Suddenly battling aggressive cancer again, Howard Brown reminds all of us that the key to survival is a caring community

Leading Advocate for Families with Cancer Finds Himself Back in a Fight for His Life 

By DAVID CRUMM
Editor of ReadTheSpirit magazine

He’s still shining brightly.

I know because I’ve talked to Howard regularly since his shocking diagnosis just a week ago revealed: The man who is known for surviving two different extremely long-shot stage IV bouts with cancer—and now heads a nationwide network helping to support cancer patients and their families—has just been hit by a third form of very aggressive cancer.

“This was a shock! It took me completely by surprise—my doctors, too,” Howard said from his Detroit-area hospital room where he is receiving daily chemotherapy. This time the cancer is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), which had been invisibly devastating his body for weeks.

To read the now-famous stories of how Howard overcame two virtual death sentences from oncologists already, in his life, get a copy of his memoir Shining Brightly. Today, among his many advocacy roles in health care and interfaith relationships, Howard serves as chairman of the board of Paltown Development Foundation, a vast network of thousands of patients, caregivers and their families battling colorectal cancer. That was the second of three cancer diagnoses in Howard’s life.

How did Howard not know that cancer had come calling again?

He didn’t—and that’s an important part of this story. He didn’t suspect cancer was back—nor did his longtime oncologist friend who Howard sees for regular checkups. The only reason they discovered the AML, last week, before a catastrophic collapse was that Howard knew the drill: Something had changed unexpectedly in his body—which meant he had to call and get checked.

In fact, Howard is so healthy from a lifetime of attending to his fitness that, when his doctor friend first read his blood tests at Beaumont Hospital—the doctor assumed the lab report was flat-out wrong.

He apologized to Howard: “We’ve got to run this test again, Howard, because somehow the test is screwed up. If your blood levels were this bad, you’d be wheeled in here on your back—not strolling in here after a long walk. Howard, something’s wrong here, but it may just be this test itself. We’ll do it again right now.”

So, an entire second set of blood tests were taken and processed and, the moment Howard’s doctor saw that second lab report, his jaw dropped.

“Howard?” Then, the doctor paused, the news obvious on his face.

“It’s bad—isn’t it? Take your time,” Howard said—his first instinct was to reassure his doctor.

The doctor was shaking his head in disbelief. “There’s no way your condition has gotten this bad and you’re not just on the floor—I’ve never seen blood levels like this on a patient who’s walking around as healthy-looking as you.”

“Well, one thing I can tell you is: I’m sure glad I didn’t overlook that bruise that suddenly appeared on my arm,” Howard told the doctor. “I was just been playing some pretty heavy-duty basketball with friends and I thought the bruise was from a foul. I might have just dismissed it, but then I thought: Oh, well, I know the drill. It’s a sudden bruise. Something changed in my body—so I should check. But you’re right, I feel fine! I just took a five-mile walk.”

The doctor, who has known Howard for years, could not stop shaking his head. “No more ball playing for you, Howard. Your immune system is gone. I think your bone marrow has stopped working. If you catch a cold from someone else—especially flu or COVID—you’re going to die. Your immune system is shot—and that is very serious.”

Howard was sent into isolation in a Beaumont oncology section. He had enough energy to make a few calls—including one to me, his long-time friend and editor—and to post a few items online. Then, almost immediately, friends from around the world jumped in to reassure Howard that they’re providing many forms of support. Because Howard knows about the high costs of battling cancer at this level, one early post he made was a GoFundMe campaign headlined: HBstrong! Support Howard Brown—3rd cancer—AML.

Already, as of this story’s deadline, 160 donors have contributed nearly $46,000—and the fund continues to grow.

Howard’s mantra: Keep the focus on ways we all can help others

Even after such a stunning blow, Howard’s focus has been on encouraging his friends to do good toward other people, as well. That’s a natural expression of Howard’s life.

Yes, his GoFundMe page is an appeal for donations—but here’s the rest of his list for ways people “can do for me in my time of need”:

  • Please send prayers and hugs
  • Consider donating blood and/or platelets where you live. I will need transfusions—but so do many others.
  • Be kind to others.
  • Hug your family and friends for no reason.
  • And, keep shining brightly always!

The response across a half dozen social media platforms, email, text, phone and other media was so overwhelming that, when I was talking to Howard a few days ago, I suggested: “Can we publish a story in ReadTheSpirit?”

