Looking Over My Shoulder

When I was in seminary, and ordination loomed ahead, we, the young soon-to-be-clergy women, often discussed what to wear underneath our cassocks. I guess we were scared. I guess we saw our whole future ahead of us as very respectable members of society, and we were panicking. In any case, we discussed underwear. Black lace? […]

Always an Associate?

A little over a year ago, my husband graduated from seminary and we began looking for two clergy jobs.  Our search took us to the heart of Texas and to the suburbs of Detroit.  We daydreamed about Idaho, California and Maryland.  I dreamed, too.  I thought, finally, after two long stints as an associate rector […]

At Home in the Neighborhood

My neighbor, Ali, sent me a text to see if I wanted to hang out on Sunday morning.  She was flying solo with her two kids for a stretch of time, and I had invited her to come over at some point during the week so that our two year olds could play together and […]

Youth

When I was interviewing for Field Ed placements in seminary, I spoke with a female pastor who left me with this reflection on her ministry: “I have blessed every gray hair on my head, because it has meant one less battle I’ve had to fight.” Although I believe this pastor was speaking from the best […]

First Responders

The small but friendly community of First United Church of Christ occupies one of the oldest buildings in West, Texas. Young Clergy Woman Kyndall Renfro served as interim pastor there, but now the church relies on supply preachers from nearby seminaries including Truett, Brite, and Southwestern. I preached there on Easter Sunday of this year. […]

Gazing into the Tomb

I stood on the side of the interstate, blowing into a Breathalyzer, hoping that whatever number popped up was below the legal limit. The thought raced through my head, “If I get arrested, who will I call to bail me out?” I should have been worried about what would happen when the congregation I pastored […]

A Prayer for Justice

I came home around lunchtime.  I drove myself home, opened the fridge and wondered what I would gather for a meal.  I sat down and turned on my computer, put some music on, and looked out the window at the crisp, dreary January day. I don’t normally take such time to reflect on what a […]

When Your Voice is Not Your Own

Sometimes your voice is not your own. I remember a trip to a fine cathedral in England where the woman presiding spoke in a baritone- the sonorous tones of the quintessential Anglican clergyman. It was rather surprising to hear the voice of a Nigel or a John from the mouth of a petite woman, but […]

Downsizing Myself?

I have spent the last three years serving the same congregation (my first since graduating from seminary), and it has been a wonderful place, among wonderful people, to grow into my pastoral authority and role as clergy. When I started my ministry in this congregation, I was hired as a full-time vicar. Everything I did […]

Table Grace

In the parish hall, a table lay spread with a white cloth, fragrant evergreens and twinkling lights.  Sounds of peeling, chopping and the banter of cooks spilled out of the kitchen.  A few people bustled around, arranging chairs, setting out napkins, and filling pitchers of water. At my parish, in the dark days of December, […]