“Who can read the New Testament and fail to see that Jesus took sides and accepted freely the possibility of being misunderstood.” –James Cone, “Jesus Christ in Black Theology” As both a parent and a pastor, I have long been a supporter of mental health care in my community. I even serve on a state-wide… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Resurrection Courage
Last Wednesday, April 4th, I had the privilege of taking part in a silent prayer walk through the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. It was my first time there. I was filled with mixed yet deep emotion being there on that day, especially. This silent sojourn was both a commemoration of Dr. King’s… Read More
Pastoral is Political: Jesus Christ Superstar
Every year, there’s something in Holy Week that resonates particularly strongly for me. This year, it was the words of those complicit religious leaders.* “We have no king but Caesar.” When I talked about this with the senior pastor and our intern after the Good Friday service, I tried to distance myself from those words.… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: That Dog, Those Cows, and the Elephant in the Room
About that dog: A dog died on a plane earlier this month. My Facebook and Twitter blew up with the story of the 10-month-old French bulldog who died on a United Airlines plane after the flight attendant required the animal to be placed in the overhead bin during the flight. A “shaken” passenger began… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Teach Your Parents Well
My college aged son and I attended the “Enough is Enough” Walk Out rally last Monday, organized by high school aged youth to mark the one month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the one month anniversary of our continued inaction to the public health crisis of gun violence… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: the Pastoral is Jeopardy
Many of you – I hope — know the game show “Jeopardy!” At least most folks know how to hum the theme music. In this Merv Griffin originated quiz show, contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers and then phrase their responses in the form of questions. So here’s a… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Leaving Home
I’ve long believed that you can’t be truly effective in a call until you know you have the power to leave it. When you know you are willing to leave, you can tell the truth and follow where Christ calls. Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Visiting Peter
Note: Described below is a typical jail visit; “Peter” is fictional. I hurry down the sidewalk in the cold, my face numb in the two-block walk from my car. The jail’s high brick wall towers over me to my right. As I approach the gate and the other people gathered there, I reach into my… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Parkland, Gun Control, and Following our Youth’s Lead
Another tragedy. Another mass shooting. Another 14 teenagers and 3 faculty/administrators senselessly killed by gun violence in the middle of a school day inside their school. We know how the pattern usually goes from here: Mass shooting. – “Thoughts and prayers.” – A push for gun control. A pushback against the discussion about gun control: “It’s too… Read More
Pastoral is Political: The Talk
There it was, out of the blue, I mean, I maybe should have seen it coming, but didn’t. I can’t explain it, all the signs were there. Last week I was catching up on Grey’s Anatomy, a show many have abandoned over it’s fourteen seasons, but one I still watch. If you watch it too,… Read More
