The churches of North America stand at a theological crossroads. Whether they possess the courage to choose a different path may depend, in part, on whether they are willing to receive books like Randy Woodley’s How Western Christianity Got It
Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas represents one of the most significant contributions to Christian social thought since Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti. More than an encyclical about artificial intelligence, it is an exercise in theological discernment that asks a more
My Review of “A Systematic Theology of Love, vol. 1” Thomas Jay Oord. A Systematic Theology of Love: God and Creation. Volume 1. Collector’s Edition. Grasmere, ID: SacraSage Press, 2026. This review was first published on Tom Oord’s Substack. Peace,
The Quilt We Make Together by Dwight J. Friesen No single squareever calls itself the quilt.It arrives offering what only it canits own beautiful history—a worn sleeve,a child’s Sunday dress,a farmer’s shirt softenedby seasons of weather and work.On their ownthey
Every so often I get to be part of a conversation that doesn’t offer easy answers, but instead opens new questions worth living into. This webinar was one of those gifts. Together with Joel Kiekintveld and psychologist Paul Hoard, we
As conversations from the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum continue to ripple outward, we are witnessing a growing global recognition that housing is far more than infrastructure or economics. Housing is about dignity, belonging, safety, community, resilience, and
The 13th Session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan felt like one of those moments when new possibilities were opening up. Over the course of WUF13, more than 53,000 participants from 176 countries gathered under the theme “Housing
Participants gathering at World Urban Forum 13 know that the future of our cities will require more than policy, infrastructure, and technology alone. Sustainable urban futures also require meaning, moral imagination, community trust, and shared purpose. This is where faith
This year’s Inhabit Conference 2026, hosted by Lawndale Christian Community Church on Chicago’s West Side, felt less like a conference and more like a homecoming—an embodied reminder of what it means to live, love, and witness in the Way of
A Confession for Such a Time as This We are living in a moment of rupture. Across our neighborhoods and nations, the fractures are visible—political, racial, ecological, ecclesial. Many who bear the name “Christian” are increasingly entangled with power, exclusion,
The Scripture reading & sermon begins at 18:05. This morning I was thrilled to be back with the St Luke’s community in Bellevue. I had the gift of preaching on the first Sunday after Easter—a day when the Church turns
What does your faith tradition have to say about housing, homelessness, and the future of our cities? More than you might think — and there is now a global stage to say it. This May, I’ll be heading to Baku,
Followers of Jesus are observing Advent—that ancient lament season of waiting, watching, and longing. It is a time intentionally carved out of the calendar to dwell in the space between: between past promise and future fulfillment, between the world as
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
Honoring John Lewis by Learning to Love Courageously July 17th, a growing number of churches and faith communities observed what has become known as Good Trouble—an opportunity to remember the life and witness of Congressman John Lewis and to ask
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.
