One year ago today I was ordained to ministry in the United Church of Christ and installed as the CEO of White Rock Center of Hope through a four way covenant (for more on that experience from my experiences as a Member in Discernment to the ordination service see My Ordination and Installation). On the occasion of the first anniversary of my ordination, I decided to reflect on some of what this first year included.
White Rock Center of Hope
I serve as CEO of White Rock Center of Hope – a faith-based non-profit that cultivates hope through basic needs and personalized empowerment. Over the three and a half years I’ve been in this role all of the organization’s core services or the ways we serve our community and make an impact for good have grown dramatically. To be more precise, every service line has doubled in sized (or grown more dramatically) and we’ve also added new services focused on empowerment. Reflecting back on the last year (easy to do since the organization’s fiscal year ended on October 31), year over year growth between fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024 includes:
- Total number of services provided: +98%
- Total unique neighbors served: +19%
- Pounds of food distributed: +69%
- Articles of clothing provided: +11%
- Empowerment participants: +329%
- Total volunteers: +32%
This year also included strategic development as envisioned in the organization’s first ever multi-year strategic plan. Noteworthy accomplishments include
- Adopting new bylaws
- Reimagining the Board
- Launching an Ambassador program
- Updating the organization’s brand
- Creating the Hope Legacy Society
And, it was a year marked be continued growth in the many ways local congregations support Hope. Among those experiences were opportunities to preach, teach, preside, and/or speak at several congregations, including
- Central Lutheran Church
- Eastminster Presbyterian Church
- First Unitarian Church
- First United Lutheran Church
- St. Mark Presbyterian Church
Congregational Ministry
Since March 2022, I’ve been serving as a small group host and facilitator for Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ. Additionally, I served as a curriculum writer and as a small group team leader resourcing other small group leaders until January 2024
I’ve also stayed connected to ministry in the local church setting through some consulting work, and, especially this last year, through a boutique clergy coaching practice. And, I accepted half a dozen invitations to preach over the last year in congregations that do not currently support White Rock Center of Hope.
In June 2024, I returned to interim ministry when I accepted the part-time role of Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church. And, I have preached and presided in this congregation every week since excepting the one weekend I spent in Washington D.C, where I officiated a wedding at the Washington National Cathedral.
Association and Conference Ministry
Over the last year I’ve been active in both the North Texas Association and the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ. In fact, just this past week I was elected to the Conference’s Board of Directors for a three-year term.
Writing
I’ve continued to blog here at So What Faith (est. 2009). In fact, I’m on pace to publish more posts in 2024 than any year since I stepped away from full-time congregational ministry in 2015.
Learning
I’m delighted to current be a Preaching Justice Fellow for the current academic year (to learn more, check out I’m a Preaching Justice Fellow! as well as posts about my experience thus far: Reset Your Rhythm, Visiting the George Floyd Memorial, and A More Spacious Christianity).
So What?
My first year as an ordained United Church of Christ minister has thoroughly ecumenical adventure and I couldn’t imagine it being any other way.
I’m excited to now begin year two and treasure your prayerful support for all that is ahead.
