Author Archives: wallwritings

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About wallwritings

From 1972 through 1999, James M. Wall was editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine, based in Chicago, lllinois. He was a Contributing Editor of the Century from 1999 until July, 2017. He has written this blog, wall writings.me, since it was launched April 27, 2008. If you would like to receive Wall Writings alerts when new postings are added to this site, send a note, saying, Please Add Me, to jameswall8@gmail.com Biography: Journalism was Jim's undergraduate college major at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. He has earned two MA degrees, one from Emory, and one from the University of Chicago, both in religion. He is an ordained United Methodist clergy person. He served for two years in the US Air Force, and three additional years in the USAF reserve. While serving on active duty with the Alaskan Command, he reached the rank of first lieutenant. He has worked as a sports writer for both the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, was editor of the United Methodist magazine, Christian Advocate for ten years, and editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine for 27 years. James M Wall died March 22, 2021 at age 92. His family appreciates all of his readers, even those who may have disagreed with his well-informed writings.

Freeman To Goldstone to Sherrod: An 18-Month Obama Nightmare

by James M. Wall Richard Goldstone, Chas Freeman, Shirley Sherrod. If you figure ‘Shirley” as a nickname for a first baseman, “Freeman to Goldstone to Sherrod” could be a modern day version of the celebrated double play Chicago Cubs’ combination … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics, Religion and politics, The Human Condition | 2 Comments

Who “Won” the PCUSA Assembly? The Answer May Surprise You

by James M. Wall (See Updated Comment from PCUSA Commissioner Pete Bloss at end of Comments.) Who “won” the Minneapolis Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly? To answer that question, we first need to ask, who did not win? The religious … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Religious Faith | 16 Comments

This is No Longer Your Daddy’s Presbyterian Church (USA)

by James M. Wall When commissioners to the 219th Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly left Minneapolis, they departed from a GA that achieved amazing, surprising, and unexpected results. Reports on the Assembly in the secular media were formulaic, shaped by … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Middle East Politics, Religious Faith | 6 Comments

Post Columnist Milbank Calls Obama-Bibi Meeting A “Surrender”

by James M. Wall Barack Obama swept into the White House, thanks, in part, to his political and oratorial skills. He should have learned during his campaign for the US Senate that what he says about race relations at a … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics | 8 Comments

219th Presbyterian Assembly Faces Its Moment of Truth

by James M. Wall Five Updates Below; Presbyterian General Assembly delegates are in Minneapolis this week for their national gathering–held every two years–discussing, praying, arguing, and finally voting, on a wide variety of issues that will determine how the heirs … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Politics in Religion | 9 Comments

Israeli “Agents” Infiltrate Presbyterian General Assembly

by James M. Wall Four professors–two from Vanderbilt, one from Auburn Theological Seminary, and one from Syracuse University–have burst on the national scene as strong opponents of a Middle East Study Commission resolution which will be presented to the Presbyterian … Continue reading

Posted in Politics in Religion | 23 Comments

Israel Creates Facts to Shape Flotilla Campaign Media Coverage

by James M. Wall Correct picture captions below. Israel’s government continues to believe it can win the Flotilla Campaign by shaping news coverage of its next attack on non violent humanitarian ships. Two flotillas are ready to sail from Lebanon … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics | 3 Comments

Will Presbyterians Be Duped by Anti-BDS Hasbara Warriors?

by James M. Wall Before delegates to the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church meet in Minneapolis, July 3-10, they must ask themselves: Will we be duped by Israel’s Anti-BDS Hasbara Warriors or do we listen to our Presbyterian … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics | 10 Comments

Obama Backs Israeli “Kangaroo Court” Search For Justice at Sea

by James M. Wall President Obama has endorsed Israel’s decision to investigate its own navy’s May 31 attack on the Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara. The Associated Press reports “The White House has backed Israel’s internal investigation, calling it ‘an important … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics | 3 Comments

Liberal PEPs Trash Helen Thomas While Ignoring Flotilla Deaths

by James M. Wall A Lebanese-American journalist, a few months shy of her 90th birthday, nearing the end of a distinguished journalism career, makes a few irrational comments during a Jewish Heritage Week event at the White House. She was … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East | 8 Comments