Funny Thing Heard in Church Yesterday....

As I was shaking hands with folks following the 9 AM service, a wonderful couple from my church introduced me to the guests that were with them from a friend's church. The guy said, "We wanted to come and see what a pregnant pastor looked like." I laughed and encouraged them to share what they've witnessed, much like the 2 Marys did on Easter morning. People are funny.

Guess I should get a banner made for the front of the church stating, "Now Showing."

New book and link to check out!

I've been waiting a long time, as others I know have, for the new book by Lovett Weems and Ann Michel on the crisis of young clergy in the UMC. Thanks to Andrew, I've got a link to an interesting interview with Lovett about the new book. I've been fortunate over the last few years to be in conversation with Lovett and Ann about this issue...one that I have a lot of interest and passion for. It is a crisis that is indicative of greater issues in my denomination. (Though mine is not only one facing the crisis!) Check it out!

Special Jesus Suit for Easter?

Last night as we prepared for our Maundy Thursday service, I got into an interesting conversation with the wife of the lead musician. She's great-- always has great questions and wants to know more about the mainline church... having grown up in an evangelical church in the South. Her latest job has been working to create costumes for the musical, Wicked. And so, she's gotten a good taste of working in the "industry" as we call it here in Southern California.... that also means she's been exposed to a variety of interesting folks!

So she tells me that one of her co-workers just completed a project her priest asked her to do for Easter-- create "clothes" for Jesus on the cross. Her priest wanted Jesus to have on his "Sunday best" for Super Bowl of All Sundays! I inquired a bit as to exactly what this "Jesus Suit" might look like-- a white suit with a pink tie? I was genuinely interested in understanding what this was all about... apparently, the "Jesus suit" is more of a toga/smock than real clothing. The priest asked that it have all the liturgical colors in it-- which of course prompted a quick wit joke about Jesus and Joseph and their technicolor dream coats... the thing that got me was that this was all for real!

So, on this solemn day, I wonder aloud... what would Jesus wear to Easter Sunday in your church, should you have the option to play dress-up? I just bet someone will say a bunny suit!

Blessings to all during this important, holy time!

A Shorter Process?

One of the things I've been vocal about in terms of the lack of young clergy has to do with the arduous ordination process the United Methodist Church has set up. I remember after the 1996 General Conference meeting with a member from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry who came to explain the new process to us. (I was under the 1992 Book of Discipline so it did not apply to me!) The general sense after he shared the changes with us was that it would take about 10-12 years to complete the process--that's a LONG TIME. On top of that, the General Church and local Annual Conferences continue to add more requirements to the process stating, "if the candidates do X, they'll be better prepared."
While those folks approach these extra hoops with good intentions, let's be honest: what's expected of pastors is overwhelming at best, and impossible at worst. We're expected to be experts of all things (and Lord knows I try!). So here's my hope: that you will take a minute, check out this LINK, and considering signing the petition attached. The recommendation right now to General Conference is that we don't make any changes to the process this year....we wait four years. I hate to break it them, but really don't have any time to waste. We NEED to make changes if we want to have any chance of encouraging young people to consider entering the process. Thanks to the Texas Annual Conference folks for pushing this point and trying to get General Conference to do something about this!