Merianna Harrelson

I am the Pastor of Garden of Grace United Church of Christ in Columbia, SC and the Director of Consulting at Harrelson.Co. I am always looking for a good cup of coffee and a great book.

Don’t Tell Your Story

In my work as a publisher, I encounter many people who tell me they have a great idea for a book. I find fewer people who tell me they are writing a book. I find even fewer who tell me they have written a book. But lately, I have encountered more and more people who …

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When Gender Doesn’t Matter

When the fragility of life comes and taps you on the shoulder in one unexpected diagnosis, gender doesn’t matter. When your marriage, your, family, or your career fall to pieces, gender doesn’t matter. When death and violence come and sit beside you in Bible study, gender doesn’t matter. When declining church membership and contributions overwhelm business …

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On Leaving Emmanuel and Following My Call

Yesterday, I shared with Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship in Lexington, SC that we will be moving on after Easter. After a tearful reception following the morning service, the questions began to come in. Many of them were about whether we were moving or staying in the Columbia area. Most of them had the central theme of …

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The Privilege Walk

Last night as a part of our Lenten series on discipleship, our congregants engaged in the privilege walk. We looked at each other differently as we each stepped forward or backward: Take one step backward if your race, gender, or sexual orientation has caused you to be looked over for a professional opportunity. Take one …

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