Recommended Reading and Listening 7-14-17 edition

Regularly, if somewhat spasmodically, I share a list of things I'm reading, watching and listening to with my congregation.  If I remember to do so, I also post it here on my blog:

Recommended Reading and Listening

United Church of Christ  "Faith leaders arrested on Capital Hill for protesting GOP health care bill"--Traci Blackmon, UCC Executive Minister for Justice Witness Ministries, was among those who spoke and was arrested Recommended Podcasts "'Building A Bridge' Between The Catholic Church And LGBT Community"--the wonderful Father James Martin faces Catholic homophobia "Upper Middle Class Privilege"--Richard Reeves has a book called "Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, Why That Is a Problem, and What to Do about It"--his thoughts are fascinating and disturbing in what they say about class in the US LGBTQ Example of integrity: J. Philip Wogeman, retired United Methodist Minister who was the pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. and Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary, turned in his clergy credentials in protest of a lesbian not being ordained by the United Methodist Church Example of lack of integrity:"Actually, Eugene Peterson Does Not Support Same-Sex Marriage"--First Eugene Peterson, author of the popular Bible paraphrase "The Message" and many other books, stated to a reporter he did support same sex marriage.  Then after he received backlash from many opponents to marriage equality took it all back. Racism "Building the Troost Wall: Structural Racism in Kansas City"--I was sent this video by a church member and by a friend in NC. It explains briefly the history of the "Country Club District" and the East/West of Troost divide that still tears at the very fabric of KC. If you are wondering why "Country Club" is in our church name (along with Country Club DOC and Country Club UMC) here's a nice introduction--fair warning, it is not a pretty history: Sexual Abuse by Clergy "The Silence of the Lambs: Are Protestants concealing a Catholic-size sexual abuse scandal?"--Protestant churches--especially evangelical and fundamentalist churches that promote sexism and submission to male authority--are certainly as bad as the Roman Catholic Church when it comes to covering up sexual abuse of children. Here's one story to illustrate the problem. You can find more stuff that I think is worth reading, watching and listening to by following me on Facebook and Twitter.