Timely Resources
A list of resources on contemporary conversations facing churches, church leaders, and other Christ-followers today. Some of these materials come from our colleagues and platforms, while others come from a broader circle of leaders and sources. As we continually add to this collection, we hope you will find resources that help you engage meaningfully with your congregations, your communities, and with our culture at large.
ANTI-RACISM
FROM THE SIBURT INSTITUTE OR ACU
Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action | Jerry Taylor, Founding Director
Numerous and continuous resources and events | Follow on Facebook
You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught | Beth Ann Fisher
Article | Siburt Institute | January 13, 2021
Scriptures and Race | Dr. Vincent L. Wimbush
Webinar | Center for the Study of Ancient Religious Texts (CSART) | November 12, 2020
Treating the Root of Racism | Racial Unity Leadership Summit
Event Videos | Sponsored by the ACU Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action and hosted by the Minneapolis Central Church of Christ | October 24, 2020
A Christian Response to White Supremacy: Where Do We Go From Here; Chaos or Community? | Multiple Presenters
Web Event Recordings and Resources | ACU Summit | September 21, 2020
Beloved Community: Overcoming the Obstacle of Racism | Lawrence W. Rodgers, Randy Harris, Carson Reed
Webinar Recordings and Resources | Siburt Institute | June 16, 2020
Letters of Conscience to the Churches in America: A Courageous Christian Response to White Supremacy | Multiple Contributors
PDF Download | Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action | June 11, 2020
Community Rally and Press Conference: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 | Multiple Speakers
Event Recordings | Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action | June 7, 2020
Pandemic and Protest: Musings on the Lord’s Prayer | Carson Reed
Article | Siburt Institute | June 3, 2020
Songs of Sorrow, Songs of Joy: Seeking Racial Unity and Justice | Multiple Presenters
Event Recordings | ACU Summit | September 16, 2019
Why Courage Matters! | Jerry Taylor
Event Recording | Siburt Institute | August 29, 2019
Racial Wholeness Pathway | Multiple Presenters
Event Recordings | ACU Summit | September 18, 2018
The Christian Possession of Tools of Violence | Walter Taylor and Matthew Worthington
Niebuhr/Bonhoffer and the Personal Use of Violence | Darrell Wesley and Chris Dowdy
A Christian Critique of David Walker’s Appeal | Brandon Jones and Alvin Curette
Reconciliation Reconsidered: Advancing the Conversation on Race in Churches of Christ | Tanya Brice
Black Rage: A Contemporary Christian Conversation (Video) | Steven Moore and Randy Harris
Accompanying Reading List (PDF) | Steven Moore
Siburt Institute | September 9, 2016
Shattering the Illusion: How African American Churches of Christ Moved from Segregation to Independence | Wes Crawford
Book | ACU Press | April 2013
FROM BEYOND ACU
7 Things White Christians Can Do to Address White Supremacy at Church | Robert P. Jones
Article | Religion News Service | October 15, 2021
Jemar Tisby: How to Fight Racism | Jemar Tisby and Luke Norsworthy
Podcast | Newsworthy With Norsworthy | January 11, 2021
Illustrated Bible Poems | Brian Dewayne | Book
Racial Reconciliation May Not Be What You Think It Is | Rich Villodas
Article | Missio Alliance | October 10, 2016
Sean Palmer: Selfishness, Economics, and Race | Luke Norsworthy with Sean Palmer
Podcast | Newsworthy with Norsworthy | June 22, 2020
Racism and the Stone-Campbell Movement: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 | Wes Crawford
Article Series | Wineskins | June 16-29, 2020
The Myth of White Superiority: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 | Jonathan Storment
Article Series | Wineskins | June 16-24, 2020
Undermining Racism (Video and Text) | N.T. Wright
Wycliffe Hall | June 13, 2020
Black Man in a White Man's Territory | Tryce Prince
Article Series | The Front Porch | February 25 - May 13, 2020
Slavery’s Long Shadow: Race and Reconciliation in American Christianity | James L. Gorman, Jeff W. Childers, and Mark W. Hamilton (Editors)
Book | Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. | February 2019
