Civic Ecosystem
Part 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…
Read MoreProtected: Living On The Edge: Resources
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Read MoreGovernance for Thriving: Dignity, Community, Beauty, and Sustainability – Part 2
If democracy is going to heal, it needs a new aim—human thriving—and a practical path to get there. Political scientist Jenna Bednar calls this governance for human social thriving. The Four Pillars: These ideas match the Vital Conditions for Well-Being developed by the Rippel Foundation: humane housing, meaningful work, lifelong learning, belonging, and civic muscle.…
Read MoreThe Role of the Multifaith Movement in Our Time
Later this month, I’ll be joining interfaith leaders from across the nation at a round-table convened by Interfaith America. The question before us is simple, but urgent: What is the role of the interfaith movement at this point in our history? As I prepare for that conversation, here’s what I see. A Whole-of-Society Problem We…
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