The issue of gun ownership in America is often the popular discussion following a tragedy that involves violence with a weapon. Such is the case on the heels of the senseless shooting of teachers and children in Connecticut resulting in over two dozen deaths. Our hearts grieve over this painful tragedy and we pray for [...]

What are your views on the fact that Protestants are no longer the majority religion in the U.S.? Honestly, we should be more concerned about the loss of a Christian majority in the Protestant churches than about the loss of a Protestant majority in the United States. Most of the old-line Protestant denominations in our nation [...]

What accounts for our such low and declining confidence in ‘the church or organized religion’? The recent reports that confidence in organized religion is on the decline is not surprising. Over the past 3 decades, our cultural landscape is littered with religious scandal that would make even the most ardent churchman a skeptic. The outside onlookers [...]

Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn wants the the city to study the idea of creating an ‘adult entertainment district’ for strip clubs and other sex-oriented businesses. He wants a committee to look into a possible location as well as answer the question whether “this is the right thing to do.” Is it the right thing [...]

What do you think of the mayors’ Faith-based Partnership to End Homelessness? Will your congregation participate? Will you encourage your congregation to do so? Is this a good approach? The best approach? I am grateful for any action on the part of our local government to address the issues of homelessness in our community. It is [...]

Should religious groups be allowed to rent and use public schools for worship services? Why or why not? Allowing churches to rent space from local public schools is a positive experience for all parties. Just as the relationship between the community churches and the public schools has been “user friendly” in allowing graduations and other large [...]

Should our suburbs form their own school systems? How might this help or hurt the community at large? I grew up in Memphis and was an elementary student attending a neighborhood school a block from my home. The Memphis City School system during the 70′s decided that I needed to be bused across town in order [...]

If an entire community could make a New Year’s Resolution, what should ours be for 2012? My New Year’s Resolution for our Community: That each person might embrace God’s love with deep humility and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. In response, that we would demonstrate a transformed lifestyle that could be measured by our faithfulness to [...]

In 50 words or less send a holiday greeting to the Memphis community. What is your holiday wish your fellow Memphis area residents? I wish for every person in our community to know the peace and joy of having a relationship with Jesus Christ – the Savior whose birth and life we celebrate at Christmas. The [...]

Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. How has America changed since then? How did 9/11 change faith in America? What impact did 9/11 have on the soul of America? By mid-morning on September 11th, 2001 our nation was shocked by news coming out of NYC. Images of the 2nd plane flying into the [...]

President Obama came to Memphis this week and spoke to the 2011 Class of Booker T. Washington High School about the value of education and dedication. What message do you have for this year’s graduates at BTW and other schools across the community? Having President Obama visit our city is a great honor and that he [...]

What gives you hope? As we prepare for what is sometimes called the “Super Bowl” of Sundays in the Christian church – Easter Sunday, my thoughts are turned toward the concept of hope.  The empty tomb represents the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ bodily from the grave and the victory that represents for all who are [...]

How can we live responsibly as devout and faithful adherents of one religion in a world (or community) of many religions? For the record, the person who burned the Quran in Florida is an idiot.  What possible good can that kind of irresponsible action have in our culture?  The only thing I can say to such [...]

The Memphis City Council is expected to consider funding for the ambitious Mayors’ Action Plan to End Homelessness in Memphis and Shelby County. What do you think of the plan? What can and should our faith community — congregations, clergy and people of faith in the pews — do about homelessness in our community. It is [...]

As a religious leader in Memphis, what do you want to say to the community about the subject of race? I am well aware of the racial tensions in our city.  It grieves my heart.  Memphis is the epicenter of hostilities between black and white citizens due, in part, to the stigma of Dr. Martin Luther [...]

What tests my faith in Memphis? What gives me faith in Memphis? I was born and raised in Memphis.  I am the fifth child of hard-working parents who invested a lifetime in this city.  My Mom was a cook for Jack Pirtle’s Chicken for years and later worked at the J.B. Hunter store in Whitehaven.  [...]