Armchair Theology – Gayle Tabor

Feast of Mary Magdalene

2026/07/22 Gayle 0

Every July 22, the Church remembers Mary Magdalene. In 2016, Pope Francis did something remarkable. He elevated her liturgical memorial to a Feast—the same rank given to the male apostles—and formally recognized what the Church had known from its earliest centuries: Mary Magdalene is apostola apostolorum—the Apostle to the Apostles. That wasn’t creating something new. It was recovering something ancient. Mary Magdalene appears in all four Gospels. That alone should make us pause. She is present at the cross when many others have fled. She watches where Jesus is buried. She returns before dawn to the tomb. And in John’s Gospel, she becomes the first person to encounter the risen Christ. Jesus entrusts her with the first Easter sermon: “Go to my brothers and say The rest of the story

red square with teh words 'Busy' is the new 'fine' in white

Busy with Purpose and Clarity: A Lenten Invitation

2026/02/19 Gayle 0

Lent, at its best, is a reset. Not a vacation. Not an escape. But a reorientation. Forty days of asking what is essential and what is excess. Forty days of noticing what drains and what gives life. Forty days of remembering

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

How to Pray When the World Is Burning Down

2026/01/09 Gayle 0

The world feels like it’s burning down around us – things we have believed were set in stone, immovable, impenetrable, have changed in rapid times. Things like governmental checks and balances, like the existence of safety nets we have come to count on – social programs, foreign aid, the greater good, liberty for ALL, even the pursuit of happiness. WOW! Have things changed in a year – only a year. This morning a friend asked: I know that God understands what comes from our heart, even when it sounds a bit mangled…but I wonder…how do we pray about this? My words that are most heartfelt would be along the lines of “Dear God, please save us from this evil spineless, d***less POS and all of The rest of the story

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