Author Archives: carolyncustisjames

My earliest Mother’s Day memories are of my father purchasing flowers for the whole family. The tradition he taught us was that on Mother’s Day you wear a flower to honor your mother: red if she is living, white if … Continue reading →

“I do not want to die… until I have faithfully made the most of my talent and cultivated the seed that was placed in me until the last small twig has grown.” —Kathe Kollwitz, 1867-1945 Kathe Kollwitz is regarded as … Continue reading →

Although as far as I know, we aren’t sitting on a fault line in Orlando, the ground moved underneath us anyway last week. Of course, the much-anticipated moving experience was the Synergy2009 conference which delivered on its promise to be … Continue reading →

This time next week, Synergy2009 will be in full swing, and I can hardly wait! Women (and men) will be gathering in Orlando from 29 states so far, representing a variety of Christian ministries and theological seminaries. I’ve just returned … Continue reading →

“Preach the gospelat all times,if necessary, use words.” —St. Francis of Assisi

I live in Florida . . . where it is always summer never winter. So it’s a shock to my system whenever I head north to colder climates. It feels like tumbling out of the back of a wardrobe, suddenly … Continue reading →

Women are doing theology in Texas! I just returned from the Lone Star State where I was part of a panel discussion for Irving Bible Church’s women’s Bible study, along with Sandi Glahn, Dallas Theological Seminary faculty, Jonalyn Grace Fincher, … Continue reading →

“We live in a time when everyone’s goal is to be perpetually healthy and constantly happy. . . . If any one of us fails to live up to the standards that are advertised as normative, we are labeled as … Continue reading →

A conservative pastor of a denomination that does not believe in ordaining women once asked me point blank: “What do you think of women pastors?” I thought I knew where this was heading. Groaning silently, I was sure his question … Continue reading →

When I first heard the title of Professor Scot McKnight’s latest book—The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible—I must admit I was both baffled and intrigued. What on earth does a blue parakeet have to do with reading … Continue reading →