A month ago Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University posted a job that has received more attention than any I've encountered this year. The job title is novel. My own research yielded 0 exact matches to the job of Ecclesial Innovator and even lacked any near matches. Broader Lived Context In my attempts to process this possibility, I was reminded of a few other occasions when I was called upon to expand my thinking about ministry opportunities, including the times Read More …
Leadership
My Ordination (and Installation) #2087
Yesterday, 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. My Journey Toward Ordination I received a call to vocational ministry as a teenager and have sought to live that out ever since. That quest started with earning an undergraduate degree in ministry and then a seminary degree (M. Div.). And, it has continued in the 22 years since finishing those foundational theological studies. I've Read More …
It’s Happening & You’re Invited: Ordination Update #14 (#2084)
I'm pleased to share that I'll be ordained to ministry in the United Church of Christ at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023! If you are in or near the Dallas area, you are invited to attend the service, which will be held at Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ. Please help spread the word. About the Process If you are familiar with my story at all you likely know that I started in ministry in a very traditional manner by completing academic preparation (an undergraduate Read More …
My Ministry in the United Church of Christ – Ordination Update #12 (#2070)
In this series on my journey to ordination in the United Church of Christ, I’ve shared some of my experiences as a Member in Discernment. In the last update, I shared that I submitted the final item requested from my by the North Texas Association Committee on Ministry: an ordination paper. The paper consists of three sections: My Theology (an exploration of what I believe)My Understanding of the History and Polity of the United Church of ChristMy Ministry in the United Church of Christ Read More …
Starting Year 3 at White Rock Center of Hope (#2062)
Two years ago today I started my current role: Executive Director of White Rock Center of Hope (WRCH) in East Dallas, Texas. On the occasion of starting year three, I'm looking back at the first two years and then looking ahead. Duration in Context This is just the second time in my life I've stayed in the same full-time role for longer than two full years. The first was when I served First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Naples, Florida in the 2000s. I have, however, managed to 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 …
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 …
More Than An English Professor (#1956)
Last night I attended a Dallas Christian College homecoming event that included a moving presentation recognizing Dr. Cara Snyder's impact. For the last fifty years, she has served as English professor. Dr. Snyder taught nearly every student who has graduated from the school from the 1970s through the 2010s, and the vast majority of students in the institution's seventy-one year history. Based on the formal presentation, personal conversations with alums, and my own experience it is Read More …
My Ministry Journey: Another BIG Step (#1933)
I'm excited to share the news that I've accepted a new ministry position. On June 21, 2021, I'll become the next Executive Director of the White Rock Center of Hope. This big next step is possible because of so many other steps of varying sizes I've already taken. The following account is an attempt to provide a high level overview of my preparation for this step. My approach is primarily chronological utilizing a series of phases or acts. While give thanks for the hundreds of Read More …
Dear HSU Trustees (#1854)
Dear Hardin-Simmons University Trustees, The more I learn, the more disappointed I am in your decision to close Logsdon Seminary. Rather than writing a detailed critique of the process utilized to reach the decision, the timing and content of the initial communications to share the decision with key stakeholders and the general public, or the ongoing communications and conversations that have transpired since the decision was made public, I'll focus on why Logsdon mattered to me. I am Read More …