In June 2024, I announced that I was returning to parish ministry after having stepped away almost a decade earlier.
As an ordained United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor, I was invited to serve a congregation affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This is possible thanks to the full communion agreement in place between these denominations, which provides recognition of each tradition’s clergy and allows them to serve across denominational lines.
Advent Lutheran
Since June 30, 2024, I have been serving as Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Arlington, Texas. Earlier today that congregation invited their candidate to become their next settled Senior Pastor to lead worship. Following worship this morning, the congregation voted to extend a call to the Rev. Erik Rude to serve as their next settled Senior Pastor, which means my service as interim will conclude on August 31, 2025. All in all, I will serve this congregation for 14 months or a total of 427 days.
In this part-time interim role, I’ve preached and presided at Advent Lutheran Church on Sundays. When I was not at Advent on Sunday it meant I was on vacation.
Other Congregations
On those occasions I worshipped at three other ELCA congregations, one UCC congregation, and one Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (DoC) congregation:
- Central Lutheran Church (ELCA) on August 17, 2025 (learn more about this experience below)
- St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) on July 27, 2025 (see My Visit to St. Paul’s Lutheran in Oklahoma City)
- Cathedral of Hope (UCC) on June 15, 2025 (my home church since 2017)
- First Christian Church (DoC) on May 11, 2025 (see My Visit to First Christian Church in Edmond, Oklahoma)
- Our Lord’s Lutheran (ELCA) on February 23, 2025 (see My Visit to Our Lord’s Lutheran Church)
Central Lutheran
Today I returned to Central Lutheran Church in East Dallas. I have been connected to this congregation since June 2021 when I started my full-time role as CEO of White Rock Center of Hope (Hope). Central was one of 13 founding churches that supported the formation of Hope back in 1988 and continues to be a strong supporter.
Since my first visit in 2022, I’ve joined Central for worship once each year
- 100th Anniversary Celebration on July 24, 2022
- Guest preacher on April 30, 2023
- Guest pastor (preached and presided) on January 4, 2024
- Guest speaker (shared a Hope ministry update) on August 17, 2025
So What?
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a temporary part of the ELCA, worshiping in its congregations nearly every Sunday over the past 14 months (with only two exceptions). These experiences have strengthened my faith and rekindled my hope for the future of the church.