Today is Juneteenth (“June” plus “nineteenth”). The less you know about this holiday, the more you need to know. On June 19, 1865, two months after the Confederacy surrendered, Union General Gordon Granger led a group of federal troops into Galveston, Texas. Maj. Gen. Granger issued this declaration: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, ‘all slaves are free.’
One of the most important developments in American culture over the last few years has been the elevation of women. Especially since the #MeToo movement inspired victims to come forward, we’ve become serious about ending the harassment and silencing of women.
In 2011, the Human Rights Campaign launched a video series that, according to HRC’s president, would “help drive the national conversation about same-sex marriage.” And it did just that. The series featured professional athletes, movie stars, politicians and civil rights leaders. And look where we are today.
Parker, who was both a KKK Grand Dragon and an American Neo-Nazi, might have describe himself as being filled with hate a year ago, but since the rally in Charlottesville, Parker has completely reformed and found a new faith in Jesus Christ.
It’ll be a tall climb to bring about racial reconciliation—even in the Church. But one group has its hiking shoes on.
Jefferson declared: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” As a result, he added, governments “are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” This assertion may have been “self-evident” to Jefferson, but it was not to most of the world.
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day – a time we celebrate the life and faith of a man who shaped the Civil Rights movement through his inspiring words and deeds.
The U.S.--and the world--has been wrestling with issues of racial equality for centuries. In America in recent times, the issues of racism and equality have been particularly at the forefront of our national discourse. Following the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, many Christian leaders spoke out about racism, reconciliation, and what the Church's role ought to be in all of this. Ultimately, many Christian leaders have acknowledged that there is much injustice to face and much work to be done, but that the Gospel is essential to true and lasting reconciliation. Here are 10 quotes from Christian leaders on the issues of racism, equality, and what the Church can do to work for justice and unity.
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Hosts and renters must agree not to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other things.
According to one Christian thinker, it’s time to get on the LGBT bus or be thrown under it.