“Ohhh, you know that would help a lot,” he said. “I feel bad that I have not been able to keep up with individual responses to all the ways people have reached out to me. You know how—”

I cut him off. “Yes, of course! I know how you can’t rest until you respond to friends. I’m the editor of your memoir and of countless columns you’ve written in recent years. I know that you’re disciplined to respond to each note and act of kindness with a personal ‘thanks’ of some kind. It must be driving you crazy to feel so much incoming love—and you can’t keep up with responding to each person.”

He laughed. “You know me! Yeah, I’m thinking of each and every one who has reached out. I want to tell each one how much it means to me that they took a moment to reach out.”

“Well, for now,” I said. “I’m going to tell this story in ReadTheSpirit and I want you to lay back and let the Beaumont staff take you through the next 30 days of chemo. Don’t worry. We’ll get your word of “Thanks!” out there for everyone.”

Howard’s ‘Ace in the Hole’

“One thing that keeps me going everyday is that my twin sister, CJ, is still my Ace in the Hole,” Howard told me. “If I can make it through these 30 days of chemo, then we meet down at Karmanos in Detroit and we’re praying that a stem cell transplant from CJ to me will save my life again—just like it did in my first battle with cancer years ago.

Readers of Howard’s memoir Shining Brightly know that having a twin does not necessarily mean that a match is possible—but, in what the Brown family considers a miracle, CJ proved to be an exact match years ago. Her cells saved Howard’s life by kick-starting his own bone marrow to produce healthy cells again.

“And, it’s not 100 percent certain, but we hope that will happen again,” Howard told me. “First, then, I’ve got to make it that far.”

No question: Howard’s life could end before CJ can give him that priceless gift. That’s why Howard and his entire family especially value prayers. Two of Howard’s closest clergy friends—rabbis who have become dear friends through the years (and who also appear in his biography)—are spending time with Howard.

As of the deadline for this November 4, 2024, issue of our magazine, Howard said to let people know that he is determined to beat cancer once again—and that prayer and spiritual reassurance is a true lifeline for all cancer patients.

“And, so far, I’m holding up. Yes, I know the chemo will catch up to me soon and will slow me down, but for now—it’s early days and the doses are still low enough that I’m able to get up and walk around. I need to keep as fit as I can. Mainly, I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness for all of the kind wishes—the response to my Go Fund Me campaign and the prayers that I know people are wrapping around me every day! I feel very grateful.

“The one thing I regret is that I simply don’t have the time and energy to respond individually to the thousands—and that’s literally thousands—of notes and best wishes people are sending me from around the world,” he said to me. “The more I think about your invitation, David, I think your plan to write something for the whole ReadTheSpirit audience is one way that I can convey my thankfulness for all the people who are reaching out with support.”

I told Howard: “Well, when I saw the tidal waves of responses you’re getting, that’s why I thought of writing this column with you. No one wants to invade your privacy—but all of us who know your story understand that the key to surviving this truly life-threatening crisis is connecting with other people.”

“I’ve always said that, haven’t I?” Howard chuckled. “You know what I’m going to say next, don’t you?”

“Fighting cancer is a team sport,” I said. “You always say that.”

“Right. The key to surviving this kind of battle is accepting help from a caring community—and I’ve got excellent doctors and lots of dear friends surrounding me right now. And what else do I say?”

“Keep shining brightly.”

“That’s right,” he said. “Whatever happens to me—we all need to pitch in to make this world a better place. That’s what gets me out of bed every morning—and that’s no different right now. We’ve all got to keep shining brightly.”

Howard Brown and his twin sister CJ enjoying a sunny day before his recent diagnosis.

 

Print this Article

Duncan Newcomer’s long-awaited “big book” on the spiritual life of Abraham Lincoln finds a home at Santos Press

A nationwide community of readers awaits this version of ‘Quiet Fire’

By DAVID CRUMM
Editor of ReadTheSpirit

Long-time followers of Lincoln scholar Duncan Newcomer have been awaiting Duncan’s “magnum opus” on the spiritual values that Abraham Lincoln brought to our deeply divided nation. Now, Conrad Kanagy, a sociologist, religion scholar and the founder of Santos Press, has announced that he will be working with Duncan in 2025 to finally publish what Duncan has been describing to audiences as his “big book.” The working title, we’re told, is Quiet Fire: The Spiritual Life of Abraham Lincoln.

This comes as wonderful news to Duncan’s myriad of friends nationwide—including a long list of journalists (Duncan has appeared many times in ReadTheSpirit magazine and has befriended readers, as well, through The Christian Science Monitor) and noted authors such as Peter Wallace, Greg Garrett, Jon Sweeney and Bob Cornwall (all four of whom are online friends of Kanagy’s publishing efforts).

