Living in a large city where poor people rent sub-standard housing at inflated rents from unknown owners who collect their booty from afar through hired intermediaries doesn’t predispose a reader to a sympathetic assessment in a story about an absentee landlord…But that kind of sympathy toward the absentee landlord is exactly what the writers of the Gospels ask of us in a narrative assigned to the voice of Jesus. more

In America we value democracy. We value decent wages. We value everyone having a seat at the table. In America, the way out of this crisis is dialogue and meaningful partnership and collaboration. Keron Blair, the Student Programs Coordinator for Interfaith Worker Justice, writes about current labor issues in the context of his faith. more

Who knows if Peter and the disciples were just peeved? more

The debt crisis looming in Washington makes clear that we are in the midst of a new civil war in this country. The divisions between us are deep, even spiritual. The fight is not really over the size of the deficit, nor even about expenditure cuts. They are about taxes as the lifeblood of government. more

Those pushing for “small government” these days are doing a good job of keeping their utter joy under wraps…But don’t let these outward expressions fool you. more

PCG’s advocacy staff welcomes opportunities to train people of faith in the ways and means of grassroots lobbying at the State Capitol. more

My guess is that whenever most of us associate Jesus and sheep, the first thing that comes to mind about Jesus is that he’s the shepherd. But that isn’t what the writer of the Gospel of John records as Jesus’ own first association about himself and the sheep. Jesus-the-shepherd comes in second. The first thing Jesus says about himself in relation to the sheep is that he is the “gate” – not the gatekeeper, mind you, but the gate itself. He is the gate that has permanence, that endures. more

Legislative success is rarely a “sure thing,” and we measure progress (or the lack thereof) on our priorities on a step-by-step basis. In these final seven days, we are optimistic that some of our bills are moving steadily toward passage, while others have stalled. Rest assured, our policy advocacy will continue until the session ends on May 31, 2011. more

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced its 2011 class of fellows Tuesday, April 19. Included in the prestigious group of new fellows is PCG’s very own Franklin I. (Chris) Gamwell. more

Chris Gamwell was present at the creation of Protestants for the Common Good fifteen years ago. He has been and continues to be a central load-bearing pillar of the organization – as someone who thinks deeply, writes and speaks eloquently, and guides us with penetrating faith and reason. more