Grenz Lecture

On November 6, The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology hosted its 5th annual Stanley Grenz Lecture Series. This year, we were grateful to have as our featured speaker, Reverend Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, a professor, pastor and dynamic author whose

Dwight J. Friesen November 10, 2017May 13, 2022

The Womxn’s March on Seattle

Wow! What a Day! I have never loved felt more proud of my city than I do today. The Womxn’s March on Seattle was truly beautiful. Lynette and I carpooled with some neighbors, we had a blast… if that’s the right

Dwight J. Friesen January 21, 2017September 26, 2022