Category Archives: Re-thinking and Re-doing church

Time To Take A Hard Look At Your Church

Is your church egalitarian?  If not, why not.  It’s 2013.  Don’t you think your church has had enough time to be egalitarian?  If it’s not egalitarian, what makes you think it will be?  Do you trust only male voices to … Continue reading

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Search For Best Poor Person

We at Wedgewood Church are looking for the best poor person.  We know Jesus said if you have done it unto the least of these you’ve done it unto me.  So if we just have to do something for Jesus … Continue reading

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When A Church Member Should Go

  At Wedgewood we begin our worship services with what we call an extravagant welcome, a phrase we learned from the United Church of Christ. An extravagant welcome to us means, in part, welcoming what new people can add to … Continue reading

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The Second Call: Disappointing People/Churches

  Years ago, starting fifteen or so years ago, the more liberal Wedgewood became the more people left it. During that difficult time I found this excerpt from Jean Vanier’s  Community and Growth very helpful.  I try to keep Vanier’s … Continue reading

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Making A Case For Footwashing

When you get old, and I know “old” is a relative term – when you get old, and for me old started around 41, your feet can start to hurt. In my case, I woke up with excruciating, and I … Continue reading

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God Deliver Me From My Liberators

  I often fear I and others are Christian do-gooders. Are we using the suffering, the exploitation and marginalization of the other to promote our own agenda? For instance,  some biblical scholars write and talk with such passion about the poor when … Continue reading

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A Sad Christmas Story

I know, it’s not Christmas anymore, but sad stories are hard to write and sad Christmas stories are even harder to write. This is a story about abandonment. My wife’s Aunt Jo Ann lives on a family farm in Bandana, … Continue reading

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The Difference Between A Liberal Church And A Progressive Church

Do you know the difference between a liberal church and a progressive church? Last fall I took a United Church of Christ Polity class and one of my classmates who is doing a new church start asked me to distinguish … Continue reading

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Easy Stuff A Church Can Do For The Homeless

It’s easy for a church to house twelve homeless guests on a Saturday night. It’s easy to install two bathrooms, two showers, and a laundry room with a washer and dryer for homeless guests.  It’s easy to prepare a meal … Continue reading

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Imagine A Church That . . .

I consider myself the luckiest pastor in the world. I know that’s a grand statement to make, but that’s the way I feel.  Most pastors hope to make a difference in the lives of parishioners and to move a congregation … Continue reading

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