This past week, the Presbyterian Church (USA) meeting in Detroit, approved pastors being able to marry same sex partners in states where same sex marriage is legal. According to Presbyterian polity, it still has to get the approval of the majority of presbyteries (there are 172) before it becomes the law. Judging Facebook and Twitter... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “The Healing Power of Collard Greens”
This is a sermon I preached on Easter evening in 2005. It is the text I will be preaching on this Sunday for the Third Sunday in Easter. Luke 24:13-35 April 10, 2005 Community of Grace Christian Church St. Paul, MN I love good food, and it probably shows. I consider myself lucky to be... 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.
On Monsters, Boston…and Daleks
A Presbyterian Pastor reflects on the British Science fiction series Dr. Who as a modern fairy tale about fighting monsters and then relates that to Jesus: I remember after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 how much I wanted to just march into Afghanistan or Iraq or anywhere really, and just blow things up. I wanted... Continue Reading →
On Holy Friendships
My thoughts these days are drifting towards relationships, or the lack thereof in churches. I've been thinking about this in light of a recent blog post on CivilPolitics.org on the dearth of cross-party friendships. The post linked to a longer article in the Chronicle of Higher Education on the issue. The author, Neil Gross notes... Continue Reading →
Sermon: “On Pastors and Pastures”
A sermon from Good Shepherd Sunday 2006. “On Pastors and Pastures” John 10:11-18, Psalm 23 May 7, 2006 Lake Harriet Christian Church Minneapolis, MN I have to “blame” our Associate Minister, Tammy Rottschaefer for this sermon. For a while she has commented on the problem with parts of the church today in that we don't... Continue Reading →
“A Tale of Four Marys:” A Good Friday Sermon
This is a sermon I gave at an ecumenical service in 2010. “A Tale of Four Marys” John 19:25 Good Friday April 2, 2010 Central Lutheran Church Minneapolis, MN When I was asked to speak on the three Marys, I have to be honest that nothing was immediately coming to mind. What could I... Continue Reading →
Good Friday: Now With Zombies!
It's Holy Week, so that means I'm going to hear a number of pastors use their blog space to talk about how they don't buy atonement. They don't believe that Jesus died for our sins, they don't like using the cross which is considered a symbol of violence, they don't like the focus on blood,... Continue Reading →
You Really Don’t Want a Wild Jesus. Trust Me.
If there's something that I've grown tired of is the whole trend in American Christianity to be "radical." We don't want some meek and mild Jesus; no sir. We want a Jesus who is kicking ass and takin' names.
A Theology of Inclusion, Part One
The church where I serve as Associate Pastor is discerning becoming and Open and Affirming congregation. As we talk about this, I have been grappling with how to view this theologically. I don't consider myself the greatest bible scholar or theologian, but I do think that as Christians we have to give a clear response... Continue Reading →