Hollering for Change: Conversation with the Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross

Hollering for Change is the name of a series of commentaries by The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler for United Methodist News. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. 
The latest installment of the “Hollering for Change” series continues to look at women “firsts” in the denomination. The Rev. Dr. Tori Butler speaks with the Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross, the first African American woman appointed to Noblesville First United Methodist Church in Indiana. Caldwell-Gross describes being fearful before affirmation from her son overcame that fear and made her consider other places God had sent her to prepare her for this next step.

 

 

 

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Human Rights
The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

In troubling times, look to ‘higher law’

Gilbert Haven, a Methodist pastor, taught that opening ourselves to God and seeing things from a divine point of view enables us to act from cleaner motives — and we must act.
Faith Stories
The Rev. Lorenzo Dow was a circuit preacher known for his unkempt appearance and fiery sermons. 1856 engraving by Lossing-Barrit courtesy of Wikipedia.

Lorenzo Dow’s ‘crazy’ life

Born in the late 18th century, Lorenzo Dow was anti-slavery and not big on personal hygiene. He was also a more popular Methodist preacher than many of his contemporaries.
Faith Stories
Fictional characters including Superman and Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” have been identified as Methodist over the years. A new novel, “The Deliverance of Barker McRae,” features a fictional character based on 19th-century Methodist circuit preacher Lorenzo Dow (pictured at right). Also pictured (from left) are actors Kirk Alyn, who played Superman in the 1940s, and Gregory Peck as Finch in the 1962 film “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Movie stills courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Dow photo courtesy of the “Encyclopedia of World Methodism.”

‘Crazy Lorenzo’ joins other fictional Methodists

A novel by a graduate of United Methodist Candler School of Theology features a woman searching for her father, who is based on an eccentric 19th century preacher.

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