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness | Austin Channing Brown
Book | Convergent Books | May 2018
SAME-SEX ATTRACTION AND LGBTQIA INDIVIDUALS
FROM THE SIBURT INSTITUTE OR ACU
Moderated Conversation between Dr. Don McLaughlin and Dr. Rubel Shelly | Hosted by Dr. Carson Reed
Video | Abilene Christian University | April 2024Same Sex Intimacy and the Old Testament | Dr. Glenn Pemberton
Booklet | Mosaic blog | 2018Matthew 19:1-12, Transgenderism, and the Intersex | Matthew Dowling
Article | Mosaic blog | June 27, 2016
COVID-19
FROM THE SIBURT INSTITUTE OR ACU
Did God Give Me COVID? | Adam Daniels
Article | Siburt Institute | September 7, 2021
Adaptive Leadership for an Innovative Church | Scott Cormode, Randy Harris, Carson Reed
Webinar | Siburt Institute | February 9, 2021
Reimagining Discipleship in a Time of Transition | Mark Powell, John Mark Hicks, Greg McKinzie, Randy Harris, Carson Reed
Webinar Recordings | Siburt Institute | December 8, 2020
Ministerial Self-Care in a Time of Pandemic | Chelsie Sargent, Randy Harris, Carson Reed
Webinar Recordings and Resources | Siburt Institute | November 17, 2020
Religious Services in the Age of COVID-19 | Suzie Macaluso, Randy Harris, Carson Reed
Article | Siburt Institute | November 19, 2020
Be the Church: An Onsite and Online Congregational Initiative for COVID-19 and Beyond | Eric Gentry
Article | Siburt Institute | September 8, 2020
When the Main Dish Is Delayed, the Party Must Go On | Eric Gentry
Article | Siburt Institute | August 13, 2020
Church in the Time of COVID-19: Findings From a National Survey | Suzie Macaluso
Article Series | Siburt Institute | August 11 - September 1, 2020
Congregational Response to COVID-19 | Suzie Macaluso, Randy Harris, Carson Reed
Webinar Recordings | Siburt Institute | August 11, 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on Churches | Suzie Macaluso, Renee Paul, Carson Reed
Webinar Recording | Siburt Institute | July 30, 2020
Faithful and Flexible: Flourishing Congregations in Times of Transition | Multiple Presenters
Webinar Recordings | Siburt Institute | July 30, 2020
Courage, Prayer, and Hope | Carson Reed
Article | Siburt Institute | July 24, 2020
The Common Life of the Scattered Church | Amanda Pittman, Randy Harris, Carson Reed
Webinar Recordings | Siburt Institute | July 21, 2020
Pandemic and Protest: Musings on the Lord’s Prayer | Carson Reed
Article | Siburt Institute | June 3, 2020
Back to Normal or Toward New Possibilities | Carson Reed
Article | Siburt Institute | May 26, 2020
The Complex Questions of Reopening After COVID-19 | Eric Gentry
Article | Siburt Institute | May 5, 2020
For Elders Who Are Facilitating Gender Inclusion, Coronavirus Brought You a Gift | Amanda Box
Article | Siburt Institute | May 4, 2020
COVID-19: A Lament | Steven Brice
Article | Siburt Institute | April 28, 2020
Pastoral Navigation | Gabe Fisher
Article | Siburt Institute | April 23, 2020
The Future is Coming Quickly | Carson Reed
Article | Siburt Institute | April 14, 2020
On Death, COVID 19, and Easter | Eric Gentry
Article | Siburt Institute | April 13, 2020
A Prayer Guide for the Overlooked | Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
PDFs of Emails | Carl Spain Center | April 9 - May 11, 2020
Who You Callin’ “Non-Essential”? | Drew Baker
Article | Siburt Institute | April 6, 2020
Stock Up on Hand Sanitizer, Toilet Paper, and Your Crisis Communication Plan | Amanda Box and Isabelle Box
Article | Siburt Institute | April 3, 2020
Leading Your Church Through the Pandemic | Jason Locke
Article | Siburt Institute | March 26, 2020
Randy Harris at ACU Chapel | Randy Harris
Video | Abilene Christian University | March 25, 2020
The Complexity of COVID-19 for Churches | Eric Gentry
Article | Siburt Institute | March 12, 2020
Comfort When the Shadow Falls: Encouraging the Dying and Those Affected by Grief | Eddie Sharp and Cheryl Mann Bacon
Event Recordings | ACU Summit | September 2019
Book | Leafwood Publishers | February 2019
Preaching Through Pain: A Contemporary Christian Conversation | Mike Cope and Randy Harris
Video | Siburt Institute | May 30, 2017
FROM BEYOND ACU
12 Traits of Churches Doing Well During the Pandemic | Thom S. Rainer
Article | Church Answers | September 20, 2021
Ted Lasso, Mr. Rogers, and Christian Leaders in an Unhinged World | Scott Sauls
