So you’re gay and ordained. What challenges you? Helps?

The title says it all. Since I’m gay, ordained and out, I thought I should bring up the subject. This is an open post for ordained gay men and lesbians. What are your challenges? What could help you in your ministry? What has been offered to help that doesn’t help? What advice would you give… Continue reading So you’re gay and ordained. What challenges you? Helps?

Chutney rants (correctly) about ministry

Chutney (Making Chutney) has a little rant about ministerial ordination and education where he throws a big wet blanket on the conventional mainline ministerial formation process. I read it in context of some of the tight-sphinctered replies at the infamous post at PeaceBang’s Beauty Tips for Ministers. For the record, he and I both have… Continue reading Chutney rants (correctly) about ministry

Watch and learn: Arlington Cemetery documentary

I watched a 2004 National Geographic Special on PBS tonight: Arlington: Field of Honor (WGBH Boston page). It is obviously on as a lead-up to Memorial Day and follows a day of funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, and outlines its history. Chances are you can still watch it if you get PBS, and it is… Continue reading Watch and learn: Arlington Cemetery documentary

NYT on seminarians

Hubby brought this New York Times article to my attention. Thought y’all’d be interested. Students Flock to Seminaries, but Fewer See Pulpit in Future

Pearlbear and many others

Michelle Murrain (Pearlbear) has received word from her United Church of Christ conference, meaning in so many words that “she’s leaving.” Not suggest even a hint of self-pity, accusation, or anger. It sounds like the right idea, and not too long ago, I thought about it, too. Goodness knows the slightly older UU Christian clergy… Continue reading Pearlbear and many others

PeaceBanging ministerial debt

PeaceBang wrote an indignant and largely correct comment to reply to an earlier comment in Philocrites’s posting, “A religion still seeking definition” (which itself pointed to something I wrote, thus coming full circle.) In a nutshell, she says if you want ministers trained for advanced theological reflection and production, the common fellowship is going to… Continue reading PeaceBanging ministerial debt

Personal M.Div.

Now that I’ve gotten a new feed reader, I can scan through fresh RSS feeds even faster, and pick up some blogs that I had to drop from being overwhelmed. One of this second class is the ChangeThis newsletter, which points to new manifesto titles at ChangeThis.com. A manifesto is a prima facie argument and… Continue reading Personal M.Div.