The next 3 months...

What I'll be up to, and come say hi!

Hello wonderful readers,

This month I’ve been spending as much time as possible writing the next book and so I’ve refrained myself from posting here—much as I would have liked to engage conversations around progressive “fundamentalism,” both-sides-ism, and the like. (I plan to at some future point.) The writing is going well, but as is probably the case with every book ever written, never quickly enough.

Methodologically and stylistically, Live Laugh Love is shaping up to look quite similar to Jesus and John Wayne, but one difference I’m sensing is that this one is filled with more surprising twists and turns. Certainly more than I expected when I began the project, but really fun ones!

My challenge over the next few weeks is to keep up the writing, while also giving interviews for the Spanish edition, while also being on the road nearly every week. Speaking of which, here’s a quick update for what’s up next:

This Friday I’ll be at Harvard to speak on Abortion and American public life as part of The Age of Roe: The Past, Present, and Future of Abortion in America. As one of the few historians with an illustrious group of legal scholars, I look forward to adding some historical context to the conversation. (Daniel K. Williams, whose book Defenders of the Unborn is essential reading, will also be on my panel speaking to the historical context.) Other participants include Jane Kamensky, Jill Lepore, Khiara Bridges, Tomiko Brown-Nagin, and a host of other illustious scholars. If you’re in the Boston area, consider attending in person. It will also be livestreamed—register for either at the above link.

On February 8 I’ll be in DC at the Brookings Institution to participate in an event on Understanding the threat of white Christian nationalism to American democracy today, reviewing the findings of a new PRRI/Brookings survey. Other participants include E.J. Dionne, Anthea Butler, Robert P. Jones, and Pete Wehner. (For fans of Pete Wehner, he’s also presenting here in Grand Rapids at today’s January Series!)

On Saturday, Feb 11, I’ll be participating in an online webinar and ongoing conversation with the Faith and Justice network. This event is open only to community members, but I highly recommend this online (and sometimes in-person) community, especially if you are looking for thoughtful conversations around faith and culture and/or if you’re looking for intellectual and spiritual community. It doesn’t cost much to join, and it provides excellent content and fosters genuine relationships.

On Thursday, Feb 16, I’ll be doing an evening event with Beth Allison Barr at Baylor! In addition to our event, there is a conference or Racism in the White Church happening that week—which means that Beth Moore, Jemar Tisby, Greg Garrett, Sean Palmer, and other fabulous folks will also be hanging out together! If you’re in the TX area, definitely worth attending in person! (I participated in last year’s Racism in the White Church conference, and my talk is available here; somewhat inexplicably to me, this talk has drawn more than 300k views on YouTube, so it apparently struck a chord.)

Then on Thursday, Feb 23, I’ll be in Colorado Springs!! That’s right, the belly of the beast. Can’t wait for this one—I’m already getting requests for interviews from local newspapers. If you’re in the CoSprings area, please come say hi! I could use a friendly face or two. This event is graciously hosted by the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and co-sponsored by Holy Heretics, The Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, and RawTools. (I’m not sure if there’s a link to this yet, but it’s 6-7:30pm at the Ent Center for the Arts Chapman Auditorium, free to the public, free parking).

I fly straight from Colorado Springs to Wichita, where I’m giving 4(!) talks from Feb 24-6 at Plymouth Church. The evening of Feb 24 I’ll be speaking on Jesus and John Wayne, on Feb 25 I’ll be speaking on evangelicalism, Christian nationalism, and the state of our democracy, and also on my first book: the history of Christian feminism. Sunday morning I’m also giving a brief talk. Does this seem like a bit too much Kristin? It kind of does to me, but pick one or two or just come and say hello! There’s a reception Friday night and plenty of time to mingle on Saturday.

March 14-15 I’ll be at Miami University (Ohio), March 23 I’ll be at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Winston-Salem NC, March 30-31 at Abilene Christian, April 20-21 at Hamilton College in NY, and April 28-29 at NYC’s Freedom Rising Conference, together with folks like Nadia Bolz-Weber, Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Mark Charles, Kaitlin Curtice, V (formerly Eve Ensler), Melissa Harris-Perry, Obery Hendricks, Robby Jones, and Jacqui Lewis.

So that’s a lot—too much, really. I’m not accepting any more invitations for the spring/summer and hoping to cut back for next fall. I accepted way too many for the next stretch in part because each one is pretty amazing and I love meeting so many wonderful people along the way. One thing I love about traveling is meeting people in real life, especially those I’ve connected with here and on social media. But the best thing might be watching people meet each other—especially people who feel isolated in places like Kansas and Texas and Colorado Springs who discover kindred spirits in their own neighborhood.

Also, if you’re the praying type, keep my husband and kids in mind. I might bring a kid or two along from time to time, but mostly they’ll be fending for themselves.

**Special thanks to my husband who already skimmed this and pointed out a couple wrong dates, which I’ve since corrected.