Kate’s Take

Graduation and Mother’s Day: Remembering Generations of Womanist and Feminist Scholar Activism

This blog was previously published on the Drew Social Justice Leadership Project blog space. As another academic year comes to a close, many of us in academia are attending graduations. Routinely the dean, president, or honored guest reminds the graduates to thank their family and friends for supporting and encouraging them as they completed their education. The same individual, then, invites the students to thank their faculty members without whom they would not be able to Read more…

By kateott, ago

What do Good Friday, Teens, and Dating have in Common?

Most of us do not connect discussions of teen dating with Sunday School discussions about Good Friday. There may be some theological traditions who would use Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to bring a bit of perspective to the drama of teen dating. For example, “Jesus gave his life for us, how can you spend so much time worrying about who will take whom to the dance?” But that was not the discussion in the Read more…

By kateott, ago

It’s no slam dunk, but it’s a start

The game is lopsided with a 15 point lead. The visiting team is frustrated and beginning to fall apart. The visiting team inbounds the ball and one player tries unsuccessfully to dribble through the home team’s back court press. The whistle blows. A ten second violation gives the ball to the home team. The coaches of the visiting team are exacerbated as their directions go unexecuted play after play. One visiting player on the bench Read more…

By kateott, ago

Digital Disparity is a Moral Issue

Digital technology directly impacts who we are and what we do; it ushers in abundant possibilities and indelibly alters how we form relationship and community. . . . For Christians committed to a more just and inclusive society, and imaginative and serious ethical response to digital technologies requires looking beyond the immediate experience of software and hardware to how it was created, how our use of it shapes us, and what values are promoted across Read more…

By kateott, ago

Spiritual Self-Care for the Advent Season

Discussion of self-care in social justice movements has become a regular topic of social media feeds, blog posts, and workshops. And my response is: FINALLY! I don’t raise this issue to dismiss it. Data shows that those who work on social justice and human rights issues face high levels of burn-out. Ministers and religious professionals also experience high levels of stress that require better practices of self-care. This time of year adds extra burdens to the commitments and justice Read more…

By kateott, ago

Where do I start?: Responding to sexual harassment, violence, and abuse

The recent news cycle has increased the frequency with which I am asked, “Where do I start?” by colleagues, parents, and pastors. Sexual harassment, violence and abuse is not only at the forefront of our national conversation, but a recurring issue in our faith communities. We have yet to adequately responded. On Tuesday, September 25th, I was with a gathering of the Seventh Day Adventist Church for a global summit to #EndItNow. Just days before Dr. Read more…

By kateott, ago

Gender Identity in Youth Ministry

I’m excited to share a new resource on gender identity for youth ministers.  Check out the Princeton Institute for Youth Ministry Engage blog. In this issue of Engage,  I join with other scholars, ministers, parents, and advocates to consider the impact of gender on the faith lives of youth.  The series can be downloaded with a discussion questions at the end for a rich and ready-made youth ministry lesson.  

By kateott, ago

School Dress Codes and Gender/Sexuality Bias

I have always struggled with what to do when it comes to rules about dress codes.  Whether that was when I was working in state-based juvenile facilities that required girls to wear over-sized, donated men’s t-shirts to “cover up” and not distract the boys or in youth group banning tank tops and running shorts on a mission trip where we would be working in 100 degree weather for the purposes of modesty.  As you can Read more…

By kateott, ago