As the pandemic carried on in 2021, Missio Alliance published articles addressing both timely and eternal topics. In this list of our most popular new articles, you can see the struggles churches have faced, like leader burnout, as well as meaningful conversation on core practices of the church, such as corporate worship.
Looking at these articles in January 2021, you will notice that they all touch on topics that matter today. We hope you’ll take time to review them, and share them with your friends.
Remember, Missio Alliance is always looking for new articles. Submit your piece HERE.
Top Articles of 2021
Understanding Critical Race Theory
Why Contemporary Worship Isn’t Actually Ruining the Church
Pastors May Be Close to Burn Out. Here’s How to Care for Them.
Honoring the Lives of Women Who Refuse to Be Scrubbed Away
By Sarah Shin
Another One Bites the Dust: Three Changes the Church Needs to Make
Commemorating the Uncommon Humility of John Stott
By Corey Widmer
Why Worship Together? Three Paradigms of Congregational Worship
My Spiritual Formation in the Wake of COVID
By J.R. Briggs
An Open Letter to my SBC Sisters and Brothers
Ten Characteristics of Biblical Justice
On Idols and Doubts: Can Deconstruction Build a Stronger Faith?
By A.J. Swoboda and Nijay Gupta
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.