Originally featured on the Salt Collective in 2018 Progressives have got to start memorizing scripture again. For so many of us, memorizing scripture brings up associations with church-related trauma. Especially for those of us who are LGBTQIA+, we know too well the ways that proof texted pieces of the Word were weaponized against us, hurled […]
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Faith in Public Life
This reflection was first recorded for an online service of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Many of us have been taught that the church “shouldn’t be political.” This stems maybe from a few places, but for me as someone who grew up in a white midwest suburb, I think it mainly […]
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A Mother’s Day Reflection
This piece was first recorded for an online gathering of worship with Good Shepherd Lancaster on May 9, 2021. You can watch the video of the reflection alone here. I met my children when they were just over two years old when I spent the summer abroad in Sierra Leone in West Africa on a […]
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Blessed Bi Jesus
Blessed Bi Jesus Living in a world where we are discriminated against by both cisgender-straight people and monosexual gay men and lesbians alike, bi people suffer exorbitant rates of physical and mental health issues. We are frequently isolated from the larger LGBTQIA+ community, locked out of resources, and underserved by professionals who we entrust to […]
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Mass Incarceration Teach-In
This story was originally told for a Seminarians for Justice teach-in on mass incarceration, bail reform, and racial capitalism on September 20, 2018. “You need to get out of here, ma’am,” the voice said behind the mask, armor, and shield, extending a level of politeness in acknowledging me that had been absent when addressing my […]
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Ferguson October Testimony
This piece was given in Augustana Chapel at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago on September 20, 2018. It was part of a larger service of testimony kicking off a campaign against mass incarceration and specifically, bail bond reform. This testimony piece is dedicated to Michael Brown. We won’t forget you. Relevant Readings: Psalm […]
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Love is Strong as Death
This was originally written as a story-telling piece for LSTC’s service of testimony. The theme for the week was about God’s healing. My husband Adam and I shared this testimony together in the chapel on February 8, 2018. Adam : It was the summer of 2011, Elle and I had been married just over one year. […]
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