Yesterday was my birthday. It was the first birthday in many years that included multiple people guessing or asserting/assuming my age. I'll save you that effort: I'm now 46 years of age. Midlife The stage of life called midlife is generally understood to be from age 40 to 60. So, mathematically, it appears I'm now well into this phase. As I reflect on my midlife experience so far, it has been a time of clarity rather than crisis. Last night on several social media platforms I Read More …
discernment
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 …
The Church of Renewal (#2004)
A few months after I completed my first role as an Interim Senior Pastor in a United Church of Christ congregation (see The Church of New Beginnings), I took a step of faith and started another. My story of renewal at Fort Myers Congregational United Church of Christ began when I spoke more bluntly in an interview than I ever had in my life. I explained to the search team what I had learned of the congregation's significant numeric decline and the many challenges before them, and assured Read More …
The Church of New Beginnings (#2003)
In the spring of 2013, I was content. At the time I was serving Naples United Church of Christ in a part-time role overseeing adult discipleship (see The Church of Unsticking for more about that experience) while serving full-time at Hodges University. When I received an unexpected call from someone representing United Church of Marco Island asking if I would consider becoming their Interim Senior Pastor my initial reaction was to decline. Life was good and I was not seeking new or Read More …
Search for a Church 2.0 – Discernment (#1786)
10 days ago I shared that our 11 month long search for a church had reached its final stage. More specifically, after visiting 15 congregations we narrowed our options down to two finalists. Discernment We invested considerable time and energy in getting to know the two remaining congregations. This included attending at least six services of worship in each community of faith, and participating in classes, concerts, mission efforts, and social activities. During the last week, we Read More …
Search for a Church 2.0 – The Finalists (#1783)
After growing our list of churches to visit to 15 and attending 37 services of worship with these congregations over the last 11 months, we have narrowed the list to two finalists. So What? With respect for the remaining congregations, I've decided against sharing any details that would make them easily identifiable to my readers. As a result I've used an image of a bridge that connects downtown Forth Worth with the cultural district. The two congregations remaining are 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 …
Serving God or Serving the Church? (#0239)
Donald Miller is the author of several books including A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing my Life (2009) and Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality (2003). To connect with him, read his blog, like him on Facebook, or follow him on Twitter. This past week, he posted, "Is Church Life Stifling Your Creativity?," which concludes with these words: Here’s the point of this blog post: There is a difference between what “the church” Read More …