Politics and Society – Gayle Tabor

When Did Execution Become Entertainment?

2026/10/09 Gayle 0

Yesterday evening, just as I was preparing to begin worship with SALT, I saw a breaking news alert that stopped me cold. The Pentagon reportedly plans to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter by firing squad. My first response was horror! And as I pondered it, my mind went to the cross. We Christians know something about public executions. Crucifixion wasn’t simply a means of killing someone. It was the Roman state’s way of making a spectacle of death, displaying its power, humiliating the condemned, and warning everyone watching what happens when you challenge authority. BE CEAR – I’m certainly NOT equating the Fort Hood shooter with Jesus. But I am asking us to consider what happens when the state turns killing into The rest of the story

Testosterone, military, Gender Affirming – oh my!

2026/10/01 Gayle 0

A friend posted something on Facebook this morning that sent me down a rabbit hole. They began by admitting that a lot of the conversations around gender can get complicated pretty quickly. Fair enough. But then they asked a wonderfully simple question: If the military tests a man, decides his testosterone is too low, and gives him testosterone so that his body more closely conforms to what we expect of a male body, isn’t that gender-affirming care? Well, that’s an interesting question. Because the Pentagon is moving forward with testosterone-deficiency screening for many male service members. And medically speaking, diagnosing and treating an actual hormone deficiency isn’t some bizarre new idea. There can be perfectly legitimate medical reasons to test testosterone and, when appropriate, treat The rest of the story

What Is Silence Costing? And Is It Faithful?

2026/02/07 Gayle 0

Yesterday I found myself in a conversation that has been echoing in my heart ever since. A friend—someone who doesn’t attend my church—reached out with a question that was honest, curious, and a little heavy. They wrote: “Hi Gayle, Since you are a Pastor, I know you speak out against what’s going on in DC. My question is why aren’t more pastors speaking out? Are they afraid of offending members, do they sign some kind of contract to not to get involved, politics? I’d love to hear your opinion. Thanks.” It’s not the first time I’ve been asked some version of this, but it felt especially urgent this time. People are paying attention. And they’re noticing not just who is speaking—but who isn’t. My honest The rest of the story

Where Are You Willing to Show Up over protesters

The 3.5% Rule, the Church, and the Cost of Showing Up

2026/02/03 Gayle 0

This post has been forming for a while now – shaped by a conversation last night, some lingering research, and a post I read from the Clergy Coaching Network (CCNet)that read earlier this week I haven’t been able to shake. The conversation was about the 3.5% rule – the idea that when roughly 3.5% of a population engages in sustained, visible action, meaningful change becomes not just possible, but likely. It’s something I had read before maybe even talked about on my socials – The research is often framed around political movements. But the more I sit with it, the more convinced I am that this isn’t just about politics. It’s about societal change.And maybe—quietly, uncomfortably—it’s about the church. What keeps catching my attention is The rest of the story