In her inaugural novel, “Wise Blood,” Flannery O’Connor pictures her protagonist restlessly sitting on a train. “Hazel Motes sat at a forward..
It is a familiar litany: Seminaries are struggling to recruit students, there is an impending minister shortage and pastor burnout in the..
This season’s festive cards that crush and crowd the mails bear witness to the limits, all those insistent boundaries that ever mark..
“When you belong to this church family, the family you belong to is bigger than just this church.” That’s how I start..
Guest commentary by Will Berger I've spent the better part of my 25 years in Nashville being a preacher/musician and a musician/preacher...
“From dust you were formed and to dust you will return” It was Ash Wednesday, and the crowd was small since it..
Dear Mary Eliza and Teddy, You know that mommy is a pastor and you have seen me in my robe. Especially you,..
Supply preacher: Have robe, will travel. That is, until the robe doesn’t zip. Our first child was on the way and we..
The first Geneva robes, with their billowy sleeves and pleats, were stitched together with men in mind. These days their construction makes..
In January 1828, a bunch of men sitting in a palace in Mexico City signed the “Treaty of Limits,” a document that..
I recently watched a short, six-minute film by Louis Schwartzberg called “Gratitude” (you can find it on YouTube). This is a visual..
A wave of death has hit our congregation recently. We said goodbye to several long time church members over the course of..
It’s easy for me to “remember back” to the PC(USA)’s decisions to ordain gay ministers and allow for the officiating of same-gender..
Guest Outpost blog by Alina Kanaski I love Pittsburgh. I went to seminary in Pittsburgh. I rode out being call-ready in..
Guest commentary by Harry Heintz I don’t know just how I found the writings of Eugene Peterson. Once I did, it..
After hearing Jezebel expound on her state policy of murdering protesters of her injustices, Elijah sat down under a solitary broom tree and..
After nearly seven years of being a pastor, I thought I had experienced or endured most of the “firsts” of ministry. I..
Guest commentary by Pam McVety My family survived another hurricane — but not just any hurricane. Michael was a monster —the strongest..
Guest commentary by Alina Kanaski “Have you found a church yet?” As a graduated, unemployed call-seeker, I hear this question several times..
I was geared up for a battle. I had just announced to the congregation that my spouse and I were expecting our..
Why do we need Sabbath? I was given a review copy of “Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World” by..
Guest commentary by Lara Hauser I was recently invited to give the charge to the congregation at the installation of a dear..
This week we asked our bloggers to reflect on their ordinations. Here are their blogs. What was the most difficult decision I ever..
This week we asked our bloggers to reflect on their ordinations. Here are their blogs. I can’t really remember my ordination vows. Not..
This week we asked our bloggers to reflect on their ordinations. Here are their blogs. I’ve wanted to be a pastor since..
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