But, it is easy enough to point to abuses done by those with Reverend in front of their names and how much Reverend becomes both the enabler and cover-up for injustice. But we get sidetracked when we focus too much on injustices by the irreverent, and it gets us nowhere.

It is more powerful to consider the connection between justice and reverence. What is justice without reverence? Isn’t injustice at its core a demonstration of lack of reverence for the value of another?

And how many times is “justice” lacking in reverence? How many times is “reverence” lacking in justice? Can you imagine the transformative power of combining reverence and justice?

As you know very well, many spiritual traditions, including the Bible, involve taking on a new name. You already have your new name.

And so, maybe the deeper truth in all of this is that it might be time for you to stop giggling at the M. Div after your name, and to ponder deeply what your calling might be as the Reverend Justice.

You write about being unable to martial time from demanding schedules to energize others. (I find the word choice “martial” very interesting here.) Yet, my question to you is this: What do you have to do that is more important than to living into your new name? To go from exegesis to hermeneutics, based on reverent justice?

This is the way into the world that you can create, the way of reverent justice.

Kalinda Rose Stevenson

Regarding the big arena down the hill, surely we who have been educated in both exegesis and hermeneutics, in homiletcs,in social change, intentional spiritual growth, and pastoral care have the responsibility to speak so that more may hear. At present I am enrolled in a D. Min prgram where we frequently bemoan the fact that much of what is offered as biblical study and theological truth is extended by those with little education and/or with a personal political agenda. Still we seem unable to martial enough time from our already demanding schedules to energize others and
organize a venue for the many voices we think need to be heard by the greater public.

May your voice continue to inspire. In community we can and must create a way into the world.

I look forward to more from you, Dr. Kalinda.

I agree with you that the one needs the other or both can be pointless exercises that mislead. The blind leading the blind.

Just read over your “about” page. When reading about ivory tower “scholars” and “theologians,” I am reminded that the only one of the men generally called apostles in the New Testament with a “college education” or “degree” was Paul, who referred to those things as refuse (I have heard harsher translations for the word). I believe study is useful, but it must be kept in perspective, too. It’s not an end unto itself for everyone to blindly follow someone towards without having usefulness and (real-world) application to it.

I specifically liked what the one lady said to you: “You are the most interesting combination of practical and intellectual.” Shouldn’t that be the point of any teacher or preacher? I can definitely relate.

- John