Spiritual Abuse and Starting to Heal

[Trigger/content warning] Over the dozen years I’ve been in pastoral ministry, there have been many reasons why people I know have walked away from their faith, from God, from spirituality, joining the ever-growing ranks of ‘nones’ (those who claim no religious affiliation). For many, it is the problem of suffering and evil in the world …

Reflecting on Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay, and Tyre Nichols

This is what I shared with my church on the morning of Sunday, January 29, 2023: As a staff, we felt it important to talk more directly about last weekend’s shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay among the Asian American community, and then the release of the videos showing the murder of Tyre …

Belonging and Inclusion

We all want somewhere to belong, don’t we?  Somewhere to call home. Somewhere we’re known. Somewhere we can be ourselves. Somewhere we can invite those we love and care about.  Belonging is not solely about church, obviously, but the Church needs to consider belonging and community, because community is one of the things churches overpromise …

What is the Church’s task today?

Kaj Munk was a Danish playwright and Lutheran pastor, martyred during the German occupation of Denmark. He was killed by the Gestapo on this day in 1944. His words ring true for us today as they did seven decades ago: What is, therefore, our task today? Shall I answer: “Faith, hope, and love”? That sounds beautiful. …