Last weekend, people started reaching out to me because they were afraid, and they didn’t want to stay that way. They didn’t want to rage or burn things down; they wanted to find a way to contribute to their community, to help others overcome fear. So with the help of a PHENOMENALLY gifted intern, theContinue reading “Could your church help your community find hope in the wake of the election?”
Category Archives: congregational transformation
How Marcus Borg gave me hope
Renowned liberal theologian and Historical Jesus scholar Marcus Borg passed away yesterday at the age f 72. In honor of his life, here is my brief reflection on how his wisdom helped me in my ministry. I only got to hear renowned theologian Marcus Borg speak once. It was interesting. I was grateful for the chanceContinue reading “How Marcus Borg gave me hope”
Christmas values – Day 9: Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
“Why do you think churches led by people of color are thriving while a lot of White liberal churches are dying?” asked a student at a class where I was on a panel of people of color representing the racial/ethnic ministries of our denomination. The person who asked is a friend of mine whom IContinue reading “Christmas values – Day 9: Gloria in Excelsis Deo!”
Christmas values – Day 6: Charity
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, orContinue reading “Christmas values – Day 6: Charity”
The spiritual journey to a secular job
I’ve got one thing on my mind, baby, and that one thing is…fundraising. Sexy, right? The Oakland Peace Center is hosting our very first fundraising campaign ever, and it is all I can think about right now. I sent a couple of appeal emails to people I know through church, and it got me thinkingContinue reading “The spiritual journey to a secular job”
Homelessness, the woman on my patio and the Woman at the Well
Sermon preached at First Christian Church of Palo Alto, August 10, 2014. Text: John 4:5-15 (with references to later verses), the story of the Woman at the Well Preamble to the sermon: I am known in some circles for preaching a really up-on-your-feet, clap and shout amen kind of sermon. I think that was whyContinue reading “Homelessness, the woman on my patio and the Woman at the Well”
Ekklesia: Are you just somebody that I used to know?
Is Christian Privilege killing the church? At what some of my colleagues saw as the breaking point of Occupy Oakland, January 28, 2012, one of my friends said, “Ah, Occupy Oakland, now you’re just somebody that I used to know.” For a lot of folks committed to seeing a justice-filled peace in Oakland, Occupy wasContinue reading “Ekklesia: Are you just somebody that I used to know?”
Sibling rivalry–hiccups in my ordination process and being a pain-in-the-butt sister
The great thing about hanging out with people who think just like you is that you don’t have to think about the people who don’t think just like you. The problem with hanging out with people who think just like you is that you forget that other people don’t think just like you. The intersectionContinue reading “Sibling rivalry–hiccups in my ordination process and being a pain-in-the-butt sister”
The liberal church and the front lines–where are we?
Duck Dynasty, the Nation of Islam and the failure of liberal Christianity A good evangelical friend of mine predicted that I would fail at growing First Christian Church of Oakland not long after I started pastoring there. I told her about what kind people were there, and about their racial diversity and their openness toContinue reading “The liberal church and the front lines–where are we?”
A pastor, a reluctant prophet, and someone who doesn’t want to be a trope walk down the street. (On letting go of pastoral identity for the health of the community and how the community may not love you for it)
I was walking down the street a week ago, when I passed a woman on the sidewalk. In retrospect, I’m impressed the ground did not crack beneath me; people a mile away who were having a perfectly pleasant day in that moment thought, “Woah! Why do I feel so totally bummed all of a sudden?”Continue reading “A pastor, a reluctant prophet, and someone who doesn’t want to be a trope walk down the street. (On letting go of pastoral identity for the health of the community and how the community may not love you for it)”
Sandhya Rani Jha 