"Many others may have jumped higher or turned faster, but these are poor substitutes for passion." Alexandra Danilova

As a ballet dancer, my life teems with strong, inspiring women. Both in day to day practice and in spirit, the power of women to lead, express, and shape reality girded...

As access to the marriage rite continues to expand, practical resources to support clergy members who officiate at marriages and serve gay- and lesbian-led families during this window of great transition and change need to keep apace.

For example, several weeks ago I spoke with a fellow pastor who...

The following essay reflects on and continues A New Conversation on Marriage. This essay comes from Rev. Amy Ziettlow, ELCA pastor and Host of FamilyScholars Conversations.

Can a civil conversation be had between opposing sides of the same-sex marriage debate?

The following piece was first published at TheAtlantic.com

With more than 21 million dolls sold since 1986 and welcoming more than 46 million visitors to its retail stores, the American Girl phenomenon shapes the wish lists of countless youngsters. The catalogue alone ranks as the largest...

The following essay reflects on and continues A New Conversation on Marriage. Ziettlow, Stokes and Marquardt are authors of "Does the Shape of Families Shape Faith? Challenging the Churches to Confront the Impact of Family Change." With one in four Americans touched by divorce, addressing the impact of...

Every Christmas brings the ancient story of Jesus' birth into conversation with modern times, and this year, as in many years, I look to Mary for how to navigate extraordinary joy and extraordinary pain in the midst of everyday life. As a Protestant Christian I do not venerate Mary as...

Stop. Put down that egg nog. You have a ballet to attend!

What ballet you ask? The Nutcracker, of course! The likelihood that a production of The Nutcracker ballet is being staged near you right now is incredibly high. Inner city, rural America,

Growing up, the holidays were defined by my parents. My mom's Barbra Streisand Christmas albums, fluffing the tree with my dad, picking favorite Christmas ornaments, baking cookies, sitting with my dad in the brass section for the Christmas cantata, pimento cheese sandwiches in the church basement between Messiah performances, midnight...

The following essay began when Hurricane Isaac blew through the Gulf Coast on the anniversary of Katrina this summer. I have been mulling these thoughts as I have read and watched and prayed for those in the eastern half of our country in the preparation for and on-going...

"Fewer. Poorer. Gloomier."

These are the three words that the Pew Research Center uses to describe the outlook of the 85 percent of Americans who describe themselves as middle class after a recent survey in July. They report that "since 2000, the middle class has shrunk in size,...

A recent report, "Unasked Questions, Unintended Consequences: Fifteen Findings and Recommendations on Illinois' Prison Healthcare System," released by the prison watchdog group, the John Howard Association, focuses a keen and insightful eye on the current state of Illinois' prison healthcare system. The first sentence of the...

With the Republican convention past and the Democratic convention upon us, it seems like a ripe time to ponder the tenor of public discourse. Last week, our ten-year-old son was required to watch portions of the convention each day and it's always refreshing to see public discourse through the earnest...

I am married and I kept my birth name. This choice and confession has led to years of explaining myself which tend to peak during a family move. I live in a new community right now so I am introducing myself often and it's made me think anew of how...

"As the World Turns," "Guiding Light," "Days of our Lives," "The Bold and the Beautiful"... I imagine that if you are a soaps fan, just reading these titles has already caused you to remember your favorite characters and plotlines, grieve the demise of GL, and think of your favorite soap...

The short answer to this question is yes, but that yes depends greatly on one factor that I haven't found mentioned in discussions concerning California's SB 1462, which would allow early release for inmates with a prognosis of 6 months or less. Hospice. Studies show that...

No more recitals.

I realize that even by uttering in print the three words above I could be stirring the ire of dance teachers and mothers across the country, especially during this season of dance recitals. Many parents, costume-clad youngsters and dance mavens may consider the notion of "no recitals"...

As a Midwesterner who grew up in Oklahoma in the 1980s, there is no reason that I should have had access to high quality, classical ballet training. Thanks to the Ballet Russe I did.

Although Balanchine dominates the 20th century scene of American ballet, for Midwesterners, the...

Is there a glimmer of mercy in the universe?

Dwelling in silence this morning in the ballet studio, I reflected on the 35 years I have called the ballet barre home. As I looked across the room my eye caught the image of one of my fellow classmates who recently...

Did your church, synagogue, house of prayer or temple celebrate hoodie Sunday yesterday?

I am a Caucasian, middle class, mom of three who is also a pastor, a high school youth group sponsor and a writer. I did not wear a hoodie to worship yesterday but I wish...

Time, like an ever rolling stream, soon bears us all away. We fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. Be Thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home. Time, Like an...