Is First Christian a progressive congregation? The answer is complex.
Are We A Progressive Church?
Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
Well, the Special General Conference for the United Methodist Church is done. For those of us who are LGBTQ and allies, the result was shocking and hurtful.
Let Africa Be Africa
Recently, there was a report on National Public Radio about how China is coming into Africa and making deals in various nations. The story focused on Chinese business ventures in Zambia and Tanzania, but widens it's scope to the entire continent which will be come a market of 3 billion by the end of the... Continue Reading →
The Anger You Don’t Understand
One of the bloggers that I love to read is Rod Dreher. While we share some similarities politically, we are on different sides of the same-sex marriage issue. Rod has written a number of posts on what he sees as the coming troubles facing social conservatives as the opinion on gay marriage changes. I decided... Continue Reading →
By the Time I Get to Arizona
About a week ago, I wrote a post on same-sex marriage and how those of us who support it should act towards those that oppose it. Can we be good winners to the losers? Some of the response to that post got me thinking (and agonizing) over this issue. In two states, Kansas and Arizona,... Continue Reading →
Building a Bridge with Beer
A few weeks ago, I sat down for a beer with a fellow pastor. Actually, I had hard cider- he had the beer. The pastor is theologically conservative and sees me- a gay pastor with an orthodox theology as a bit of an enigma. We had a very good discussion talking about church and life... Continue Reading →
These Aren’t the Evangelicals You’re Looking For
A few years ago, I was invited by a Lutheran friend of mine to take part in a group of church planters. I knew these folk came from an evangelical background and my "shields" went up. Would these people accept me? Did I have to go into the closet here? After a while, the woman... Continue Reading →
Learning to Live in the Tension
I haven't really blogged about what's happening in the Presbyterian Church (USA) when it comes to changes in its ordination standards for a simple reason: I get paid by them. I know people who are more conservative and opposed the change and liberals who supported it and I haven't really wanted to offend folks or... Continue Reading →
Repost: I Miss the Old Mel White
The positive Mel White of old the "SpongeBob Squarepants of the gay community" is long gone. What's left is a man that's pretty pissed off at the church and when I say church, I mean the whole church.
How Do You Solve a Problem Like A Bigot?
It was about 15 years ago that I saw firsthand how love of enemy and justice for the oppressed clashed with each other. I was in seminary at the time and one Sunday afternoon, I went to a discussion held at a local Lutheran church. The then-Bishop of the St. Paul Area Synod of the... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 