The World's Okayest Pastor

This sermon was delivered on June 30, 2024 for Open and Affirming Sunday/Pride Sunday. The scripture references are 2 Corinthians 8 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25. Paul, the author of these letters, has a lot to say to two groups of people, trying to be people of faith, together, in their respective communities about 2,000 years ago. The churches in Corinth and Galatia clearly had some things going on. Unfortunately, we as readers, in the much distant future to when these letters were written, don’t really know what those issues were. And although biblical scholars have tried and tried again to figure out the issues, they are at best guesses. Lots of inferences are made but no one can say this is exactly why Paul wrote these letters to the communities. So, we hear that people of faith are in fact “people-y” – you know they try to get along, but everyone has an opinion. Some people think this way or another. Everyone has “feelings” about everything that’s happening. We can relate to that to...

In June 2024. Louisiana Governor, Jeff Landry, signed a bill that requires the 10 Commandments, along with other historical documents, be displayed in all state funded K-12 and university classrooms by 2025. While this seems like a harmless thing and a way to strengthen or bring back the "moral fabric" of America, I stand in opposition to this law and the similar bills that are floating around several states. First - I have a hard time claiming the Protestant, Christian bible as a historical document. While some of the stories contained in the bible can be found in other accounts, that are in fact historical documents, the bible as a whole is not historical. As we know the Protestant, Christian bible - it is not in chronical order. There are multiple accounts of several stories within the bible. And from what scholars have found, the authors of the Protestant, Christian bible never claimed to be documenting history. They are sharing their experiences and trying to answer ques...

I am not speaking at anyone's commencement and/or baccalaureate. But in light of a certain American football kicker's commencement speech, I thought that I would offer my own. Enjoy! Congratulations Class of 2024! You've made it. You have survived a global pandemic, an insurrection, the increase of technology and AI, serious conversations about personhood and the rights of each and every person, global weather phenomena's and so much more. I don't know about y'all but I'm tired. But you've made it. You're here. And if no one else tells you this, know that I am proud of you and I am cheering you on in whatever positive and good things you choose to do as you go forward. Remember to stay healthy and safe and that your actions can and do affect others so please don't only think of yourself.  You will never stop being inundated with messages from others about what you should do and be, how you should do those things and how you should be as person. Y...

They say "grief is a funny thing." While sometimes funny things happen as part of the grief process, I'm not sure I buy into this saying.  Recently, a colleague died unexpectedly, leaving behind a partner, two adult kids and countless friends, colleagues and others. Many people are in shock and grieving the surprise of this person's death. Others are feeling some relief and PTSD as their lived experience of this person has been different from others. Watching the social media posts roll in and seeing people go at it in the comments breaks my heart a bit. Most of the comments have been about sorrow and how good this person was. Other people have chosen not to share anything and a few have expressed that they feel a relief or even sorrow because this person is not going to be held accountable for their actions against them. And people are attacking those who have not had positive experiences with this individual. As someone who has attended hundreds of deaths and offici...

Can God handle our rage? This question was posed to me this weekend by the Rev. Dr. Velda Love at the UCCB meeting in Cleveland. Simply put - yes. If we are created in God's image, with all of God's feelings included in us, then why wouldn't God be able to handle our rage? But maybe the better question is, can we, humanity, handle each other's rage? Can humanity handle God's rage? I would say no. We have a culture of stuffing feelings down or in, of not being real and honest with ourselves and others. We demonize others as being "emotional" if they express their rage. We all know the current troupe of the "angry black woman." We've heard that a woman couldn't possible by president and be left in charge of the nuclear codes because she'll become overtaken by their emotions and push the "big red button." Going back in history, most major civilizations and religions have a story of a great flood; god/gods get so enraged by huma...

The Nebraska legislator started its 2023 session with over 600 bills submitted. 3 bills targeted the LGBTQIA+ community: LB371, LB574, and LB575. I do not support any of these bills and it's a matter of faith for me. A group of Christians have decided to write the word "homosexuality" into the Bible. Jesus never speaks about the modern day concept of homosexuality. The other verses in the Bible that people claim speak about homosexuality total 6 verses, 3 in the Old Testament, 3 in the New Testament. The Bible, a book made up of 66 books, with thousands of verses only has 6 possible verses that speak to LGBTQIA+ community. In short, some Christians today are trying to justify their bigotry and hatred by putting words/concepts into sacred texts that just aren't there. They are using old tactics of twisting scripture to fit their wants/needs/desires to hate the other - standing in direct opposition to the words of Jesus, recorded in scripture.  I'm not surprised tha...

 Let's open up Kate's urban dictionary. "Unbiblical-ness" - a word whose definition is evolving - means living a life I deem faithful yet other Christians find morally repugnant and  based in my assumed lack of understanding of “true Christianity” aka their version of Christianity. I’ve decided to embrace the “unbiblical-ness” my existence seems to trigger in others. By embracing my “unbiblical-ness” I mean I’m going to stand my ground as a proud ordained, woman of faith, who speaks when the Spirit compels and do the hard work of creating a space where all know love, safety and justice. My unbiblical-ness has prompted people to call me “preacher gal” even when asked not to. My unbiblical-ness has had people attempt to block me from leaving a rally/vigil because they want to try to intimidate me to take back my statements and to” re-educate” me. My unbiblical-ness has prompted me to leave two calls because in one I dared to utter the name George Floyd and say the w...