I know many God loving people who take humble pride in their gun collection. As for me, in all my 87 years I have never even held a gun, except a BB gun when I was a little boy. Personally, I see no reason to own guns other than for hunting and, of course, for [...]

Our Lord claimed, “I am The Alpha and the Omega, The Bread of Life, The Way, The Good Shepherd.” But it was only after He claimed, “I am the Light of the World,” that He pointed to us and said, “And you are the light of the world; let your light so shine…” We are [...]

Which Memphis-area house of worship do you find most beautiful, spiritual, sacred? And why? Because stained glass windows have always had a spiritual effect on me, I cast my “vote” for St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral on Poplar where for decades I was honored with an invitation to participate in the annual Feast of Lights service. Someone [...]

What should we – individually and collectively – be doing differently about hunger issues in our community? I take this opportunity to commend MIFA for what it has done and is doing. Several years ago when I served on the MIFA Board, I was astounded to slowly learn about all the many other services rendered by [...]

If you were addressing the nation on Wednesday, Nov. 7, the DAY AFTER the election, what would you say? What advice would you offer to your fellow Americans about the next four years? Bitter statements and accusations were made between Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams. Sacred scripture tells us that there is nothing new under [...]

How do you define dying well? One of the Church’s petitions from St. John Chrysostom’s 4th century Liturgy pleads, “For a Christian end to our lives, peaceful, without shame or suffering, and for a good account before the judgment Seat of Christ…” Oh, that I could to to sleep and wake up in His embrace in that [...]

What are your views on the fact that Protestants are no longer the majority religion in the U.S.? Apparently, America is becoming more and more the land it was intended to be — a country of freedom loving people, free to worship as their tradition or choice leads them. I feel that the important thing is [...]

What is your favorite verse of holy scripture and why? “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:6 Years ago, when I was the pastor, each time I preached I probably said, “And this is my favorite verse.” And I meant it. But now, in my retirement years, this verse has become [...]

Memphis is the second most generous city in the country, according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. According to the publication: “Religion plays a major role in how much money Americans give to charity. The parts of the country that tend to be more religious are also more generous.” Why is this true? [...]

What should Memphis City Council do? Are sexual orientation and gender identity an employment issue, a civil rights issue or a faith issue? My concern about including “sexual orientation and gender identity” which touches on homosexuality includes a question: Is homosexuality a matter of choice or is it a matter of genetics? I think the “jury” [...]

What is your reaction to the Freedom from Religion Foundation suing the Memphis City Council? Why don’t they – the Freedom From Religion Foundation – begin with the US Senate and House of Representatives who each have a chaplain and begin every session with a prayer? However, in spite of any success the Foundation might have [...]

Are you concerned about new voter ID laws? Are we doing enough to prevent fraud and other problems? How can we make voting as accessible as possible while still safeguarding the democratic process? The problem is, I think, not the possibility of any fraud in voting but the fact that so few do vote. I think [...]

This week the Faith in Memphis panel reflects on the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colo. I join the many clergy who will offer words of comfort at this holy tragic hour. However, I also wish to raise “my voice in the wilderness” and state this: To be free to carry assault weapons of mass destruction [...]

Who/what is an American? What does America mean to you and your faith? The USA is the world’s unique country. There is no other country like it in the entire universe. It is also an ever changing nation – once an all English speaking land, today, like at Pentecost, all are hearing and speaking in different [...]

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 [...]

Because I believe that the issue is genetic, I personally have no problem with the subject at hand. Furthermore, because in my 86 years (64 in the priesthood) I have seen too many gay people suffering to adjust their lives and only feel liberated when they come “out of the closet,” I embrace them with [...]

In a world in which most religions begin with God the Father or some sort of male image of the divine, and are founded by male figures such as Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, do we undervalue Motherhood or the role of women in faith? Not for us who worship in the Shadow of The Cross. [...]

Tell us about The Teacher Who Changed My Life – and why. In 1942, at the age of 16, I graduated from high school. My parish priest said to me, “Niko, why don’t you go to that school in Connecticut where you can study to become a priest?” An American-born priest?! We had not yet seen [...]

Gov. Haslam is expected this week to sign a new law that would require public schools to allow science teachers to discuss purported weaknesses of theories such as Evolution and Global Warming in their classrooms. What should we do about teaching evolution? Is the theory of evolution a scientific controversy or a social/religious controversy?…[Read more]

It is often said that you “can’t legislate morality.” Are saggy pants a morality issue or something else? Of course, there should be some dress code that reflects a proper respect for faculty and fellow students, but my main concern would be more for the ill clad student who attends school with an attire that cries out for [...]