For writers and editors who specialize in exploring spiritual values—especially those values that might help Americans navigate today’s deeply divided national landscape—this announcement is good news in troubling times.

What is “Quiet Fire”?

That two-word phrase has become the trademark for Duncan’s many public reflections on Lincoln over the years, whether on public radio or via newspapers, magazines, books, podcasts and public appearances. Duncan now is credited among Lincoln scholars for coining that evocative phrase to describe the deep core of Lincoln’s beliefs and personality.

As evidence of his influence with that phrase, Google’s AI summary currently reports:

While there isn’t a directly attributed quote from Abraham Lincoln that explicitly says “quiet fire,” the phrase is often used to describe his character, signifying a deep inner strength and resolve that was not outwardly flamboyant but rather quietly powerful; this association has been popularized by writers and historians who study Lincoln’s life and personality, particularly in works like Duncan Newcomer’s book “Quiet Fire, the Spiritual Life of Abraham Lincoln.”

To hear Duncan describe the origins of the phrase himself, watch this video interview with Conrad Kanagy, which recently was posted as part of Kanagy’s early promotion of the upcoming book.

You’re welcome to prepare for the big book’s release with daily doses of ‘Quiet Fire’

Part of Duncan Newcomer’s success in fostering a national awareness of Lincoln’s deep spiritual foundations rests on Duncan’s persuasive ways of making friends with other scholars and media professionals nationwide. Among his friends, for example, is The Christian Science Monitor’s Mark Sappenfield, who took over the reins of that storied newspaper in 2017. Mark’s own interest in probing spiritual and moral perspectives on American life has led to a long-standing series of connections between Duncan and that newspaper.

Duncan also convinced public radio producers to let him experiment with this theme in a series of short broadcasts that eventually reached a total of about 300 episodes.

“Since its beginning, radio has offered a warm medium for connecting the heart, the head, and the imagination. This delightful collection of Lincoln’s wisdom was seeded in a creative radio show, Quiet Fire,” said Sally Kane, former CEO of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, the network where this series was born on local WERU, a station in mid-coastal Maine. “Now, Quiet Fire has morphed into a daily companion for readers who connect the dots between time and space to map a new understanding of the chaotic times in which we live. Lincoln’s words resonate more urgently than ever, and Duncan has played alchemist in Quiet Fire to one of our country’s greatest souls and distilled an essence that can guide and comfort us.”

Click on the cover to visit the book’s Amazon page.

Meanwhile, Duncan already had become a popular contributing columnist in ReadTheSpirit magazine—and our publishing house produced a 30-day book based on his Quiet Fire broadcasts. That book is part of our ongoing series of “30 Days With” inspirational readers. Duncan’s Lincoln volume is titled: 30 Days with Abraham Lincoln—Quiet Fire.

However, beyond all of those waves of Duncan Newcomer media on the theme of Lincoln’s Quiet Fire—there still was a much longer manuscript sitting in Duncan’s office in Maine. In that magnum opus, Duncan wove together threads from Lincoln’s life into a larger tapestry that Duncan hoped would stand the test of time as an essential scholarly perspective on Lincoln’s spirit, faith and values.

That’s where Conrad Kanagy stepped into this network of relationships. Kanagy is best known nationally as the biographer of theologian Walter Brueggemann. Conrad also has been a popular professor of sociology at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. In the fall of 2024, Conrad announced he would retire after the current academic year—which will give him more time to work with the independent publishing house he founded in Elizabethtown, Santos Books.

When Conrad learned about Duncan’s body of work—and the unpublished “big book”—he began his efforts to grow Duncan’s audience by bringing the archive of those hundreds of original Quiet Fire public radio episodes to Spotify for easy access in coming years.

As a result, right now if you’d care to start on your own relationship with Duncan—and his vision of Abraham Lincoln as a spiritual mentor for our times—simply visit that Spotify link and you’ll find the first group of episodes.

Duncan, Conrad and Abraham: ‘A Perfect Fit’

Conrad says he’s proud to play this crucial role in Duncan’s vast national network of colleagues.

“The goal of our publishing company is to tell the sacred stories of individuals through biography, memoir, or autobiography,” Conrad said this week. “By sacred, I mean those stories that are special, unique, set apart, from the ordinary and everyday way we think of ourselves.”

That’s why his publishing house is such an important vocational step for him, Conrad said. “The goal of Santo Books is to share our stories so that each individual in our books can be seen as God sees them: loved by God, belonging to God, lovable to God—even those who don’t believe in God.”

