Voices

Reflections on a pastoral epiphany

Yesterday I went on a pastoral visit to two of my longest tenured church members, a couple who   joined the church in..

Millennial Goldilocks and the perfect church

That neighborhood church you visited that just had too many people your grandparents’ age—I know they were overly eager to meet you...

Vision is as vision does

Shortly after the last presidential election in 2012, I asked some friends if they could remember the campaign slogans for the two..

A pioneer or a settler?

I recently read an article about pioneers and settlers in a church setting. There are those who come looking for a good,..

To fast or not to fast?

Lent is a season in which some Christian traditions (including many of my Presbyterian brothers and sisters) practice fasting.  We "give up"..

The North American Symposium on John Knox to take place in Montreat

  Montreat, N.C. – Knox. Knox. Who’s there?  Tutor, priest, bodyguard, rebel, Protestant minister, galley slave, exile, a leader of the Protestant..

All that stuff

I loved my seminary experience.  My wife and I both studied at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena at the same time (she..

5 things I wish I’d learned in seminary

This month, we asked our bloggers to name a few things that they wish they had learned in seminary.  Visit the Outlook Outpost..

What I wished I had learned in seminary…

This month, we asked our bloggers to name a few things that they wish they had learned in seminary.  Visit the Outlook Outpost..

Learning to become a spiritual listener through presence—not books

This month, we asked our bloggers to name a few things that they wish they had learned in seminary.  Visit the Outlook Outpost..

Do you favor the legalization of marijuana?

SOURCE: 2013 AMERICAN VALUES SURVEY, PUBLIC RELIGION RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

The flip side—5 things I wish I’d learned in seminary

Lest anyone should think me ungrateful, yesterday I wrote a list of things I was glad to learn in seminary.  You can..

A valentine to my seminary—5 things I’m grateful to have learned

Pastors and church members are quick to enumerate the ways that seminaries fall short in preparing candidates for ministry.  Before I participate..

Five things that I wish I’d learned in seminary

In seminary, I had terrific classes.  Old and New Testament, Church History, Theology, Pastoral Care, Hebrew, Greek and some handy German. Oh,..

What I wish I had learned in seminary

This week, we asked our bloggers to name a few things that they wish they had learned in seminary.  Visit the Outlook..

Where do I belong?

This week, we asked our bloggers to name a few things that they wish they had learned in seminary.  Visit the Outlook..

“I’m not THAT old…I’m just THAT blessed!”

We install and ordain elders on the Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus.  It is an opportunity to highlight how serving..

Creating communities between younger adults and older congregations

Loss of meaning: Millenials’ greatest fear

I, like many millenials, grew up with the understanding that one day I’ll make it past our parent’s income.  Or at the..