I used to be a pastor, a youth pastor to be exact, but I quickly came to find that church wasn’t for me. The churches I attended felt more like country clubs for the elite, where we learned how to appear moral and nice, it was the message of, “Be everything but who you are.” I was tired of pretending. I was tired of lying. I was tired of feeling forced to put on a mask every Sunday morning. I... Read more
I don’t preach often these days, but it’s an honor when I get the opportunity. Here’s my sermon from First UMC Burlington yesterday, where I claim that religious decline is not a problem to be solved, but an opportunity to be had. The Spirit is calling us again in to the surprising work of God. Enjoy! Read more
Much has been written recently about the controlling leadership clamp-down at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, revolving around a famous Non-Compete contract, and the numerous resulting resignations and firings. One resignation that impacted me as an interested observer was that of Zach Bolen, worship pastor and lead singer of the Mars Hill Music band Citizens. I’ve loved Zach’s music, story, and spirit for a while now, and when a source confirmed that Zach simply lost faith in Mark Driscoll and... Read more
Because the joy of the Lord isn't a defeater, a stifler, a cover, a Jesus-juke. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Read more
Pentecost nearly destroyed me. The son of Pentecostal parent ministers who indulged in the unsafe and the extreme, always dancing on the cliff’s edge, renaming constant stress and desperation “walking by faith” while languishing in unhealth – my childhood might have been the end of me. But I survived that Pentecost. And now, 35 years old, 10 solid years of grown-up church ministry behind me, including a church plant that ended painfully, surviving still and trying to sustain – my... Read more
“If you act according to a belief, that is the same thing as having the belief.” – Margaret Atwood (Toby, quoting Adam One, in MaddAddam) “We read to know we’re not alone.” – William Nicholson, Shadowlands *** Before you begin reading, you should know the following: I will not be discussing the Hunger Games series or the Divergent series. I haven’t read or seen any of the books or movies. I will be sharing some thoughts about Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam... Read more
I am about as capable of changing another human being’s mind as I am capable of changing the direction of the wind. I just don’t have that fight in me anymore. Arguments have never helped me see Jesus. I’ve been wrestling with this as I’ve moved away from seeing life as a series of problems and solutions, as Dorothy Sayers discusses in her theologically rich book, The Mind of the Maker. As a woman, I am trying to take this... Read more
I’ve started many posts on my blog with a similar phrase: “there was an interesting debate going on in evangelical social media this week.” But lately, this sentiment comes off as trite. It feels like every day we’ve got multiple Twitter fights going among evangelical groups: progressives calling folks out for being abusive, conservatives writing on false prophets, people being called heretics over pronoun usage, others confronted over misuse of scripture. Frankly, it’s hard to keep it all straight and... Read more
Ordination: A ritual of the church as a discerning body to recognize, endorse and empower one for the service of Christian ministry. It is distinct because the one being ordained is touched, the hands of the elders are laid upon them, bestowing faith, love and spirit. It is a very intimate moment – but is it selling out to a denomination? Is it conforming to a narrow view of church, rooted in one vein of an entire body of believers?... Read more
I find it hard to carry the weight of my own pain, let alone the weight of another. I have found that the grief we carry is sometimes so heavy, so disorienting, even – sometimes – so embarrassing (how could I let this happen me?) that it is hard to share that weight or let it out. The weight of grief is compounded by the inability that we all experience of isolation and being unable to see beyond it. Grief... Read more
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