So, the latest “chapter” in the overall story of Duncan’s and Lincoln’s “Quiet Fire” will come from Conrad’s press in 2025—because, as Conrad puts it, “Duncan’s story of Abraham Lincoln is a perfect fit—both in terms of how he saw others, but also in terms of how clearly he understood the sacredness of the other.”

And amid the deep chasms in American life and culture right now, Conrad says, there’s not a more important message to publish.

Stay tuned to ReadTheSpirit magazine for further news about the availability of this new book in 2025. We have asked Conrad and Duncan to alert us to the book’s availability for pre-sale, when it is listed on Amazon in 2025. As soon as we hear that good news—we’ll share it with all of you.

Print this Article

Ken Kemp introduces the ‘Sanctuary’ story to a national audience via his ‘Beached White Male’ podcast

Look at these two illustrations—above and on the book cover below:
Where do you want to be?

By DAVID CRUMM
Founding Editor of ReadTheSpirit magazine

Click the cover to visit the book’s Amazon page.

A few years ago, at the height of COVID, Ken Kemp launched his popular podcast The Beached White Male. He thanked the editors of Newsweek magazine for coining that ironic phrase in a now-famous 2011 cover story about the disappointments of underachieving white men. Ken used that banner to try to knock some sense into older guys like himself—urging them to stop moping and start recognizing the beautiful world emerging around them.

From the start, Ken knew that he—for one—didn’t want to surrender to isolation and exclusion either from COVID or from the many barriers thrown up by anxious and often angry white men in recent years. Instead, Ken has explored the ever-growing circle of communities that embrace inclusivity as a part of their expression of God’s love.

A Message of Hope from a Master Storyteller

Ken’s message is one of hope—that we don’t have to react to change, conflict and chaos in our world by feeling left behind, isolated or “beached.” In fact, as Ken puts it, God’s love is broad enough to make room for all of us—if we only recognize that we can be part of that caring community.

As a podcaster, Ken has a welcoming voice, a storyteller’s talents and a masterful way of unfolding interviews with his guests. That’s especially true in this recent podcast-conversation with Dr. Thomas Wassink, co-author of the new book: Sanctuary.

‘I Couldn’t Put it Down’

As he introduces this podcast, Ken tells listeners: “I’ve got a new book for you today. First, the title of this book was intriguing to me. It got my attention! Its full title is Sanctuary—Queering a Church in the Heartland. And by “heartland” we’re talking about the university town of Iowa City, Iowa. Well, I had to get a deeper look. So, I got my hands on a copy, I started reading—and I couldn’t put it down! And today you’re going to hear my conversation with one of the three authors of this book.”

In the course of his conversation with Tom, Ken also reads a brief passage from the book’s Foreword, written by bestelling Christian author Brian McLaren. The words Ken reads from that Foreword are a challenge to readers: “Often, whether it has to do with racial equality, gender equality, economic justice, or equality of sexual orientation—religious institutions are among the very last to change, which means that they are also the last to cease doing harm. So here is this book—a gift. It’s a series of often humorous, often poignant, sometimes heartbreaking, and always well-told stories and reflections—to help us all rethink what is normal or queer, what is sacred or scandalous, what is bad or good. We may just become better people in the process. May it be so!”

Intrigued?

Well, we can tell you: This new book can be a valuable companion for the tens of thousands of congregations nationwide that are currently in the process of trying to become more inclusive. Please, listen to Ken Kemp and Dr. Thomas Wassink talk about this unique journey in Iowa City—and, when you’re done, please share this week’s Cover Story with friends across social media and email.

You can listen to this Beached White Male podcast with Ken Kemp and Dr. Thomas Wassink right here:

Care to learn more?

You can learn more about Ken Kemp and enjoy all of his podcasts at his home online: The Beached White Male.

You can order your own copy of Sanctuary—Queering a Church in the Heartland in hardcover, paperback or Kindle formats from Amazon. This new book also is available from Barnes & Noble, Walmart and wherever quality books are sold.

Print this Article

‘Sanctuary’ is Coming Out this week. Encourage these new friends by ordering their memoir.

Thousands of congregations are moving toward inclusion.
Here’s the inspiring story of how one church met that challenge.

OUR PUBLISHING HOUSE team is pleased to see word spreading nationwide about the inspiring value of this memoir from the folks in Iowa who have worked to build a happy, growing—and inclusive—congregation, even when that goal seemed almost impossible.

The book’s official national launch date was scheduled for this week to coincide with National Coming Out Day, an annual tradition started in 1988 to encourage open conversations about inclusion in communities nationwide.


