The Covid-19 pandemic, heightened tensions between races, and the presidential election campaigns are all combining to bring tension and division in our churches and culture. And when our churches cannot meet together for worship or fellowship events, we are left to the devices of social media that make it far too easy to use harsh language, name calling, and social shaming.
In this second of a two-part episode we continue a conversation with James Calvin Davis, religion professor at Middlebury College in Vermont, Presbyterian minister, and the author of a book for just such a time as this: Forbearance: A Theological Ethic for a Disagreeable Church (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2017). Joining the conversation is the Rev. Leeann Scarbrough, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Talladega, Alabama.
Dr. Davis talks about the meaning of forbearance and the six practices that can lead us back to unity even in our disagreement. James is also the author of “In Defense of Civility: How Religion Can Unite America on Seven Moral Issues That Divide Us" (Westminster John Knox Press, 2010). Both books are available on Amazon.com.
We are confident you will find this conversation helpful as you seek to bring unity to your congregation.