So What Faith

Greg Smith

Being Clergy, Being Church in 2026 (#2292)

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At a vigil for Renee Macklin Good – who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis – New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Rob Hirschfeld spoke frankly about the real dangers associated with ministry in America. He remarked that clergy should be prepared for “a new era of martyrdom.”

And in a now viral statement he went on to say, “I’ve asked them to get their affairs in order to make sure they have their wills written,” he said, “because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”

Get Your Affairs in Order

Earlier today I worshipped in my home congregation – Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas – for the first time this year.

On Friday, Cathedral’s Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas posted on social media that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was staging an operation on a property adjacent to the church. And, he reassured parishioners that the congregation would not consent to ICE doing so on church grounds.

Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas Preaching at 10:00am service on January 18, 2026 (photo by Greg Smith)

This morning, during the announcements at the beginning of the service, he related that he had echoed Bishop Hirschfield’s invitation by inviting all of Cathedral’s clergy to ensure they had their affairs in order.

Cathedral Choir at 10:00am service on January 18, 2026 (photo by Greg Smith)

Taking Action

Aware that we are living in a rapidly changing environment, I updated my will in December 2025. My earthly affairs are in order.

Regardless of what comes in the days, weeks, and months ahead, I remain committed to living out my ordination vows, including to “regard all people with equal love and concern and undertake to minister impartially to the needs of all.”

Hope Volunteers on January 17, 2026 (photo by Shelby Patterson)

In these challenging times, I am deeply encouraged by the ways the church continues to show up. Just yesterday, a record-breaking group of more than 100 volunteers gathered at the White Rock Center of Hope to support Hope’s bi-monthly drive-through food distribution. These volunteers – most of them members of Dallas-area churches – give generously of their time, regardless of the weather. Many have also played a key role in helping Hope explore new ways to expand food access, including the launch of Hope’s first-ever mobile food distributions in recent weeks.

To learn more about my experience as CEO of White Rock Center of Hope since 2021

To learn more about my experience as a member of Cathedral of Hope since 2017