First, enjoy this 2-minute overview of ‘Sanctuary’


Second, share the good news

No kidding! This is good news worthy of sharing widely across your social media. Sanctuary tells a true story that will encourage many more congregations nationwide to continue the process of welcoming LGBTQ+ neighbors. In August 2024, when the book first appeared in online bookstores for “pre-orders” we published an in-depth look at the authors and their congregation, headlined:

‘Sanctuary’ debuts with a timely success story of a church in the American heartland where people dare to be inclusive


Then, don’t just take our word for it—read this review by journalist Bill Tammeus

Veteran journalist and author Bill Tammeus writes about how timely this new book is the thousands of congregations who are wrestling with this long-overdue change in church culture.

.


And finally, get your own copy—and one for a friend.

Click the cover to visit the book’s Amazon page. (The book also is available from Barnes & Noble, Walmart and wherever quality books are sold these days.)

.

.

 

Print this Article

Joe Grimm’s review of Detroit Free Press veteran John Gallagher’s memoir, ‘Rust Belt Reporter’

Stories from a Journalist Looking for Signs of Detroit’s Comeback

Review by JOE GRIMM
Founder of the MSU School of Journalism Bias Busters project

Click on the cover to visit the book’s Amazon page.

John Gallagher went off in search of good stories and found some great ones.

In his memoir, Rust Belt Reporter, Gallagher shares a lot of his best ones about Detroit and the Detroit Free Press, where he wrote them.

Gallagher accepted a reporting gig at the newspaper in 1987, attracted by the gritty charm he saw in Detroit and wanting to indulge his passion for urban affairs. The city and the “characters” in the newsroom intrigued him. While he was never what one would call a character himself, Gallagher was a wry observer of what went on around him. I worked with him at the Free Press from his arrival until I left in 2008. Gallagher’s modus operandi was to punch out solid, insightful copy without drama.

That same talent makes Rust Belt Reporter a fun, informative read.

Gallagher writes that, when he started at the Free Press, the newsroom had a payroll of 320. When he retired in late 2019, the staff had been hollowed out to fewer than 100. Readers—and the ad dollars they attract—had fled to the web.

The Free Press seemed like a small reflection of the City of Detroit, which hit a high-water census tally of 1.85 million residents in 1950 and fell to 640,000 in 2020.

While it took the city 70 years to lose nearly two thirds of its population, newsroom staffing at the paper fell further and twice as fast. It shrank by more than two-thirds in Gallagher’s 32-year tenure. People with institutional knowledge were bought out, laid off or fled. Departments once deemed essential for quality journalism were cut or outsourced. The traditional business model of great newspapers was trashed.

As this happened to them, Gallagher and his colleagues chronicled the siphoning of jobs and wealth from Detroit to the suburbs, the South and overseas. They detailed the disintegration of city services and education, drug wars, auto company bailouts, the imprisonment of a corrupt mayor and the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Houses, stores and factories were abandoned and razed. Once-grand schools, the largest department store in the world and a hospital were left open to scrappers and demolished.

The details of the Free Press’ swoon were no less dramatic. It shackled itself to its former rival, The Detroit News, in the nation’s largest Joint Operating Agreement. The newspapers combined most departments while insisting they were still competitors. The arrangement contributed to a grinding 19-month strike. Gallagher walked the picket line with colleagues from both newspapers and was later talked into being union president. The papers’ landmark buildings were sold, and workers shuffled off to ever-smaller rented quarters. Their industry-leading owners, Gannett and Knight Ridder, swapped papers with each other and eventually, to save money, stopped delivering the paper daily.

Gallagher wrote books about architecture and how Detroit and other cites could be—had to be—reimagined on a smaller scale. Visitors seeking photos of Detroit’s infamous “ruin porn” asked him for tour tips.

Gallagher kept picking away at the rust. And eventually, he wrote, “in my daily work covering the city I saw more and more encouraging signs. And these disparate elements would set the stage for what the world finally noticed was a remarkable urban turnaround.”

This year, reports by other journalists say Detroit is showing its first population growth since the 1950s. Positive signs are shining through in many places. “Detroit” and “comeback” are showing up together in headlines, though many end with question marks.

The Free Press, struggling with industry-wide challenges, has not yet had a turnaround moment. Early in 2024, the Free Press and News newsrooms moved to smaller quarters in their rented building. On Oct. 1, the Free Press reported that the newsrooms must move again this year. They will be in another space in 2025, the year their Joint Operating Agreement is scheduled to end.

Gallagher and I overlapped at the Free Press for almost 20 years. His workmanlike professionalism and quality surprised me so often that I remember asking him how he did it.

