Author: Michelle Van Loon
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Sykes, Eliason, And The Hard Work of Regret
This past weekend, I heard an expression of regret from a man who had shaped the faith and politics of thousands of of people over the last two decades. The chastened accounting of some of the damage he’d done was a rare and welcome admission. Though it has come so late in the game, I…
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Evangelicalism’s Uneasy Relationship With Qohelet
The world-weary author(s) of Ecclesiastes seems to have been well-acquainted with privilege and power. This voice is named only by title (Qohelet*, often translated as “preacher”, he’s a sage who knows what’s what) and a “son of David” (a ruler in his own right and a heir of the king; some suggest Solomon, but Bible…
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Back To Church
I’ve been blogging for more than a decade, and I’ve written often about spiritual abuse by church leaders – sharing both my own experience and referencing the struggles of others. I’m just one voice in a large crowd: there are numerous blogs, books, and worthwhile organizations telling the stories of spiritual and/or clergy sexual abuse…
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Affordable Lenten Resource
I worked on this family devotional resource last fall, and I’m thrilled to share it here! Now available from Creative Communications for the Parish – Together In His Footsteps Here’s what they have to say about this little booklet: Bring the whole family along as you travel your Lenten journey with Jesus! Fun and enriching…
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Listening To The Megaphone
As we face a transition in leadership this week in this country unlike any we’ve experienced before, I am praying we in the Church may find that this moment brings us healing, clarity and unity like we’ve not experienced to this point. There is an incredible amount of incendiary anger swirling around and through us…
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Epiphany: One Thing To Learn, One Thing To Taste
It’s still Christmas. Yes, I know. The sparkly decor that looked so welcome in early December looks tired and dreary now that the holiday festivities are done. The gingerbread cookies have been eaten, the wrong-sized gifts have been exchanged. It’s hard to think “Christmas” once we replace last year’s wall calendar with a new model.…