Bethany Fox ✨
@mcbethany.bsky.social
Curious about new ways of doing and being church. PCUSA pastor. PhD in ethics, roots in disability theology, branches in all sorts of places. Stand-up comic. Author: Disability and the Way of Jesus.
Let's respond to RFK's ignorant statements about autism by pointing out not just that many autistic folks have the aptitudes he's saying they don't, but also that human value is not based on capitalism and whether someone can "hold a job." Even people who can't/don't do these things are worthy.
April 17, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Let's respond to RFK's ignorant statements about autism by pointing out not just that many autistic folks have the aptitudes he's saying they don't, but also that human value is not based on capitalism and whether someone can "hold a job." Even people who can't/don't do these things are worthy.
Regarding the haphazard imprisonment and deportation of folks in the US: I believe in a God who does not throw people away. I believe in a God who, even if people do something wrong, loves them and regards them as beloved children.
April 11, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Regarding the haphazard imprisonment and deportation of folks in the US: I believe in a God who does not throw people away. I believe in a God who, even if people do something wrong, loves them and regards them as beloved children.
People bagging on the one day economic blackout (which will certainly not hurt anything) for being useless or ineffective, while at the same time not offering meaningful alternatives or ideas, can take their critical energy and read about how organizing momentum works.
February 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
People bagging on the one day economic blackout (which will certainly not hurt anything) for being useless or ineffective, while at the same time not offering meaningful alternatives or ideas, can take their critical energy and read about how organizing momentum works.
It's so wild to me that as kids we were taught that if we saw someone with a visible disability not to stare but to ask how they became disabled. So invasive 😂 A bunch of kids just asking your life story every day in the grocery store. Who made up this rule? 😅😭
February 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM
It's so wild to me that as kids we were taught that if we saw someone with a visible disability not to stare but to ask how they became disabled. So invasive 😂 A bunch of kids just asking your life story every day in the grocery store. Who made up this rule? 😅😭
"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." Desmond Tutu
February 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." Desmond Tutu
I hope preachers who have so enthusiastically applied the previous weeks' lectionary texts to current events will keep up the trend this week. Loving our enemies makes followers of Jesus distinct from political compatriot echo chambers. No one is outside of God's belovedness. No one.
February 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I hope preachers who have so enthusiastically applied the previous weeks' lectionary texts to current events will keep up the trend this week. Loving our enemies makes followers of Jesus distinct from political compatriot echo chambers. No one is outside of God's belovedness. No one.
Reposted by Bethany Fox ✨
The MF can try to cancel Black History Month
but it's still Black History Month.
(You should always be reading Black writers. All the time. But here's a list if you wanna get in the mood.)
but it's still Black History Month.
(You should always be reading Black writers. All the time. But here's a list if you wanna get in the mood.)
Read Black Writers
Read Black writers all the time. Always. For the month of Feb we're recommending a book a day to highlight great voices, so compiling here.
bookshop.org
February 5, 2025 at 5:01 AM
The MF can try to cancel Black History Month
but it's still Black History Month.
(You should always be reading Black writers. All the time. But here's a list if you wanna get in the mood.)
but it's still Black History Month.
(You should always be reading Black writers. All the time. But here's a list if you wanna get in the mood.)
I know it isn't possible bc of privacy concerns, but when someone has checked out a very niche book at the public library and I have to wait for them to return it, I want the library to give me their contact info bc I always think we could be great friends.
February 5, 2025 at 4:42 AM
I know it isn't possible bc of privacy concerns, but when someone has checked out a very niche book at the public library and I have to wait for them to return it, I want the library to give me their contact info bc I always think we could be great friends.
“A man, a plan, a canal, Panama."
The famous palindrome just hits different these days.
The famous palindrome just hits different these days.
February 3, 2025 at 10:56 PM
“A man, a plan, a canal, Panama."
The famous palindrome just hits different these days.
The famous palindrome just hits different these days.
The posts that say "If your preacher doesn't say X, Y, Z in THIS PARTICULAR WAY on Sunday you should leave your church!" feel so immature and reactionary. There are so many truths that need to be spoken in these days; let the wise Spirit lead you. If your preacher speaks lies, that's another story.
January 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The posts that say "If your preacher doesn't say X, Y, Z in THIS PARTICULAR WAY on Sunday you should leave your church!" feel so immature and reactionary. There are so many truths that need to be spoken in these days; let the wise Spirit lead you. If your preacher speaks lies, that's another story.
My fellow lectionary preachers, they really teed us up for this Sunday, eh?
January 23, 2025 at 11:03 PM
My fellow lectionary preachers, they really teed us up for this Sunday, eh?
If you're nearish to LAX, then, "Hi, it's me."
There's a mainline protestant church with a woke lady pastor within walking distance of your house. Everyone there will be thrilled to see someone under 50 at service. There's free donuts too.
January 23, 2025 at 12:39 AM
If you're nearish to LAX, then, "Hi, it's me."
Reposted by Bethany Fox ✨
It may be a good time to recall that almost 100 yrs ago wealthy businessmen hatched a scheme to weaken progressive Christianity because the social gospel wasn’t conducive to corporate profits. They poured $$$ into Chr orgs that preached a different tune: the gospel of free market capitalism.
