Orthoparadoxical Theologizing

Faith for Cities + IDGs = SDGs

This is my presentation titled, “Inner Development Goals & Faith for Cities: Cultivating the Inner Capacities for Sustainable Urban Futures.” I was hoping to present it in person in Yogyakarta, Indonesia next week but sadly my funding fell through. The

admin November 1, 2025November 1, 2025

Thank You St Paul, MN

Thank you to all the St Paul people and groups who collaborated together to co-create the 2025 “Theology Beer Camp,” hosted by Tripp Fuller of Homebrewed Christianity. Special thanks to the good folx at Luther Seminary for hosting the pre-event

admin October 20, 2025October 22, 2025

Theology Beer Camp PREDAY . 10/16/2025

Learn more. Peace, dwight

admin September 25, 2025September 25, 2025

Grenz Lecture 2025 . Dr Junker

The Seattle School hosted its 12th annual Grenz Lecture, on Friday, January 10th, 2025. This year’s honored lecturer was Dr. Yohana Junker. Dr. Junker’s research probes the intersections among the fields of art history, eco-criticism, and decolonial studies, with special

Dwight J. Friesen January 12, 2025January 18, 2025

New Essay in The Other Journal

As it says on The Other Journal’s website, the latest issue of the journal is akin to a roundtable response to Esther Meek’s work as the Senior Scholar at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. The issue features a thoughtful

Dwight J. Friesen January 8, 2025January 14, 2025

Brueggemann’s Response to “Election 2024”

Earlier today I came across a post-election reflection piece on the Church Anew website by Dr. Walter Brueggemann… the wise, influential, and kind Hebrew Bible scholar. Brueggemann’s article is titled, “Beyond the Fetal Position,” and I commend it to you. Brueggemann

Dwight J. Friesen November 7, 2024November 13, 2024

Eucontamination Feast

The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and the You Have Permission podcast invite you to an exclusive pre-conference meal ahead of Theology Beer Camp 2024. This engaging event features thought-provoking discussion and embodied learning. Join licensed therapists, theologians, and

Dwight J. Friesen October 15, 2024October 15, 2024

Join me @ Theology Beer Camp

I’m excited to be not only attending this year’s Theology Beer Camp but to be participating in a “Pre-Game Event” with Dan Koch and a gaggle of folx connected through The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Our pre-game event, “Sacred

Dwight J. Friesen September 6, 2024September 9, 2024

This Year’s IP Presentations

The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology hosted its 2024 Integrative Projects & Portfolio Symposium back in June, providing our graduating MDiv and MATC students a platform for sharing their capstone projects.  Such great work!  I love what I get to do. Peace, dwight April

Dwight J. Friesen August 20, 2024August 20, 2024

MATC Degree

The Seattle School recently filmed and uploaded a couple of Instagram posts describing the school’s MATC degree. Enjoy! Peace, dwight View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Seattle School (@theseattleschool) View this post on Instagram A post

Dwight J. Friesen June 24, 2024July 10, 2024

Guest Preaching on Palm Sunday

This weekend I will be guest preaching at Evergreen Mennonite Church in Kirkland on Seattle’s Eastside. I’ve been handed a lot of narrative to cover, from Christ’s entry into Jerusalem to the his unjust execution. I’m very much looking forward

Dwight J. Friesen March 19, 2024March 19, 2024

Inner Development Goals

If you follow my blog at all, then you know that I am passionate about helping realize the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I often say that the 17 SDGs are as audacious as they are beautiful and are a

Dwight J. Friesen March 18, 2024May 7, 2024

The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology is Hiring!

My school, The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, is in the process of hiring two full-time core faculty positions, a number of adjunct instructors, plus a handful of other vital roles. If you, or someone you know invests their

Dwight J. Friesen March 12, 2024March 12, 2024

“Evangelical” Doesn’t Mean what it Used To!

My friend Tim likes to says that “words make worlds,” and they do, words are powerful. I just heard my friend Sparrow say, “all transformation is linguistic.” The way we – and those around us – use language makes some

Dwight J. Friesen March 4, 2024March 4, 2024

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

As you may know at the end of 2023 the world observed the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This bold and beautiful series of 30 articles, is a milestone document in the history of human rights.