He shares his secrets as a journalist and author in this book. One Gallagher habit that stumped me was that no matter how difficult or intricate his assignment was, he always seemed to make deadline and be out the newsroom door at a reasonable time. He addresses that in his book: “…the first draft? Blast through that. That’s where you’ll save a boatload of time. Your editors will think it’s spooky. And your dinner will still be warm when you get home.”

Print this Article

What good news to discover neighbors finding ‘common ground’ in discussing the Bible!

‘Please, show us what you’ve been reading!’ Several members of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Spring, Texas, posed for us with their well-read copies of The Word Made Fresh, by George A. Mason. Left to right: Richard Blumberg, Shawn Henners, Alice El-Hamaki, Linda Barry, and Linda Astala.

By ANN WORLEY
Contributing Writer

Click on the cover to visit the book’s Amazon page.

“This is the best Bible study I’ve ever been part of,” Gwen told me with a hug. “I was just telling a friend about it the other day.”

I was thrilled: Really!?! The best Bible study I’ve ever been part of!?!

But Gwen wasn’t exaggerating as she described the impact of this book and our conversations on her daily life during our 12 weeks together. Who knew that a book of sermons written by a Baptist minister would make such an impression on seasoned Episcopalians? This warm greeting for George A. Mason’s The Word Made Fresh was just one of many welcome surprises in the several months we devoted to discussing the book at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Spring, Texas.

A lot of friends at our church seemed to be making their own “fresh” connections as they reflected on Mason’s book. For example, a couple of class members found common ground through the book for connecting with friends in their local interfaith group. One in particular, Linda Barry, shared this personal reflection starting with her admission that she was leery of a Baptist preacher as an author:

“When I first started to read this book, I was doubtful that I would read more than a chapter or two. I was brought up in a faith tradition that was full of judgment and I expected this book would be filled with the judgment and dogma from which I fled. But that is the farthest thing from the truth. There is none of that kind of judgment in this book. It is full of inclusion, compassion, and love. This book is for every Christian no matter what church you attend or if you have given up on church altogether.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Why am I so proud?

I organized this book discussion at our church because I knew there were rich connections awaiting us in every sermon in this book. I’m personally invested in both George’s ministry and The Word Made Fresh. Twenty years ago, George was my mentor in the pastoral residency program at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. I was fortunate to serve as lead editor of The Word Made Fresh when the book was in its infancy several years ago—an idea to surprise George at his retirement with a retrospective volume drawn from his 33 years of service in the same congregation.

After my time in the Wilshire residency, I had returned to my roots in the Episcopal church. Then, within my congregation, this was the first class I had offered to coordinate. And, as I have admitted: I was anxious at first about how George’s messages as a Baptist preacher would resonate among Episcopalians.

That’s why I was so proud that George’s denominational affiliation did not prove to be a barrier. My own instincts in respecting George’s inclusive wisdom over the decades were not wrong. Right away in my congregation, readers recognized George as a friend in faith whose sermons connected with their lives. That made it easy to spark thoughtful conversations in which friends could share their own stories from their faith journeys—the sure sign that a small-group in a congregation is truly going to be memorable.

The one lament from our class was that there are so many sermons in this book that twelve weeks only allowed us to skim the surface. But I’m happy to report that the book’s influence in my own congregation continues—and George’s work
remains part of our culture of constructive conversation.

Continuing the Conversations

Following our book study, I had a wonderful visit with our new Deacon Tony Kroll about some of the rich discussions in our class—and about how to encourage further thoughtful discourse as Christians in the world today. As we talked, Tony invited me to serve as one of the facilitators for adult formation classes this year, expanding on those very conversations.

Here is a description of the first course Tony has planned:

Civil Discourse Class: Sunday mornings at 10:45 a.m., October 20 through November 24. In our baptismal promises we are asked, “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?” We will explore loving our neighbors through scripture and the voices of modern-day prophets (e.g. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Bishop Doyle, George Mason, Pauli Murray, Carter Hayward, among others). The class will use a discussion format and focus on our responsibility in civil discourse as we empower one another to be God’s people in the world.

I wish everyone reading this column could join us!

One of many reasons The Word Made Fresh is so compelling is that George is particularly skilled as a preacher at navigating “the hard things” that many of his contemporaries choose to avoid, favoring the easier, repetitive call to personal (and private) salvation. But how else do we learn to live as Christians in a world so full of hard things—violence and political polarization and religious posturing and more—if we cannot talk about them as friends?

These sermons not only teach us how to engage the world around us as Christians, but they also serve as a model of the power of preaching for pastors and priests. I have read each of these sermons many times and I still find them instructive, life giving, and new. There is a reason The Word Made Fresh received the Religion Communicators Council’s coveted DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Award earlier this spring. It should be in the library of every church and the hands of every minister—or better, every Christian.

