Betsy Shirley is the editor in chief of Sojourners. Her writing and multimedia work has earned awards from the Religion News Association, Associated Church Press, and Evangelical Press Association. She lives in Washington, D.C.
Betsy began working at Sojourners in 2015. Before being named editor-in-chief, Betsy served most recently as editor of sojo.net and has held editorial positions for both Sojourners’ print and online teams. She served as an editorial assistant from 2010-2011 as part of the Sojourners Fellowship Program.
Betsy earned a B.A. in English and creative writing from Butler University and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. She is a past president and current board member of the Religion News Association; she additionally serves on the board of the Religion News Foundation.
Posts By This Author
The Harry Potter Prayer
Ingus Kruklitis / Shutterstock.com
So as I watched the final Hogwarts Express depart from Platform 9¾ in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II this past weekend (slightly teary-eyed, I confess), I started to wonder: What might it sound like to pray in the language of Harry Potter -- language that clearly resonates with folks around the world? Would it be cheesy? Probably. Profane? Perhaps. But I figured the God who relied on earthly parables about wineskins and fig trees to explain the Kingdom would understand.
Six Questions for Inez Killingsworth
Bio: Founded Empowering and Strengthing Ohio's People (ESOP) to stop predatory lending and home foreclosures. Website: www.esop-cleveland.org.
Facebook, Freedom Riders, and Other Lessons in Nonviolent Activism
Osama, Obama, and Twitter
Sister Act
Benedictine women in Wisconsin are practicing new (and ancient) ways to save the earth, starting with the home front.
Extended Interview with Enuma Okoro
Enuma Okoro grew up in four countries, including Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, and describes her religious education as "doses of Roman Catholicism washed down with long gulps of multiflav
'Have You Tried Washing Their Feet?'
Indiana Immigration: Hoosier Neighbor?
Uncommon Worship
7 Essential Tips for Fitting in With the Christian Literary Underground Scene Near You!
While perusing everything from Amish fiction to Zondervan's latest publications at the Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing this past April, I discovered what we here at Sojourners affectionately call the "Christian Literary Underground" -- a small group of literary magazines and independent book publishers that have "staked a cl
Climate Refugees: A Cordial Introduction
[Editor's Note: On October 10 (10.10.10), 350.org is coordinating 2700 events in 150 countries to address the concerns of climate change together as a planet.
