Miranda Zapor Cruz

Miranda Zapor Cruz is professor of historical theology and academic chair in the School of Theology and Ministry at Indiana Wesleyan University. She holds a PhD in religion, politics, and society from Baylor University's J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies, and an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the author of Faithful Politics: Ten Approaches to Christian Citizenship and Why It Matters (IVP Academic 2024). Her writing and speaking focus on the intersection of faith and politics and women in ministry leadership.

Latest Articles

Featured image for “The Myth of the 93%: Fathers and Mothers are not a Competitive Hierarchy in the Home”
Miranda Zapor Cruz

The Myth of the 93%: Fathers and Mothers are not a Competitive Hierarchy in the Home

Featured image for “Beyond Twitch: Incarnational Ministry in Everyday Digital Spaces”
Jesse Carbo

Beyond Twitch: Incarnational Ministry in Everyday Digital Spaces

Featured image for “Mission Shapes Us In The Going”
Jacob Hoyer

Mission Shapes Us In The Going

Featured image for “More Than A Museum For Saints”
Benjamin Park

More Than A Museum For Saints

Featured image for “The Future of Digital Ecclesiology”
Mark Lutz

The Future of Digital Ecclesiology

Featured image for “Walking Toward Shalom: Hospice Wisdom for a Declining Church”
Amanda Hecht

Walking Toward Shalom: Hospice Wisdom for a Declining Church

Featured image for “Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 2)”
Michelle Winter

Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 2)

Featured image for “Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 1)”
Michelle Winter

Theopoetics: Breathing Fresh Life into Faith Communities (Part 1)

Featured image for “In the House of Belonging: Healing Church Hurt Through Church (Part 2)”
Katelyn J. Dixon

In the House of Belonging: Healing Church Hurt Through Church (Part 2)

Featured image for “In the House of Belonging: Healing Church Hurt Through Church (Part 1)”
Katelyn J. Dixon

In the House of Belonging: Healing Church Hurt Through Church (Part 1)

Featured image for “The Church is Strangely Fascinated with Youthfulness”
Daniel E. Harris

The Church is Strangely Fascinated with Youthfulness

Featured image for “Q&A with Dr. MaryKate Morse: On Hierarchy, Authority, and Stewarding Power Well”
MaryKate Morse

Missio Alliance

Q&A with Dr. MaryKate Morse: On Hierarchy, Authority, and Stewarding Power Well

Featured image for “Hierarchy: A Word Christian Leaders Can Confuse with the Dark and Love to Hate”
MaryKate Morse

Hierarchy: A Word Christian Leaders Can Confuse with the Dark and Love to Hate

Featured image for “Why Go to Seminary?”
MaryKate Morse

Why Go to Seminary?

Featured image for “‘Holisticostal Mission:’ Paradigm Shifts in Theology and Practice (Pt. 2)”
Graham Joseph Hill

‘Holisticostal Mission:’ Paradigm Shifts in Theology and Practice (Pt. 2)

Featured image for “‘Holisticostal Mission:’ Paradigm Shifts in Theology and Practice (Pt. 1)”
Graham Joseph Hill

‘Holisticostal Mission:’ Paradigm Shifts in Theology and Practice (Pt. 1)

Featured image for “The Gift Underneath Our Wrinkles: Is Aging Actually A Grace?”
Isabel Tom

The Gift Underneath Our Wrinkles: Is Aging Actually A Grace?

Featured image for “Spiritual Formation as the Transfer of Tacit Knowledge”
Ben Sternke

Spiritual Formation as the Transfer of Tacit Knowledge

Featured image for “I Don’t Want God to ‘Use’ Me”
Liz Cooledge Jenkins

I Don’t Want God to ‘Use’ Me

Featured image for “Truth-Telling: An Integrated Engagement With Our Differentiated Self (More Than Words, Pt. 2)”
Sahr Mbriwa

Truth-Telling: An Integrated Engagement With Our Differentiated Self (More Than Words, Pt. 2)

Featured image for “Truth-Telling: A Just Movement Toward Human Flourishing (More Than Words, Pt. 1)”
Sahr Mbriwa

Truth-Telling: A Just Movement Toward Human Flourishing (More Than Words, Pt. 1)

Featured image for “Disrupted Giving: An Uncomfortable Opportunity (Part 2: The Future of Giving)”
Kris Beckert

Disrupted Giving: An Uncomfortable Opportunity (Part 2: The Future of Giving)

Featured image for “Disrupted Giving: An Uncomfortable Opportunity (Part 1: The Origins of Giving)”
Kris Beckert

Disrupted Giving: An Uncomfortable Opportunity (Part 1: The Origins of Giving)

Featured image for “We’re All Pioneers Now: Skills for the Unchartered Landscape of the 21st-Century Church”
Mandy Smith

We’re All Pioneers Now: Skills for the Unchartered Landscape of the 21st-Century Church

Featured image for “Sticking With It When the Church Is in Decline”
Ian McFadden

Sticking With It When the Church Is in Decline

Featured image for “Want to Dismantle Racism? Disrupt Your Discipleship”
Michelle T. Sanchez

Want to Dismantle Racism? Disrupt Your Discipleship

Featured image for “The Myth of the 93%: Fathers and Mothers Are Not a Competitive Hierarchy in the Home”
Miranda Zapor Cruz

