Posted in Alumnotes
Undergraduate Fellow ('99)
Associate Pastor, First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
Portland, ME
August 31, 2010
We had an overwhelming number of visitors in church this past Sunday.
There were a number of folks looking for a church home. Each of them
felt the welcome of our church family in our worship and in the way that
we gather to sip lemonade together on the porch after worship.
I'm trying to hold onto that this morning. I'm trying to remember that
loving welcome that our church does so well when I'm met with an angry
phone call. This call didn't come from a church member. This person
wasn't in worship with us. She was here to be served by the members of our
congregation that offer a ministry of gently used clothing and toys
-- and she wasn't happy with the service she got.
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Director, Leading Generations Initiative
August 13, 2010
As the demographics of American cities change, the work of leaders in congregations is becoming more complex. The American Community Survey released results that reveal demographics with implications for congregations and their leaders.
An emphasis on diversity and effective leadership is desperately needed in a time when leaders in the church, academy, and society are called to be bridge-builders and advocates of cross-racial and intergenerational coalitions.
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Pastor, Squyres United Methodist Church
FTE Ministry Fellow ('02)
August 03, 2010
A few weeks ago I had the great privilege of being a round-table leader for the Fund for Theological Education’s Leaders in Ministry Conference
at Boston University. I was blessed to have an amazing group of
undergraduate students who were discerning a call to religious
leadership. Many times during our times together they would ask me about
my vocation and why did I answer the call to pastoral leadership.
On the last day at the conference I remembered writing about my
vocation for my ordination papers. Here is what I wrote a few years ago:
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Senior Minister, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Greensboro, NC
FTE Ministry Fellow ('01)
July 29, 2010
I take my daughter to the church garden early on Saturday morning. We bring her “tools”
– a small plastic shovel and rake, and a bucket for collecting rocks.
One of our most regular gardeners talks about how
important this project has been for her. “I sit at a desk all day long,”
she says, “and then I get tocome out here and play in the dirt, and
it’s wonderful.” We ask God’s blessing on the ground and on the harvest,
and pray for the people this food will feed. Someone has brought a
guitar so we sing a little bit, which feels just right. The breeze sweeps
through us just then, a welcome freshness on the hot morning, and I am
pretty sure it is the breath of God.
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Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Hallock, Minnesota
FTE Ministry Fellow ('05)
FTE Undergraduate Fellow ('04)
July 26, 2010
I had an interesting conversation with a pastor friend last week in
which he said something like, “Everyone assumes I’m so busy, but I’m
not. I have a lot of time to do anything I want. My congregation just
runs itself.” I do know, for certain, I am not like this pastor. Yes,
our congregation could function perfectly well without me, but I do feel
really busy. And I’m pretty certain it’s more than just a feeling. I
am busy.
So the question: how, if possible, might I improve my time
management? What tips do you have for pastors so that they might use
their time to God’s glory?
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Candler School of Theology
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
FTE Congregational Fellow ('09)
July 16, 2010
You learn the basics of any language when you’re going to a foreign
country: “Hello,” “Thank you,” “Do you have wireless here?” Well,
perhaps the last is not very useful in Haiti, where most things except
the internet are wireless, and where my Kreyol...
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Associate Pastor for Adult Ministries, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
FTE Ministry Fellow ('02)
June 15, 2010
Some words get pummeled nearly to death. Some words are a well-meaning team of letters that strain hard to hold the meanings we pile upon them. Some words have it easy: “dandelion,” “mouthwash,” and “clarify” don’t have too many multiple meanings. They are not asked to express holy things, or things beyond language. But how can the words “Jesus” and “God” bear all we ask them to hold?
In the world of ministry, “spirit” and “love” and “life” and “you” and “me”…these poor words have been asked to mean so many things...
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