Recently, I received yet another rejection from a pastor search committee. While I have become accustomed to these responses or no responses from submitting my resume to pastor search committees claiming to be supportive of women in ministry in my three years of ministry, there was something different about this one. In the short response, […]
Spiritual Abuse Keeps Women Out of Senior Pastorates Read More »
I’m sitting at the local coffeeshop in my hometown, running into family and friends, and in general looking out the window in awe at the way the city has changed. There was a group of people who came together with a vision for making Spartanburg into a place where there was food, books, and coffee
When We Come Together Read More »
Although we might like to think the church models that are currently in place exhibit the gathering of people trying to interpret and understand the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the 1st Century, they don’t. Our American churches much more closely resemble corporate America with hierarchies, hiring policies, and operating systems implemented directly
When We Carry Each Other’s Burdens Read More »
When I was in Germany, the other American teachers and I decided that we were going to run a half marathon. Now when we decided this we had all been running for a couple of years. I had run the Cooper River Bridge Run a couple of times and had loved it, so I thought
When We Struggle Together Read More »
So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be
When It’s Too Much to Bear Read More »
Although many ministers called for the Methodist to make a decision about the LGTBQ question during General Conference this week, a group of bishops has been commissioned to study the LGBTQ issue and possible restructuring of the Methodist denomination. Putting this conversation on hold is asking those who are a part of the LGTBQ community
Uncovering Spiritual Abuse: Avoiding Difficult Conversations Read More »
There is no one place spiritual abuse happens, but since spiritual abuse is the misuse of power of a spiritual leader, spiritual abuse often happens in the sanctuaries, the fellowship halls, and offices of our churches. For those who have experienced spiritual abuse, the house of God is tainted making it difficult to worship in
Uncovering Spiritual Abuse: Where Spiritual Abuse Happens Read More »
The process and journey of uncovering spiritual abuse is one that is fraught with fear. It’s fraught with fear because of the memories and interactions the journey brings to light. It’s fraught with fear because if we find spiritual abuse in our past, then we must identify as victims. It’s fraught with fear because it
Uncovering Spiritual Abuse: Why It’s Scary Read More »
In the baptist church I grew up in, there were no women deacons. I remember noticing this and asking about why women weren’t allowed to be deacons, but as a child that question took on another form. I asked women in my life, don’t you want to be a deacon? And I received a variety of responses:
Uncovering Spiritual Abuse: Why Do You Need to Talk? Read More »
This week was the celebration of Pentecost, a time in the church calendar where we remember God sending God’s Spirt to the apostles after the resurrection of Jesus. Many churches celebrate by wearing red, a symbol of the tongue of fire that rested on each of them when the Spirit came down. When the day of
The Spirit of God: The Power to Hurt, The Power to Heal Read More »
