Bridging Business Acumen and Pastoral Care for a Balanced Ministry– I’ve written, rewritten, and edited this post countless times over the past six months. Finally, after a nudge from a good friend (thanks, SC+), I realized it was time to share. Executive function and pastoral leadership come up often in conversations about business and ministry, and they frequently overlap. This post aims to explore that overlap, acting as a conduit (or perhaps a capacitor) for insights into pastoral leadership through the lens of executive function. My blog, The Priest and the Paradox: Walking Between Worlds, reflects…
Embracing Unified Purpose: A Path to Collective Growth— Have you ever wondered why the church, a symbol of unity and togetherness, sometimes operates in silos? Well… we didn’t learn it from Jesus… or Paul… or Peter… so where did this division creep in? Churches often strive to embody unity and shared purpose, yet they may encounter challenges when ministries operate independently. This divide can hinder the church’s overarching mission and community impact. By breaking down these silos, and fostering a spirit of collaboration, churches can create a more harmonious and effective ministry. Emphasizing shared goals…
Understanding Refugees Through the Lens of the Holy Family Advent 2023– It’s advent again, and there’s one important question that someone will ask me–that is if every other year is indicative of this one 🙂 “Were Jesus, Mary, and Joseph really refugees?” In a world grappling with unprecedented levels of migration and displacement, the question of whether the Holy Family were refugees holds significant relevance. The narrative of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph fleeing to Egypt, as described in the Gospel of Matthew, has been widely discussed and debated. Can we genuinely…
Rose Sunday, also known as Laetare Sunday, is a tradition celebrated in the Christian faith on the fourth Sunday of Lent (there’s also a Rose Sunday in Advent, but that’s another article for another time). Rose Sunday falls right in the middle of the season of reflection, penance, and preparation for Easter. While it may not be as well-known as other religious holidays, Rose Sunday holds significant meaning for those who observe it. Fun Fact: Rose Sunday is unique in many ways, including the distinctive Rose (or pink) vestments worn by the clergy during the…
Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way… it’s technically not a beanie. That said, one of the fun things about being a priest is that we get to wear some of the most fantastic clothing in the world. The church has no shortage of headgear options for the clergy. Some of you have seen my biretta (the hat with the silk pom on the top), which I wear on 1st Sundays when we use incense. You’ve also seen bishops wear a mitre (the pointy hat) during their Episcopal visits…
“Why?” is the first question I ask myself! Since the Columbine tragedy in April 1999, where twelve students and one teacher were murdered, this haunting question, “But why?” echoes persistently through each new, senseless massacre. After another devastating shooting, this time at Robb Elementary School in Texas, I find myself asking again—perhaps asking God—“My God, why?” Nineteen children. Two teachers. Dead. Gone. Forever. We grieve not only for the lives lost but for the futures these young ones could have shaped, the countless lives the teachers might have touched. This is the heavy cost we continue…