Four months ago, as Lent began, we talked in church about how the liturgical seasons aren’t just there to give us a reason to change the paraments and church hangings; they are a ritualized reminder of how life moves in seasons. Lent, which we are accustomed to observing in February and March for 40 days,… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Blessings
“You really shouldn’t ask for too much. God loves meekness.” “I know it seems hard, but Jesus said the poor are blessed so you should be grateful you’re poor.” “It may be hard here, but your reward will be great in heaven.” I hear things like this often, usually with bitter sarcasm or spat out… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: The Absence of Tension and the Presence of Whiteness
I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate… who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Think of the Children!
A couple of years ago, my church was wondering how we could respond to the opioid crisis in our region, when a new group approached us. They wanted to offer peer-to-peer recovery support for folks with substance use disorder. It was the perfect match: we had the space, they had the knowledge, and we all… Read More
The Pastoral is Political
This week, the federal Department of Health and Human services announced a broadening of protections for the exercise of one’s religious freedom. In general, freedom of religion in healthcare has been in the purview of the patient: the ability for people to ensure that their medical treatment does not violate their religious practices. This week’s… Read More
Monday Prayer
A prayer for today, adapted from Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” Holy God, we stand before you in repentance and prayer. We know from experience that freedom is never free. Throughout history, the struggle for freedom has not been well-timed. More often than not, those who strive hear the response, “Wait!” It is… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Liberating the Image of God
As did many of us, I grew up with an image of God straight out of Renaissance paintings: an old white man on a cloud. That one has long since stopped feeling like God to me, and now I make a habit of looking for moments that feel like God. This week, God looked like… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Defense Edition
The pastoral is geeky, at least. I’ve had an episode of Star Trek (TNG, for those of you who care) stuck in my head this week. The one in which the Enterprise encounters one of many unknown phenomena: this one washes waves of energy over them which threaten to tear the ship apart. So, of… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: False Equivalencies
“So, what are y’all saying about… all this?” It’s the question of the day in clergy groups: how do we, as clergy, as the Church, address what is going on in our nation, especially to often-divided congregations? What’s the role of the Church in the political – not partisan: political – sphere? When do we… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political
Adapted from the remarks I gave at the first-ever LGBTQ Pride event in Rochester, NH When I was in high school, friends wondered at my participation in a faith that they saw as exclusionary. Specifically: how could a queer person participate in a religion that excluded gays? I didn’t understand, then; I was lucky, in my… Read More
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