Article | Scott Sauls’s Blog | September 18, 2021
Considerations for Communities of Faith | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Web Resources | CDC | Updated Regularly
A New Relationship With Time | Alaina Kleinbeck
Article | Faith & Leadership | May 4, 2021
From Isolation to Invitation: A Two-week Guide for Retreat in a Time of Quarantine
Blog Series | SentWell | Unknown Date
Helping Christians With Mental Health Issues Starts With Better Language | John Swinton
Article | Faith & Leadership | November 24, 2020
What's a Church to Do? Dealing With Conflict During a Pandemic | Leanna K. Fuller
Article | Faith & Leadership | September 29, 2020
Church After COVID – Why Bother Going Back? | Carmen Joy Imes
Article | Christianity Today | September 28, 2020
How Poetry Can Help Kids – and All of Us – Practice Lament | Amy Peterson
Article | Faith and Leadership | September 15, 2020
N.T. Wright: God and the Pandemic | Luke Norsworthy with N.T. Wright
Podcast | Newsworthy with Norsworthy | June 15, 2020
Resuming Care-filled Worship and Sacramental Life and Reanudando El Culto Cristiano Y La Vida Sacramental Con Medidas Preventivas Durante Una Pandemia | The Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments
PDF Downloads | Ministry Matters | June 8, 2020
The New Normal … Ain’t Going to Be Normal | Reggie McNeal
Document | Reggie McNeal | May 24, 2020
Caring for Souls in a New Reality | Multiple Presenters
Webinar Recording | Barna Group | May 20, 2020
When Your Church Reopens, Here’s How to Meet Safely | Daniel P. Chin
Article | Christianity Today | May 6, 2020
Spiritual First Aid: Church Leaders on What the Church Needs Now | Jamie Aten and Kent Annan
Article | Christianity Today | May 5, 2020
Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Why Every Organization Is Now a Startup | Andy Crouch, Kurt Keilhacker, and Dave Blanchard
Essay and Podcast | The Praxis Journal | April 28, 2020
Ten Steps for Reopening Children’s Ministry and Reopen Children’s Ministry Now? A Frank Discussion | Shannon Rains
Articles | The Confident Kid Ministry | April 24-28, 2020
CARES Act and FFCRA Resources | Church Law & Tax | April 1-2, 2020
An Overview of the CARES Act for Churches | Richard R. Hammar
Churches and the CARES Act: Helping Congregations and Employees Weather the Cash Crunch | Church Law & Tax and West Insurance Services
How Churches Can Apply for the Paycheck Protection Program | Ted Batson
Your Church Can Be Reimbursed for Mandated Sick Leave Pay | Donn Meindertsma and Danny Miller
How New FMLA Changes Will Affect Churches During the Coronavirus Outbreak | Danny Miller and Donn Meindertsma
What Churches Should Know About the Stimulus Law | Harold Loftin
Podcast | Stetzer Leadership Podcast | March 30, 2020
Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It's Not Supposed To | N.T. Wright
Article | Time | March 29, 2020
Getting Cash For Your Small Business Through The CARES Act | Brian Thompson
Article | Forbes | March 29, 2020
Rise of the Microchurch | Rob Wegner, Ralph Moore, and Daniel Yang
Webinar and Resources | Exponential | March 24, 2020
Leading Through Loss During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Part 1, Part 2 | Pete Scazzero
Podcasts | Emotionally Healthy Disciple | March 24, 2020
Encouragement for Pastors and Church Leaders | Max Lucado
Video | March 20, 2020
Feed Your Faith, Not Your Fears and related Bible study | Max Lucado
Video | Max Lucado | March 18, 2020
Preaching Online in Anxious Times | Bob Turner with Jim Martin
Video | Harding School of Theology | March 18, 2020
NIH Director: “We’re on an Exponential Curve”: Francis Collins Speaks About the Coronavirus, His Faith, and an Unusual Friendship | Francis Collins and Peter Wehner
Article | The Atlantic | March 17, 2020
Christians and the Coronavirus: Prepare to Lose | Leonard J. DeLorenzo
Article | Our Sunday Visitor | March 13, 2020
The 20-Second Gift of Washing Your Hands | Kara K. Root
Article | Faith and Leadership | March 12, 2020
Preparing Your Church for Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Step-By-Step, Research-Informed and Faith-Based Planning Manual | Jamie Aten and Kent Annan
PDF | Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College | Original publication date unclear; likely March 2020