Articles
The articles below are part of our effort at Pearl Church to articulate a non-violent theology that promotes flourishing (sacred story), open space for the inclusion of all people (common table), and inspire movement toward goodness (animated by divine love).
Pearl Church Resources
Periodically, our staff and oversight team write expressions of our theology, pedagogy, as well as pastoral and devotional writing for the building up of our community.
Today, the winds are blowing and many Christians know deep inside of themselves that Christianity needs to continue evolving, because our understanding of goodness and love demand it. At Pearl we’re intent on embracing and celebrating the evolution of love in Christian ideology and practice
At Pearl Church, we embrace values embodied in the life of Jesus. Equity and inclusion are two of our values, and our intention to work against racism is a natural outflow of these values.
Rather than simply listing rules for ethical decisions, we believe that God intends us to discover goodness in our midst through discernment. By asking thoughtful questions in community, with our intention set to find what truly leads to human flourishing in our own lives and the lives of our neighbors, we can move increasingly toward goodness.
Our dream, that we imagine and desire, is the consummation of peace in a world integrated by love. The scriptures tell a story that begins with God placing two people in a garden and instructing them to multiply, to steward creation, and to cultivate the land. At the end of the story, the very end, these two have multiplied into a throng of humanity, and all of creation—which began in a garden—is cultivated into a heavenly kingdom marked by peace. It is a world in full bloom.
Articles by Mike Roth
This article, from Pastor Mike’s personal website, explores the ways the stories told in Western Christianity lead to religious extremism, and suggests a path for bold changes that build up a faith that, instead, nurtures peace.
This article from Pastor Mike’s personal blog explores the movement of our understanding of atonement in conversation with Black Theology.
This article from Pastor Mike’s blog explores the concept of atonement as the good news of reconciliation of all things.
This article from Pastor Mike Roth's personal blog explores “wisdom grasping” as the inciting incident in the Biblical story, rather than “the fall.”
This article from Pastor Mike Roth’s personal blog explains why accommodation is a better lens for the Bible than harmonization.
This article from Pastor Mike Roth’s personal blog explores how the Bible encourages us to continue on in the goodness of moving human consciousness forward.
Articles by Ben Conachan
This article by Pastor Ben Conachan explores a vision of being human focused on joining God in creative goodness.