When Church Is Canceled

Today at lunch, my wife asked me a question across the table: “What are you going to do this week?” “I have no idea,” I said. “I need to think about it.” I literally lost sleep over the decision, but last Friday I sent out a message to my congregation: all church events […]

A Theology of Whole Hog Barbecue

I’m pretty sure I learned more about church at a barbecue pit than I did at seminary. When I was 12 years old my father, also a United Methodist minister, was appointed to Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC. It was probably the best thing that happened to my family when I was […]

Let the Church Die

I grew up in the church, and I’m really comfortable here. The hymnal we use today was released when I was six years old; I’ve pretty much been singing out of it my whole life. Though I do not pastor at the churches I grew up in, the Sunday school rooms still look the same. […]