I know I’m biased. I’ve explained that honestly—and, now, I am thankful that ReadTheSpirit magazine has invited us—me and the good folks at our church who have embraced this book—to tell our story in this way.

May our story inspire someone who reads this to take one more chance on connecting through a congregation—or, if you’re a long-time church veteran, perhaps one more boost of encouragement to organize a “fresh” small group.

We’re so glad we did.

.


Ann Bell Worley is a Houston-based writer and editor with a background in theological education and ministry. She is the author of two children’s books with additional publications in religion and parenting and a broad range of editing credits. Much of her recent writing focuses on the challenges of raising a medically complex child. You can find more of Ann’s work and her family’s story on her website: www.graycoloredglasses.com.

Print this Article

Farewell to our Friend, Faith & Film Critic Edward McNulty (1936-2024), an Obituary and Remembrance

Obituary:
Edward Nelson McNulty
(1936-2024)

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following obituary and photo gallery was compiled by film critic Edward McNulty’s daughter Rebecca McNulty. Our entire publishing house staff and community of writers is mourning the loss of Ed’s vibrant life—and we thank Rebecca for digging into family archives to find not only the details of Ed’s story but also the photographs for the gallery at the end of this text.


The Rev. Dr. Edward Nelson McNulty, 88, passed away Monday, September 16, 2024, at his residence in
Bellbrook, Ohio. Ed had served as pastor to communities in Ohio, North Dakota, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, before retiring. For more than half a century, he also was known nationally as a leading voice in urging people to use movies and TV series both for personal spiritual reflection and for illustrating biblical wisdom in teaching and preaching. For that reason, Ed liked to call films “Visual Parables,” offering wisdom through cinematic storytelling much as Jesus did in his own ministry through verbal parables.

Edward earned his BA from Butler, University in Butler, Indiana, his MDiv from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, and his DMin from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

He grew up in Indianapolis, the son of Bernard and Thelma McNulty. His stories about his childhood captured glimpses of him running wild with his friends, discovering the magic of cinema, and coping with the pain of his parent’s divorce.

On Sundays, a local Baptist minister gathered children on a bus to take them to Sunday school. His baptism in a river eventually led Edward into the ministry.

He also told friends that his deep regard for American history and democracy were among the factors that led him to choose to become part of what is now the Presbyterian Church (USA), where he was proud of progressive stances the church took through the decades. In turn, the denomination was proud to feature his work in Presbyterians Today magazine and continued to publish some of Ed’s columns about cinema into 2024. The denomination’s official website came to refer to him as “PC(USA)’s favorite film critic.”

A Lifelong Fan of Science Fiction

Edward played a part in Midwest sci fi history, as a member of the Indiana Sci Fi Association (ISFA). The fanzine he helped edit circulated throughout the state, and he and his friends attended sci fi conventions in Chicago, New York City and across Ohio—including an infamous one in Bellfontaine, Ohio, 1954. That relatively small gathering was attended by such sci fi luminaries as E.E. Smith, Philip José Farmer, Harlan Ellison and Isaac Asimov. For the rest of the attendees, that event was recalled because of a dispute in which a prank by Harlan Ellison misfired and his hotel door was smashed by an angry colleague.

For Edward, it was the event at which he agreed to sell some of his enviable collection of Astounding magazines to Issac Asimov. It is fitting that in 2024, the last film review posted into his weekly section of www.ReadTheSpirit.com magazine was a 5-star recommendation of a documentary on the career of Chesley Bonestell, which began: “When I was a teen fan of science fiction my favorite artist was Chesley Bonestell.”

A Lifetime Love of Family, Stories and Social Justice

In 1959, Edward married Sandra Hoover Meredith in Indianapolis. They moved to Chicago for his seminary studies, working as house parents to ten boys at an orphanage. They had five children, Nevin (Scott), Ellen, Rebecca, Paul, and Daniel. As Ed’s ministry took the family to Ohio and North Dakota, they took in foster children.

The McNulty home was full of stories, music, art, books, and vivid discussions about the theological and social issues of the 1960s and 70s. The family hiked and camped as often as they could. Sandra taught the children to identify plants and wildlife, while Edward taught them to love the stars and the beauty of this earth.

In 1964, Edward responded to the call for ministers and youth to shine a national spotlight on the extreme discrimination and poverty in Mississippi. His two-week sojourn as a member of Freedom Summer opened a lifelong commitment to social justice, rooted firmly in the teachings of Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Ghandi. Add to these three his admiration for Abraham Lincoln, and the full meaning and richness of his work begins to unfold.

