Changing the Christian Narrative: Unbound Video Series
Changing the Christian Narrative is a new video series from Unbound to offer a different way to live into our Christian identity that centers love, peace, mercy and justice. Each video will be centered around an issue or theological concept while providing insight on scripture, commentary and resources. Videos release every Monday on the Unbound YouTube Channel. Subscribe today!
“Everywhere I turned, I heard the same words: ‘You have to forgive.’” wrote trauma survivor and author Nancy Richards. “They came from my family, my counselors, and the religious community alike. I saw myself as a complete and utter failure. As though my self-esteem wasn’t low enough from years of abuse, try as I might, I couldn’t even get forgiving right!” Have you ever been unable to forgive someone, no matter how hard you tried? It’s easy to feel like something is wrong with you. But the truth is, you may be experiencing shame. As a trauma psychotherapist and author of the book You Don’t Need to Forgive, I’ve discovered that shame is one of the most significant and elusive obstacles to one’s ability to forgive.
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Sequential Theology is an Unbound Graphic Column framed in interviews about theology, activism, and justice.
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Mike Parson, the governor of Missouri has never granted clemency in a death penalty case- even amidst millions of signatures, op eds, and local and national pleas for him to save the life of an innocent man on death row, Marcellus Khaliifah Williams. But despite his self-proclaimed pro-life position, Gov. Parsons failed to act, and Williams was executed on September 24, 2024. The execution was a disappointment to many given no DNA evidence linked Williams to the crime and the prosecution’s original case against Mr. Williams was based solely on the uncredible and unreliable testimony of two incentivized witnesses. The case was so flawed that the current District Attorney, many of the original jurors, and the victims’ families all spoke out against the execution.
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I move toward conflict; I don’t flee. My penchant for steadfastness in conflict can’t even be brushed aside as naive, try as some might, because I’m just too old and seasoned for someone to say otherwise. I speak at local Board of Education meetings in support of protections and rights for trans students. I am in the process of closing a dying church on behalf of my Presbytery. I address misconduct. I am a fiercely empathetic pastor, even when my personal reserves are low. I am a loyal friend. I raise good, stand-up-for-others kids. And, when I was in the PC(USA) ordination process, I told the truth. In my home Presbytery, seeking to move from the ‘inquiry’ to the ‘candidate’ stage, I told the truth in the essay questions that the Committee on Preparation for Ministry (
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