January 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
It may be a good time to recall that almost 100 yrs ago wealthy businessmen hatched a scheme to weaken progressive Christianity because the social gospel wasn’t conducive to corporate profits. They poured $$$ into Chr orgs that preached a different tune: the gospel of free market capitalism.
What is one teeny tiny everyday way you are making our world better? Let's encourage each other and share ideas.
I'll go first. When my dogs poop on our walks, and there's other poop right nearby, I'll pick up all of it.
I'll go first. When my dogs poop on our walks, and there's other poop right nearby, I'll pick up all of it.
January 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
What is one teeny tiny everyday way you are making our world better? Let's encourage each other and share ideas.
I'll go first. When my dogs poop on our walks, and there's other poop right nearby, I'll pick up all of it.
I'll go first. When my dogs poop on our walks, and there's other poop right nearby, I'll pick up all of it.
Watching the final of Great British Bakeoff (finally) and thinking how because of the short times to make everything, this sometimes feels like an executive function challenge instead of a baking one (well, both, anyway).
December 25, 2024 at 5:04 AM
Watching the final of Great British Bakeoff (finally) and thinking how because of the short times to make everything, this sometimes feels like an executive function challenge instead of a baking one (well, both, anyway).
My phone thinks I'm more interesting than I am. It constantly autocorrects "beautiful" to "Bratislava" (????) and "honey" to "Hindu."
December 16, 2024 at 12:22 PM
My phone thinks I'm more interesting than I am. It constantly autocorrects "beautiful" to "Bratislava" (????) and "honey" to "Hindu."
With which Saint(s) do you have a particular affinity? And what draws you to them? I'm intrigued by folks who have jewelry or other ways of tangibly representing their journey with various saints, and I'm trying to find a saint I feel called to journey with in this season.
December 11, 2024 at 5:55 PM
With which Saint(s) do you have a particular affinity? And what draws you to them? I'm intrigued by folks who have jewelry or other ways of tangibly representing their journey with various saints, and I'm trying to find a saint I feel called to journey with in this season.
Walking my dogs today, a man working in his yard called them "little people." I don't know why, they are pretty regular dogs, but I liked it.
December 10, 2024 at 3:53 AM
Walking my dogs today, a man working in his yard called them "little people." I don't know why, they are pretty regular dogs, but I liked it.
When I use someone's professional titles to address them (Rev. Dr. etc) in writing, and they write me back as Ms. Fox, when my titles are clearly in my email signature, it feels like passive aggressiveness, when... it's probably not? Is it?
December 5, 2024 at 4:44 PM
When I use someone's professional titles to address them (Rev. Dr. etc) in writing, and they write me back as Ms. Fox, when my titles are clearly in my email signature, it feels like passive aggressiveness, when... it's probably not? Is it?
Reposted by Bethany Fox ✨
frosty being "as alive as he could be" is not a helpful descriptor. my pet rock is as alive as it can be, which is zero. it's a rock
December 2, 2024 at 10:40 PM
frosty being "as alive as he could be" is not a helpful descriptor. my pet rock is as alive as it can be, which is zero. it's a rock
True story: recently I accidentally referred to my husband as "the pastor's wife" (I'm the pastor). I think it was because a pastor having a wife is so deeply culturally embedded in me that it overrode my obvious reality.
Relatedly, this book seems very useful!
Relatedly, this book seems very useful!
If you’ve read the game-changing MAKING OF BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD, brace yourself for the sequel: BECOMING THE PASTOR’S WIFE by @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social
kristindumez.substack.com/p/shaking-th...
kristindumez.substack.com/p/shaking-th...
Shaking things up
Beth Allison Barr is at it again
kristindumez.substack.com
December 3, 2024 at 6:17 AM
True story: recently I accidentally referred to my husband as "the pastor's wife" (I'm the pastor). I think it was because a pastor having a wife is so deeply culturally embedded in me that it overrode my obvious reality.
Relatedly, this book seems very useful!
Relatedly, this book seems very useful!
Advent Day 1. We're reading through Fr. Greg Boyle's new book while enjoying a random snack from Turkey every evening. It's fun when the Advent calendar number matches the date!
December 2, 2024 at 4:11 AM
Advent Day 1. We're reading through Fr. Greg Boyle's new book while enjoying a random snack from Turkey every evening. It's fun when the Advent calendar number matches the date!
A Man on the Inside and Nobody Wants This, both on Netflix, are such lovely new shows. In case no one has told you yet.
December 1, 2024 at 12:32 PM
A Man on the Inside and Nobody Wants This, both on Netflix, are such lovely new shows. In case no one has told you yet.
Do people have strong feelings about whether it's fine just to substitute "man" with "person" in an informal presentation (say, a sermon) when including an old quote, without noting the change? (When the word "man" is meant as a referent for all humans.) I do it all the time.
November 27, 2024 at 10:19 PM
Do people have strong feelings about whether it's fine just to substitute "man" with "person" in an informal presentation (say, a sermon) when including an old quote, without noting the change? (When the word "man" is meant as a referent for all humans.) I do it all the time.
There are no unsacred places, only sacred and desecrated places. - Wendell Berry
November 22, 2024 at 7:08 AM
There are no unsacred places, only sacred and desecrated places. - Wendell Berry