A Case for Followers of Christ Engaging the SDGs by Dwight J. Friesen I want to suggest that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not a political experiment or a secular distraction—they are a faithful, tangible way to live out
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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…
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
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
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
