I’ve been involved in several Facebook chats, Zoom calls, and email conversations with clergy from across the U.S. and around the world in these weeks of Covid-19. In these interactions—and through general observation of news, church websites, and Facebook posts, I’ve noted a few distinct types of pandemic pastors. The “Lentiest Lent” Pastor This pastor… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories are quite popular right now—everyone thinks that someone else is up to something secret and nefarious. And don’t be fooled; these conspiracies are not limited to the political realm. There are plenty of conspiracies happening in our own congregations. Here are just a few conspiracies I’m inclined to believe in: Bigfoot may be… Read More
Saturday prayer – For Those In Meetings
Dear God – We gather around tables, we invoke Your name and then we begin. We listen. We speak. We raise our hands in affirmation. We caffeinate. We take notes. We decide. And in all these things, we are striving after You – straining to know Your will for us. Bless the work we are… Read More
Saturday Prayer: Trading in my resentment
God, I want to trade in my feelings of resentment– That I’m up early on a Saturday That I have a meeting to go to soon And then another meeting after that And a sermon to finish somehow in the midst of it all While my husband and daughter are off to the races (literally,… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: What Not to Say
After a discussion with my clergy group yesterday, I decided that many congregants could use some guidance in terms of interacting with their pastors–particularly in the post-worship receiving line. Feel free to make copies and share with those who may need it. (Note: Two of these are borrowed directly from a colleague in the group.… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Email Fantasies
Is it weird that I kind of look forward to opening up my church email each morning? These little electronic messages are filled with so much possibility! Maybe someone is offering a generous gift to the church or sharing an insight from Sunday’s sermon. Maybe there is an invitation to a fabulous event or a… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Ode to a Pastor’s To-Do List
How orderly the empty boxes wait Aligned along the margin, the sure Sign of a new day—an empty slate For marking “X”s, or checks if you prefer. Who can imagine what lingers there For a pastor to accomplish by end of day? It is a strange job we are called to do: To read and… Read More
Wits-Ends-Day: Walls to Build
There has been a lot of talk about walls lately. At the risk of making my humor column “too political,” I will say that I’m not a big fan of the proposed $5.7 billion barrier between the United States and Mexico. I mean, since Christ breaks down dividing walls of hostility (Colossians 2:14), this seems,… Read More
The Pastor is Political: The Pastor Halo
I recently had to file a complaint to the Office of Child & Family Services about the inspection of a summer camp that takes place on our church property. A new summer camp is trying to get underway and the mandated surprise inspection did not go well. The director had only 2 campers, both autistic, and had… Read More
Wit’s Ends Day: Is it Work?
As pastors, it’s not always easy to know when we are “on the clock.” What counts as work and what doesn’t? If I’m counseling someone about their marital difficulties in my office, that is work. But what if that person starts in on the same sensitive and private conversation in the middle of the grocery… Read More
