Civic Ecosystem
Resistance is Not Futile – And Not Enough
Resistance Is Not a Vision You may remember the Borg from Star Trek. They would appear and announce: “Resistance is futile.” It was terrifying because it meant you would be absorbed into a system with no freedom, no individuality, no humanity. Today, many people feel something similar. So people say, “We must resist.” And sometimes,…
Read MoreSo What Do We Do?
Practical Steps for Faith and Interfaith Leaders Living on the Edge If we agree that the sacred–secular split is hollowing out both faith and public life—and if we reject domination as an answer—then the question becomes practical: What leaders of wisdom traditions and interfaith leaders actually do? Not next decade.Not after the culture cools down.Now.…
Read MorePart Three: Shared Values, Shared Life, a Renewed Civic Covenant
Here is where I believe a real opening appears. Across cultures, continents, and centuries, wisdom traditions have named remarkably similar public values. These values were not designed to win arguments or decorate sanctuaries. They were shaped to help human beings live together without destroying one another. They functioned as a kind of social contract—shared commitments…
Read MorePart One: Faith as a Theme Park
Why the Sacred–Secular Split Leaves People Tired and Divided For most of my 34 years as a pastor, I’ve seen a pattern that keeps repeating. Many people want the church to be a kind of theological Disneyland. It’s a place you visit for inspiration, comfort, and meaning—and then you go home to the real world,…
Read MoreAwaken to Our Challenges and Rise to Meet Them
As we finish our fundraising campaign, we want to share a quick snapshot of this year. We clarified our mission to “Gathering Neighbors, Growing Trust.” We also expanded our work into three clear areas: local practice and shared tools, media, and public leadership and civic engagement. These changes give us more focus while staying true…
Read MoreA Year of Courage, Kindness, and New Sunrises
As we turn toward the close of the year, I’ve been looking back on the moments that give me hope. Not abstract ideas, not headlines—but real conversations with real people. These three keep coming back to me. 1. “These questions were next level.” At a Potluck Project event in Kirkland, a leader who has been…
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