Over the last few months, I've been sharing updates on my discernment process and steps toward ordination in the United Church of Christ. A Story of Stoles: Discerning What Next (January 2023)Update: My United Church of Christ Ministry Discernment Journey (February 2023) Pligrimage Paper In my most recent discernment post I shared a list of documents I've created or curated, including a document called a "pilgrimage paper." The pilgrimage paper is an exploration of how it is Read More …
Great New Books – March 2023 (#2036)
The best new books I’ve read in the last 30 days are listed below. (5.0) Serving Money, Serving God: Aligning Radical Justice, Christian Practice, and Church Life by Sheryl Johnson (Fortress Press, 2023)(4.5) A Minor Revolution: How Prioritizing Kids Benefits Us All by Adam Benforado (Crown, 2023)(4.5) Honestly: Telling the Truth About the Bible and Ourselves by Mark Wingfield (Fortress Press, 2023)(4.0) Turning Donors Into Partners: Principles for Fundraising You'll Actually Enjoy by Brad Read More …
Lent, License Plates, & Christian Nationalism (#2035)
About this time last year I shared an unusual religious license plate - a cross beside "REP3NT" - in a wide ranging reflection titled "It’s Lent Again." While focusing on my Lenten journey for 2022, the piece also mentioned a number of posts from previous Lenten experiences. Then it happened again. This past Sunday I was on my way to church to worship on the first Sunday in Lent. As I made my final roadway turn before turning into my congregation's parking lot I saw the most unexpected Read More …
Update: My United Church of Christ Ministry Discernment Journey (#2034)
If asked to sum up all of the work I've done in my life with a single word, I'd choose "ministry." Background From discerning a calling to ministry as a teen to earning an undergraduate degree in ministry, I started my journey with clarity. And, then, my horizons expanded and expanded some more. My ministry experience to date has spanned five denominations (and I earned theological degrees from schools affiliated with three additional denominations). To date, I've served nine Read More …
Cathedral of Hope – 6 Years & Counting (#2033)
Six years ago today, I joined Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas. Top 12 As I reflected on the last six years, I re-read all of the many blog posts I've written during this time that mentioned Cathedral of Hope. The Top 12 Posts (in reverse chronological order) follow: A Story of Stoles: Discerning What Next (January 2023)Surviving an Attack & Living a Hope-Filled Recovery (October 2022)The Church of Hope (September 2022) [part of a series called "God is Read More …
Your Dream Ministry Job is Available (#2032)
Have you always wanted work in a church? Have you always worked in a church, but never quite found your way to the ideal position? Today, I learned of a church that is engaged in the search for a new staff person to fill an unusual role: "Director of 'Your Dream Job' in Ministry." Your Dream Ministry Job Yes, dream jobs really do exist. And, in the case of this creatively marketed position, the job seeker has the opportunity to help write their own job description. Job seekers Read More …
Surprise! 3 Days of Winter Arrives in N. Texas (#2031)
I was going about life as usual when unexpected news caught my attention: winter weather might close everything down in a day or two. Then, it appeared. An extended winter weather event had arrived.. My partner led the way. Her employer closed at 1:00 p.m. on Monday. By Tuesday nearly every school district in the greater Dallas - Fort Worth metropolitan area had followed suit along with the majority of employers. On Tuesday the word of the day was thunrdersleet. On Wednesday the term Read More …
Great New Books – February 2023 (#2030)
The best new books I've read in the last 30 days include volumes written this year and last year. From 2023 (5.0) The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schultz (Simon & Schuster, 2023)(4.5) Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times by Otis Moss III (Simon & Schuster, 2023)(3.5) Polished: The Guide to Excellence for the Modern Professional by Tiffany L. Adams (River Grove Books, Read More …
The Median Presbyterian (PCUSA) Congregation (#2029)
The narrative of Mainline Protestant decline is well established. Few people, however, understand how that decline has impacted the typical congregation in any given denomination. PC(USA) Decline The Presbyterian Church (USA) is the denomination I have been associated with longer than any other. In the past, I've shared extensively about the topic of PC(USA) membership decline, including PC(USA) Membership Declines by 62% (April 2022)PC(USA) Membership – 30 Years of Decline Read More …
Ponder This: 10 Recent Remarks (#2028)
Now that Twitter is not what it once was, I've found myself struggling a bit to find my way on that platform. Earlier today I looked back through my recent tweets, and selected 10 insightful quotes worth pondering. This listing includes three books published in 2023, three books published in 2022, three articles, and a sermon. Don’t use black/white language to mean bad/good. Just don’t do it (even though it’s biblical). The racist interpretation is too immediate, too easy to infer. –Steve Read More …