It also is fitting that one of the final major projects Edward undertook in the summer of 2024 was a lengthy collection of columns, based on his involvement in Freedom Summer. He went back and pulled out excerpts from his original journals, added to that contemporary reflections—and, of course, links to related films. He published the entire series between August 2 and September 6, 2024, starting with this first part of the multi-week series that began with these words:

Truth still matters.
And right now in the summer of 2024—even at this 60th anniversary—the truth about the 1964 Freedom Summer matters.

The Spiritual Power of Visual Parables

In the 1970s, Edward began producing deeply moving audio-visual presentations exploring the social issues of the day: war and peace, poverty and the family, race and discrimination. He and Sandra collaborated on multi-media presentations on “Daughters of Eve” and “Children.” His writings on multi-media led to the first of about 16 books, Gadgets, Gimmicks and Grace (Abbey Press, 1976), followed by Television: A Guide for Christians (Abingdon, 1976), Controversial Topics for Youth Groups (Group Books, 1988), Faith and Films (Presbyterian Publishing Corp., 2007) and Jesus Christ: Movie Star (Read the Spirit, 2015).

As a Christian educator, Edward viewed films as modern parables. He often said that if Christ were alive today, he would have been a filmmaker. This idea blossomed into Visual Parables: For Those With Eyes to See and eventually, into Visual Parables: Faith-and-Film Reviews and Study Guides, founded in 1990 and currently produced as part of ReadTheSpirit.com weekly online magazine.

Edward found the spirit of Christ’s teachings in the most unlikely of places: Snoopy’s kisses that ended Lucy’s crab-ins, Edith Bunker’s peacemaking between Archie and son-in-law Mike in All In The Family. He delighted in discussing the theological underpinnings of Cool Hand Luke with director Michael Rhodes, and collaborated with him on Film Clips—a post-9/11 short that was their attempt to help heal the country during a time of great collective pain.

He led thousands of discussions and film reviews, connecting scripture with modern storytelling. For him, Christ’s teachings were an ever-present call to action for peace, reconciliation, and love.

He never stopped reviewing films, traveling to new places, honoring American historical landmarks, or loving his family. His last recommendation was for the animated film The Wild Robot. It reminded him of the beauty
of The Iron Giant.

Helpful Details

Edward was preceded in death by his wife Sandra (Meredith) McNulty; one son, Nevin “Scott” McNulty; his father, Bernard McNulty; his mother, Thelma (White) Holmes; his step-father Rudolph Holmes; and a foster child, Darrell Roths. He is survived by his children, Ellen (Steve) Brownson, Rebecca McNulty (Andrea Ellis), Paul (Candy) McNulty, and Daniel McNulty; grandchildren, Isabella McNulty, Sean (Heather) Brownson, and Angela (Josh) Shetler; and great-grandchildren, Dean and Sasha Brownson, and Alyse, Julie and Austin Shetler; one foster child, Iris Roths; and a foreign exchange student daughter, Elise Reunanen.

A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2025, in Bellbrook, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to one of Edward’s favorite organizations:

Conner and Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook is serving the family. Through the funeral home’s website, the family established a “Tribute Wall” for those wishing to add thoughts, memories or stories.

Care to See More?

It’s only fitting for the creator of Visual Parables that this feature about his life close with a gallery of some photographs the family has assembled for us:

Edward McNulty with students in a reading program during Freedom Summer 1964 in Mississippi.

This tragic headline news on August 12, 1964, terrified everyone involved in Freedom Summer. Edward McNulty and his friend had arrived in the region on August 5 that year. The Student Voice was the newspaper of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and covered civil rights events in Mississippi in 1964. (For more background, Wikipedia has a summary of the three murders.)

Edward (center) and his colleagues kept working throughout that sweltering August in Mississippi.

Ed leading a Faith & Film workshop in 1974. (Note the 16mm projector on the right, a technology that limited the options of movies he could show in such settings.)

Ed had a rich sense of humor as in this family photograph staged in 2006.

Ed and his wife Sandra.

Edward McNulty leading a Faith & Film workshop based on his Visual Parables Journal in 2000.

These covers are from the roots of Ed’s journalistic work in reflecting on science fiction way back in 1954 for the Indiana Sci Fi Association.

In the 1990s, Visual Parables came to readers as ink on newsprint.

For a while, Visual Parables even had glossy full-color covers.

Ed also produced more than a dozen books throughout his life. Clicking on this photo will take you to the Amazon page for his latest of these books, Jesus Christ Movie Star.

Print this Article