It's good to be here!

I'll start off my Substack with links to some of my favorite authors.

I’ve been mulling moving my blog over to Substack for a while. I have decided to make the leap, cross-posting blog articles through the end of September, then having all new writing publish here only starting in October. At that point new posts will continue to come out every Tuesday, viewable by anyone. Those who choose to become paying subscribers will also receive additional one piece (article, resource, or giveaway) per month that is available only to them.

One of the reasons I have joined Substack is because some of the people who influence my thinking the most are here. I highly recommend newsletters from these people I know personally:

• Robert P. Jones at White Too Long - I consider this newsletter essential reading about Church and race. Robby is President and Founder of Public Religion Research Institute, and he’s become a regular guest on cable news programs. (I was also fortunate to be in two classes he taught as he was earning his Ph.D. at Emory.)

• MaryAnn McKibben Dana at The Blue Room - MaryAnn is a coach, author, and pastor in the PCUSA. Her weekly newsletters always give me a lot to chew on, and I reference her books regularly in my coaching work, especially God, Improv, and the Art of Living.

• Rachel McDonald at My Other Job - Rachel is a UCC pastor who has joyfully and intentionally chosen multi-vocational ministry. She also regularly reflects on the challenges and gifts of that kind of life. Hers is an important voice as more congregations turn to multi-vocational clergy while judicatories and denominations lag far behind in the support and equipping that these pastors and churches need most.

I also suggest the following Substacks from folks I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting:

• Kristen Du Mez at Connections - If you haven’t read Du Mez’s Jesus and John Wayne, don’t delay any longer. Her work on gender and politics in evangelical Christianity over the past few decades explains so much of where we are now, and not just in the Church.

• Heather Cox Richardson at Letters from an American - Richardson’s daily report on current events in the U.S. and how they tie into our history give a much fuller picture of what is happening than any other daily new source I’ve encountered. Her ability to pull throughlines through time also, interestingly, keeps me grounded in hope.

• Anne Helen Petersen at Culture Study - Petersen, along with interviewees and guest writers, question cultural norms around family, community, work, and much more. She is purposeful about inviting a range of voices to her posts as well as to her podcast (which I also highly recommend) Work Appropriate.