Every Thursday morning I get out my Book of Common Prayer and prepare to preside at mass at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Chicago Heights.  This would not be unusual except that I am Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Chicago Heights.  I can do this because of “Called to Common Mission,” the […]

Passionate Particularity: Naming Jesus Barbara K. Lundblad, Associate Professor of Preaching at Union Theological Seminary, New York Reported by Julie Ryan When discussing the growth and care of tomatoes or other plants with neighbors who happened by the little garden adjoining her Manhattan church, Pastor Lundblad would be intrigued with their nearly inevitable signoff: “Well, […]

The Unnecessary Pastor: Rediscovering the Call, Marva J. Dawn and Eugene H. Peterson, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000.  (Published jointly with Regent College Publishing) Reviewed by Brian Halverson In a homily given at a conference for church leaders recently, a pastor remarked on how he hears the same response given by clergy when they […]

My wife has for some years now been serving as interim pastor in various congregations around the synod. I’ve heard from others that she’s quite good at it, and I believe that. She has gone to considerable lengths at her (our) own expense to complete several training experiences advancing her pastoral understanding and skills for […]

Reports by our synod delegates to our church council are usually pro forma. Last year, however, there was considerable discussion of the 2000 Metropolitan Chicago Synod Assembly at our council meeting. Part of the reason was that we had dutifully tried to respond to the bishop’s exhortation to send 10-15 lay leaders. We didn’t send […]