The Myth of the 93%: Fathers and Mothers Are Not a Competitive Hierarchy in the Home

Featured image for “Formation for a Newly Disrupted Generation”
Rich Villodas

Formation for a Newly Disrupted Generation

Featured image for “A Dialogue on Kingdom and Country with Angie Ward”
Angie Ward

Chris Kamalski

A Dialogue on Kingdom and Country with Angie Ward

Featured image for “Lessons from the Desert: How Frustration with the Church May Be an Invitation of the Spirit”
Andrew Arndt

Lessons from the Desert: How Frustration with the Church May Be an Invitation of the Spirit

Featured image for “How Loving the Old Will Strengthen Your Church”
Isabel Tom

How Loving the Old Will Strengthen Your Church

Featured image for “Contemplative Spirituality Provides a Trauma-Informed Approach to Growing Healthier Churches”
Juliet Liu

Contemplative Spirituality Provides a Trauma-Informed Approach to Growing Healthier Churches

Featured image for “Burning Away Barriers and Blowing Down Walls”
Miranda Zapor Cruz

Burning Away Barriers and Blowing Down Walls

Featured image for “Racial Transformation Begins in Your Home”
Helen Lee

Michelle Reyes

Racial Transformation Begins in Your Home

Featured image for “Yes, Your Church <em>Can</em> Start a Special Needs Ministry”
Samantha Rauh

Yes, Your Church Can Start a Special Needs Ministry

Featured image for “Centering Voices of Color is More Complicated Than We Realized”
Michelle Reyes

Centering Voices of Color is More Complicated Than We Realized

Featured image for “Christian Nationalism: What Dismantles It”
David Swanson

Christian Nationalism: What Dismantles It

Featured image for “Christian Nationalism: What Defines It”
David Swanson

Christian Nationalism: What Defines It

Featured image for “When the Psalm Isn’t For Me”
Miranda Zapor Cruz

When the Psalm Isn’t For Me

Featured image for “Two Paths Toward Discovering Gravity and God’s Mystery”
Dennae Pierre

Two Paths Toward Discovering Gravity and God’s Mystery

Featured image for “Eleven Ways to Be a Great Partner to BIPOC Communities”
Donnell Wyche

Eleven Ways to Be a Great Partner to BIPOC Communities

Featured image for “Six Ways to Respond to People Leaving Church”
Ian McFadden

Six Ways to Respond to People Leaving Church

Featured image for “The Unremarkable Growth of Peace in God’s Kingdom”
Josh Funk

The Unremarkable Growth of Peace in God’s Kingdom

Featured image for “Five Ways Asian Americans Can Flourish in Your Church”
Michelle Reyes

Five Ways Asian Americans Can Flourish in Your Church

Featured image for “What Will Keep Us from Building a Church in the Ruins?”
Kyuboem Lee

What Will Keep Us from Building a Church in the Ruins?

Featured image for “The Special Needs of Special Needs Ministries”
Samantha Rauh

The Special Needs of Special Needs Ministries

Featured image for “Breathing in a New Rule of Life”
Sherin Swift

Breathing in a New Rule of Life

Featured image for “Making the Shift: Moving to Full Inclusion of Women in Church Leadership (Part Two)”
April Fiet

Rob Dixon

Making the Shift: Moving to Full Inclusion of Women in Church Leadership (Part Two)

Featured image for “Making the Shift: A Roadmap to Full Inclusion of Women in Church Leadership (Part One)”
Rob Dixon

April Fiet

Making the Shift: A Roadmap to Full Inclusion of Women in Church Leadership (Part One)

Featured image for “Rejecting the Lie that Life Has to Be This Way”
Donnell Wyche

Rejecting the Lie that Life Has to Be This Way

Featured image for “How Hurricane Ida Blew Apart One Church’s Launch Plans for the Better”
Richard Lee

How Hurricane Ida Blew Apart One Church’s Launch Plans for the Better

Featured image for “When BIPOC Leaders Speak Out”
Robert Chao Romero

Erica Shepler Romero

When BIPOC Leaders Speak Out

Featured image for “How Social Identity Alone Damages the Church”
Robert Chao Romero

Erica Shepler Romero

How Social Identity Alone Damages the Church

Featured image for “A Call for Pastor-Medics to Help Heal the Church”
Tara Beth Leach

A Call for Pastor-Medics to Help Heal the Church

Featured image for “How Complete Is Your Gospel?”
Sean Palmer

How Complete Is Your Gospel?

Featured image for “The Different Kind of Leaders Needed for the Future of the Church”
David Fitch

The Different Kind of Leaders Needed for the Future of the Church

Featured image for “The Church Needs an Exorcism—And What We Can Do About It”
Seth Richardson

The Church Needs an Exorcism—And What We Can Do About It

Featured image for “From Walking Wounded to Caring Community: Learning to Heal like a Body”
Jennie McLaurin

From Walking Wounded to Caring Community: Learning to Heal like a Body

Featured image for “Why Worship Together? Three Paradigms of Congregational Worship”
Glenn Packiam

Why Worship Together? Three Paradigms of Congregational Worship

Featured image for “Seventeen Resources on Women and Men in Mutual Leadership”
Chris Morton

Seventeen Resources on Women and Men in Mutual Leadership