In all of my many years of visiting faith communities I've yet to encounter one that proudly proclaimed its church campus was designed for use for an hour or two on Sunday morning and designed to go unused the rest of the week. I have, however, encountered plenty of churches that use their sanctuaries and other worship spaces only a few hours a week and/or have entire wings or buildings that are unused or used less frequently than once a week. For Members Only For some Read More …
Two New UCC Worship Experiences (#1729)
I'm accustomed to visiting a lot of churches. In a 24 month period ending in November 2017, I was blessed to worship with more than 40 different communities of faith in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Over the next four months, however, I only managed to worship in one while serving as that congregation's visiting minister. Choosing Where To Worship The last three congregations I served were all affiliated with the United Church of Christ. With these positive Read More …
Book Recommendations – April 2018 (#1728)
During the first quarter of 2018 I read a few dozen books published in the last fifty years. For the sake of this post, I've limited my recommendations to recently published works (books published since November 2017). (5+) Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police and Punish the Poor by Virginia Eubanks (St. Martin's Press, 2018) (5.0) The CEO Next Door: The 4 Behaviors that Transform Ordinary People into World-Class Leaders by Elena L. Read More …
My Last Day at WFPC (#1727)
Today, I concluded four months of service as visiting minister at West Fork Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Grand Prairie, Texas. Unique Experience This opportunity was unique for me in several ways, including starting as a surprise first role that was neither permanent nor interim shortest duration in a parish based role smallest congregation I've served first congregation I've served that is located in an industrial district first time to preach 15 Sundays in a row in the Read More …
American Well-Being is Declining (#1726)
Overall, the world has been becoming a better place for quite some time (for an in-depth consideration I encourage you to read Steven Pinker's latest book: Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress). As someone who has always lived in America, however, I'm troubled by the decline in well-being that happened in the United States in 2017. Troublesome Year According to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, 2017 was a bad year. In fact, it was Read More …
Now Open! (#1725)
Last summer, I started a new role as the first ever Director of Social Enterprise at the Wesley Mission Center in Mansfield, Texas. Over the last seven months I've helped this young (est. 2013) , community oriented, justice focused, faith-based non-profit scale its largest funding source and flagship social enterprise: a Thrift Store and Boutique. Learning For many years before the Wesley Mission Center became its own separately incorporated 501(c)3, it was the Community Outreach Read More …
Ministry Opportunities: Search or Surprise? (#1724)
I had a very positive seminary experience, and graduated well prepared for pastoral ministry within a congregational context. When I reached my final semester of my M.Div. program I began to seek my first pastoral position. The search process went very much like I expected it would, and I secured a role as Associate Pastor. I managed to navigate similar discernment processes to secure positions in congregations affiliated with multiple mainline denominations for both permanent Read More …
Take Another Look (#1723)
This evening while watching the Olympics I encountered the Dunkin Donuts commercial, "The Usuals," which features several regular customers ordering "the usual." I realize that having the usual beverage at your favorite coffee place or usual lunch at the restaurant you frequent regularly is common behavior. So is driving the same route to reach your workplace each day and sitting in the same pew (or chair) for worship each weekend. Something Else I'm not against enjoying the usual elements of Read More …
Waiting (#1722)
Some people are good at waiting. I have never claimed to be among them. I have many gifts. Patience is something I'm glad many consider a virtue, but not something others use to describe me. Waiting At the start of 2018 my wife and I moved into our new home. One day later we expected to receive the delivery of a refrigerator. We purchased a new fridge because our old fridge would not fit in the space in our new home. Anything that could go wrong with this experience Read More …
Stuck in the Past? (#1721)
Boston Logan aka General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport or BOS is "the largest airport in the New England region and 17th-busiest airport in the United States." It is also home to the bank of pay phones shown at right. Pay Phones I traveled to the airport with colleagues, and arrived at my gate well before it was time to board the plane. When I sat down I immediately noticed the pay phones, and had to take a picture. I positioned myself in a Read More …