NEWS

They say the third time’s the charm, right? Well, I guess so because the third time I applied for the Clergy Renewal Grant through the Lily Endowment Fund, I got a “yes.” Were the first two no’s difficult and slightly devastating? Yes. I vividly remember opening those letters and letting the tears flow. Would I change the end result? No because I truly found rest and renewal on my sabbatical, thanks to Lily, my sabbatical committee, my congregation, my family, and friends. M

“Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction.” —Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi We started talking about me going on sabbatical and applying for the Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant at United Church of Hayward, UCC, in a Pastor-Parish Relations Committee (PPRC) meeting in 2019. The conversation was years overdue. But it seemed like there had never been a good time to have it. A few weeks after that conversation, we went into pandemic lockdown. I was serving a very technologically re

As a kid, I had a misperception of everything it takes to be a minister. I grew up in a church so brand new that I was at its very first meeting. The first gathering was held at the pastor’s house, and the first Sunday school was playing with the youngest kid’s toys while the adults worshiped in the living room. From that first Sunday, I saw a bit more of my pastor’s personal life than many kids my age would at other churches. Rev. Ed Hart was a second-career pastor; he and h

In this season of clergy appreciation, my mind’s eye scrolls through images of pastors who have shaped me, not through heroic measures but by simply being themselves. And I was just lucky enough to be in their path as they lived openly to God’s grace. There was Dr. Dave, whom I knew first as my best friend’s dad. He was funny and wise and caring as a human being. Only later did I learn he was a pastor. There was Jeff who, even before I was considering a call to ministry, sa

I was joking with my spouse — full disclosure: she is ordained — that I should begin my contribution to this DSF newsletter issue by saying that any “clergy appreciation” piece, given the likely audience of this newsletter, would be…preaching to the choir. Okay, okay, I couldn’t help myself. But in all seriousness, you, dear reader, and I, are both very likely on the same page about the importance of clergy in our lives, our faith formation, our understanding of scripture, an

Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you…I’ve often wondered how Abram and Sarai took that first step…What empowered them? What strengthened them? How did they know they were doing the right thing? What were they seeking? What gave them the courage to go? Abram was 75 years old. He and Sarai packed everything and everyone up…and stepped out…on that journey, that pilgrimage, that walk of faith…following a word, a call, an i