Posts

Death and New Life

On February 26, 2010, my brother Cameron died of an overdose of heroin. I was in the middle of my first year of graduate studies for my Master of Divinity degree. I was 27 years old, and after a few years of post-college floundering, I’d “discerned my call,” as we clergy-types say, and began the […]

Searching for a Mentor

When I started this journey, I thought all pastors would behave alike. There would be room for variation, of course – some would be slightly more introverted (me), for example – but there would be certain overall trends. In the same way that the accountant ought to be meticulous and the politician articulate, so too […]

Life as a Dressing Room

by Sarah McCaslin On a blustery but sunny October afternoon, I officiated the wedding of one of my dearest friends…and also served as a bridesmaid. When the bride first conceived of the dual-role minister/bridesmaid, she envisioned me processing down the aisle along with the other two bridesmaids (all three of us in matching dresses), and […]

Familiar Echoes: My father’s footsteps

Being young, a woman, and a pastor is something of an enigma to most people. When someone asks me what I do, my response always redirects the conversation. It usually evokes a self-conscious, I-hope-I-haven’t-said-anything-offensive-in-her-presence response first. Then, interest is piqued. A pastor? But you’re so young! And you’re a woman! I often yearn for a […]