Dwight J. Friesen March 2, 2024March 4, 2024

Pope Calls for Liturgical Reform

Matthew Santucci of the Catholic New Agency reported yesterday that Pope Francis addressed members of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to discuss the importance of liturgical reform as a core feature of the board

Dwight J. Friesen February 9, 2024February 9, 2024

The Future of Theological Education

Today I get to spend the day at a retreat center East of Seattle with leaders and theologians from The Seattle School exploring our next steps into the future of theological education and ministry formation. So very grateful to the

Dwight J. Friesen February 2, 2024February 2, 2024

Multi-Faith Presence @ COP28

While I wasn’t able to attend COP28 in person, it’s been so great to the reports from my multi-faith colleagues about the remarkable advancement in the active participation of world’s faiths, religions, and spiritualities in the conversation. 84-85% of the

Dwight J. Friesen January 30, 2024January 30, 2024

The Bible Intentionally Mistranslated

1946 is a feature documentary following the story of tireless researchers who trace the origins of the anti-gay movement among Christians to a grave mistranslation of the Bible in 1946. The film chronicles the discovery of never-before-seen archives at Yale

Dwight J. Friesen January 23, 2024January 22, 2024

Grenz Lecture 2024 . Tonight

This lecture series is offered in honor of the great Stanley J. Grenz; former Professor at The Seattle School, (then known as Mars Hill Graduate School). Stan was a prolific Christian scholar with a pastoral heart and deep intellectual presence.

Dwight J. Friesen January 12, 2024January 10, 2024

Dying for Change: Two Loops Model

Systems thinkers, organizational innovators, and localists Deborah Frieze and Margaret Wheatley, with the Berkana Institute, have developed a very helpful model for better understanding the complex process of systems change. Their model – among other things – thoughtfully attends to

Dwight J. Friesen September 13, 2023September 13, 2023

Stations of the Cross

On this Holy Friday I share this thoughtful reflection on the Stations of the Cross by Irish theologian and poet, Pádraig Ó Tuama. He recorded this reflection for the first Holy Week of the COVID era. Pádraig walks us through the

Dwight J. Friesen April 7, 2023November 7, 2022

Vatican Repudiates ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ 

Yesterday the Vatican formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery,” a legal concept based on 15th-century papal documents that European colonial powers used to legitimize the seizure and exploitation of Indigenous lands in Africa and the Americas, among other places. As

Dwight J. Friesen March 31, 2023March 31, 2023

Brian McLaren in Cascadia

I’m thrilled to learn that Brian McLaren will be coming to Cascadia next month. Brian will be here for two dates: Jim Henderson and the folks at Off-the-Map are putting on the two events. Brian will engage in a series

Dwight J. Friesen February 7, 2023February 7, 2023

Fusion & Consent?

Lot’s of excitement from US scientists at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California because for the first time ever they have successfully produced a nuclear fusion reaction resulting in a net energy gain. On

Dwight J. Friesen December 15, 2022December 15, 2022

Advent & Sabbath

Whatever hemisphere a person lives in, Winter is a season of long nights and short days. Located as I am in the Northern hemisphere, I witness winter turning colder, Canada Geese flying south, Monarch butterflies migrating, bears hibernating, and humans…

Dwight J. Friesen December 10, 2022December 12, 2022

All Saints & All Souls

Since last Sunday my church observed Reformation Sunday, this weekend we will be observing All Saints Day.  Here is an except from the letter I sent to our faith community… I kind of love that All Saints Day is followed

Dwight J. Friesen November 1, 2022November 27, 2022

Missionary Church After Christendom

This week I got to serve as the theologian in residence for the Episcopal Gathering of Leaders clergy event just outside of Portland, Oregon. What a great group of church leaders. It was so inspiring to be with other folks

Dwight J. Friesen October 20, 2022October 21, 2022

One Who Wrestles with God

This weekend, one of our lectionary readings is a story of encounter, wrestling, and transformation. It’s the story of Jacob’s name being changed to Israel. As you may recall, it is Jacob’s sons for whom the twelve tribes of the

Dwight J. Friesen October 13, 2022January 31, 2023

Real . Story . Life

Below you will find the latest letter I sent to the congregation with whom I am serving. For some reason I went a little philosophical with this one. I sure hope it makes sense. I hear in my writing an

Dwight J. Friesen September 30, 2022September 30, 2022