The World's Okayest Pastor

"Which way do you want to go?" It's a phrase I've heard about 100 times too many in church services and sermons over the years. It's used to get people to do something based on fear - fear of going to hell instead of heaven. Clearly in these people and places minds, there is only one right answer and lifetimes are then spent trying to be this unattainable, damaging to self and others, shell of a person of faith. Most recently, I heard this very question asked was this past Sunday, as I walked through my house to grab something in between church services. The program on the TV was "The Pastor's Study," a show produced in Minnesota, featuring a Lutheran (which branch it's not clear other than not ELCA) pastor in a collar. I have seen this show in passing before. Sometimes, its just the pastor talking to the camera, other times its the pastor, with a grandmotherly figure, sitting at a table, doing a question-and-answer format. This past Sunday, the ...

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, The Health and Human Services Committee of the Nebraska Legislature convened to receive testimony regarding LB 574: "Let Them Grow Act." This bill, introduced by Senator Kauth, wants to ban all gender affirming care in the state of Nebraska for individuals 19 and younger. This legislation would go as far as to ban out of state referrals and could punish medical providers for even having the conversation with a patient and their family.  I oppose this legislation because it is a direct attack on people who deserve full access to healthcare. Below is my testimony that I had hoped to deliver before the committee, but due to time limitations, I was not able to speak.  I sat in the hallway, outside of the hearing room, for 3 hours, watching and listening as those in favor of the bill provided outdated and refuted medical information. They told lies about what gender affirming care is. They perpetuated hatred against the trans community by s...

 On Friday, June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court ruled, in a 6/3 decision, to repeal Roe v. Wade - the 1973 ruling that federally protected a women's right to full reproductive healthcare, including abortion, on the basis of the right to privacy. I have been fairly quiet on the subject and a few folks have asked me about my thoughts.  First let me address why I took time to respond to this decision. It is not a surprise that I am a Pro Choice, female, ordained clergy person. I have been for over 21 years (yes, my thoughts and perspectives changed a while ago on the subject). I have written countless federal and state legislators, sat in elected people's offices waiting to speak with those elected to represent me, spoken before state legislator committees and hearings, signed petitions, financially supported groups that work hard to ensure a woman's choice to full reproductive healthcare. I have done a lot of work, shared from what feels like my core. Friday's decision, n...

 Dear Nancy Pelosi, I extended this invitation when Catholic Bishops said they would refuse President Biden communion and now I extend it to you. You can have communion with me. I would be happy to share God's love with you around a simple meal that Jesus started.  This invitation to the table, communion, actually doesn't come from me. It comes from God. God extends their grace and love to all. God adds chairs to God's table of love, grace and mercy. I, nor any other person, has the right and/or authority to deny you at God's table.  Thank you for standing up for what you believe regarding women's healthcare. What many American Christians have forgotten is that until roughly the 1950's and 60's many denominations/traditions were pro-choice because life begins at first breath - a very biblical notion. You are fighting for those who are considered the least of these as Jesus tells us to do. So when we meet, I look forward to sharing in a scared act with you th...

I often leave the TV on for my dog when I leave the house. Yesterday, a TV preacher came up on the screen. I usually don't pay that much attention as I'm leaving but his words (of course it's an old, white man, telling us what the Bible says) struct me and made me sad that this was the teaching being shared with a large audience.  The preacher kept saying that "God loves you but 'he' loves the faithful more." "God loves you but 'he' loves those fighting for God more." He had a whole litany of these sayings. A few also had the word "but" in them. "God love you but only if..." It was clear that there was a mandate of being their version of Christian. The list made it clear that it was either this or that - an all or nothing to being loved by God.  I cringe at this because if this were the truth about God and God's love - I don't think anyone would be loved by God. Of course, the preacher had all kinds of proof te...

 Another funeral story- I was asked to officiate a funeral for a person who didn't have a church. When the funeral director called to ask me to officiate, I was told that the family had been interesting to work with. The deceased had been taken to a different funeral home and then the living members had some issues with that funeral home. So the funeral director who called me had to go and claim the body off the other funeral homes table. This is not something that funeral directors want to do. Then I was told that the family is having issues with each other and was being fairly demanding. Not unusual.  When I met with the family, at the funeral home, I was told that they didn't really need "all that religious stuff," that a family member had written a song and someone else was reading a poem. Immediately after the service I was told that my services would no longer be needed, and I could leave and not stick around while the casket was prepared to be lowered into the ...

Yesterday I resigned from my current call as pastor. I have been with this congregation for 10 and a half months. When I interviewed, I knew that I would be accepting a position with a congregation that needed to do some work to revitalize itself and that was having some financial issues. But this is 2020/21 and what church isn’t having to discern both of these things? The folks I interviewed with told me of their hopes and dreams about going back to having a full-time pastor in 3-5 years, of restarting Sunday School, of wanting to try new things. They said that they had used the resources provided to them from the conference and that they were committed and just needed guidance. And while I want to believe that they were being honest during the interview process, the congregation’s behaviors tell a different story. Much was left up to me, and I’ll admit I over function at times so I’m not blameless, and there was no interest in people wanting to do the work. Sunday School: asking fo...