In 2009, Robert Welsh, then President of the Council on Christian Unity, posed a bold question to the Disciples at General Assembly:
“What part of ‘all’ do we not understand?”

His challenge was not just rhetorical—it invited us to confront our own patterns of exclusion and self-centeredness. That same year, we claimed our identity as:

“Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. We welcome all to the table as the Lord has welcomed us.”

Not long after, the phrase “All means all”—or, as we say in the South, “All means y’all”—began to appear on bumper stickers and T-shirts, serving as a public, persistent reminder of our commitment to radical inclusion.

Group Ruling for Tax-Exempt Status may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but since we’ve just wrapped up a season of asking congregations to complete their ALEX Report, it seems like the perfect time to talk about why these reports matter.

Yes, I know—I’m putting the cart before the horse a bit. Still, a congregation’s federal tax-exempt status—its 501(c)(3) standing—is a big deal. Just to clarify, we’re talking about federal exempt status here, which is often the first step toward receiving state tax exemption as well.

If you’re not familiar, the ALEX Report is the annual report congregations submit to the denomination to confirm their ongoing participation and status. It’s our way of saying:

“We’re still here, and we’re still part of the family.”

What if your post-Easter season could be the beginning of a truly sustainable self-care practice—rooted in faith and community?

The Christian Church in the Southwest Region invites you to a seven-week reading group based on Chanequa Walker-Barnes’s transformative book, Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves.

All four gospels tell the story we remember on Palm Sunday (Mt. 21:1-9; Mk. 11:1-10; Lk. 19:29-38; Jn. 12:12-15). Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, which commemorates Jesus sharing the Passover and crafting the Lord’s Supper, his prayer in Gethsemane, the arrest, trials, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

What Are We Really Holding On To?
As Holy Week draws near, we’re invited to reflect not only on the story of Christ’s passion but also on the patterns we’ve built around it. In this pastoral reflection, Regional Minister Andy Mangum explores the difference between honoring tradition and being held captive by traditionalism. How do we know when a sacred rhythm is giving life—or when it’s simply repeating itself without meaning? What, in faith, do we carry forward—and why?