Last week, Sharon Watkins, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) released a pastoral letter regarding the denomination's stance on homosexuality. It was sent to all churches in the denomination and late last week, a letter came to the church where I serve as Associate Pastor. You can read the... Continue Reading →
All in the Family…Or Not
Growing up in the African American church, I'm used to hearing people in a congregation being referred as Brother or Sister So and So. I remember the women who sit in the front of the church usually in dressed in white and they have always been called "The Mothers Board." I've been used to hearing... Continue Reading →
Shower the People
The pastor of a Disciples of Christ congregation in Colorado shows another way to help a church turnaround from decline: simply love the people: When I came to Mountair I had a close friend tell me to do nothing but love people for a year. I didn’t like that advice much. I saw so many... Continue Reading →
What Does It Mean to Be Prophetic, Revisited
Alan Bevere again picks up the the theme of being prophetic in a post today: I have spent some time this week in the Old Testament prophetic books. I do not find it surprising that most prophets are not accepted in their own time. Their cutting words of truth at best fall on stopped ears.... Continue Reading →
“Being There” (Version Two)
I will let you in on a little secret. This is actually the second version of the sermon I preached on Pentecost. I had written one sermon and it just didn't work for the situation. So, with about 40 minutes to spare before the service, I made some major edits. So, here is the second... Continue Reading →
Constitutional Amendments and the Church
This fall, Minnesotans will go to the polls to vote on two constitutional amendments. The first one would ban same-sex marriage and the second one would require photo ids before a person could vote.Now I have my own opinions on the amendments and I'm not shy about sharing them (I'm strongly against the first and... Continue Reading →
Constitutional Amendments and the Church
This fall, Minnesotans will go to the polls to vote on two constitutional amendments. The first one would ban same-sex marriage and the second one would require photo ids before a person could vote. Now I have my own opinions on the amendments and I'm not shy about sharing them (I'm strongly against the first... Continue Reading →
We Can’t Be Friends
It was about 20 years ago, that I attended a large Baptist church in Washington, DC. The church was an odd mix, or at least it would be odd today. Evangelicals and liberals were somehow able to worship together, along side a healthy dose of members from Latin America and Asia.The church decided at some... Continue Reading →
Repost: In the Middle
The following post is from April of 2008. In light of the recent goings on at the United Methodist General Conference, I thought this might be a good post to share again. I've been a mainline Protestant for about 16 years. I grew up in the evangelical and black churches and found the mainline churches... Continue Reading →
Repost: In the Middle
The following post is from April of 2008. In light of the recent goings on at the United Methodist General Conference, I thought this might be a good post to share again.I've been a mainline Protestant for about 16 years. I grew up in the evangelical and black churches and found the mainline churches a... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 