Spokane Faith & Values

Contributors » Rev. Deb Conklin

Rev. Deb Conklin’s wheels are always turning. How can the church make the world a better place? How can it make Spokane better?

Her passions are many, including social justice in the mainline tradition, emergence and the post-modern and missional church. And those things, she says, “are always colored by my passion for Wesley and Methodist heritage.”

Conklin is part of a team creating a new ministry in Spokane called The Oak Tree. She also pastors two parishes here in Spokane, Liberty Park United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s UMC.

 

Most Recent

Is God a misogynist?

| Feb 27, 2013

One can go through the Bible and collect a set of passages that make it look like the God of Hebrews, Jews and Christians has it in for women, wants women kept in their (lesser) place.
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Who gets to criticize?

| Feb 6, 2013

By now, most of us are aware of the story of the person who stiffed the waitress at Applebees and left a note saying, “I give God 10 percent Why do you get 18?” and made a point of signing "Pastor" as part of her name. When the picture of what she wrote went viral, she contacted Applebee’s, identified herself as the person who stiffed the waitress (my phrase, not hers obviously) and demanded that the waitress and all the managers be fired for embarrassing!
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True Love - possible, not possible?

| Jan 29, 2013

This weekend I added an event to my calendar for Feb. 14. And it reminded me that I’ve spent most Valentine’s Days alone. It got me to thinking about a book we read for a monthly book group called all about love: "New Visions" by Bell Hooks.
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Tonight council will vote on “most disturbing budget proposal”

| Dec 10, 2012

Tonight the city council will be voting on the most disturbing budget proposal that we've seen in some time. Mayor Condon is proposing $20,000 INCREASES for some of his staff while cutting police, fire fighters and even libraries.
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What happened to American passion for true freedom?

| Aug 23, 2012

It has become common for some Americans to yell ‘loss of freedom’ whenever a struggling, single mom gets assistance from WIC; when the federal government says that basic insurance coverage includes contraception; or when someone defends a graduated income tax.
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Will charisma trump values?

| Aug 17, 2012

The left is jubilant that Mitt Romney has chosen Paul Ryan as his vice president running mate. The argument seems to be that Americans, by a significant majority, do not agree with the values that Ryan holds, particularly the values that are actually reflected in the “Ryan budget.”
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Do I continue to work for change from within the denomination that I love, or do I leave?

| Aug 9, 2012

At a late July meeting of United Methodists from our Western Jurisdiction (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and states west) a Statement of Gospel Obedience was adopted. This statement declares our belief that the United Methodist Book of Discipline is in error in its declaration that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.
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Should the American flag fly in worship space?

| Jul 2, 2012

This week I’ve been in Canada and experienced their celebration of Canada Day. And as our own Independence Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on nationalism as well as the balance between a deep love of one’s country, and a rabid nationalism that confuses love of country with a religion that demonizes ‘the other.’
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Occupy Spokane, even on Thanksgiving

| Nov 26, 2011

How did you spend your Thanksgiving? If you are like most Americans you spent it with family and/or friends, eating a special (turkey) dinner, watching football (or sitting around socializing while a football game played in the background). Maybe you even remembered to express thanks for the bless...
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Why Do I Support the Occupation?

| Nov 3, 2011

Over the last month, I've been spending time with Occupy Spokane. I've marched, held signs, waved at friendly passers-by, and attended their General Assembly. For the last two weeks, I've helped facilitate the Assembly. Some folks have been asking why I'm spending my time this way, what does it...
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