The reality is that fewer young adults are going into ministry, and those who do choose an option other than as a parish minister

The words never come without an overwhelming sense of disbelief and sadness. “There’s been another shooting incident” has become so commonplace in media that our natural reaction is simply to say, “Where?”

A great deal of our information that comes from media sources has either been distorted or written in such a way that leaves the hearer or reader wondering about its veracity. The most recent release of videos and written information about Planned Parenthood certainly falls into that category.

Every day in news and social media there are new stories regarding what is happening inside faith communities, and every day it raises the question for many, “Why bother staying in this thing called ‘church’?”

The fascinating aspect of moving backward in memory is that the past, especially if it is the more distant past, has more than likely changed its hue to become much rosier than when it actually happened.

One would think that religious college, seminary and years of ministry would have brought an awareness of the diversity of faith traditions that exists in our world.