Describing Christian ministry as “relational” is not new. Since at least the 1970s, church leaders and authors have been inviting us to more relational ministry. But what kind of relationship did this paradigm assume? That’s the very important question that Andrew Root asks at the outset of his new book, The Relational Pastor: Sharing in Christ by Sharing Ourselves. [A quick but important disclosure: Andy is a colleague and good friend, and we’ve discussed many of the elements of the book while running together through our neighborhood. So I’m more than a little predisposed to recommend his book. Nevertheless, I really do think...

As I’ve said before, I am fascinated with the process of making things. Perhaps it’s because on the rare occasion I can do just that – making a mosaic as a gift, a toy for one of my kids, or dinner for friends – it seems so utterly satisfying. (More so, actually, than most of what I do.) I have a hunch that making things – bringing things into being – not only connects us with things of the earth like wood or food but also perhaps aligns us with the creating and creative God we know in and through Jesus. Whatever the reason, I’m intensely curious about the process of how we make things and so fan a well-made films about just...

Michael Curry, the Episcopal Bishop of the North Caroline Diocese, is one of my favorite people in the church. He is an outstanding preacher, teacher, and theologian, and I am regularly inspired when I hear him. For this reason, I was very excited when I heard he was writing a book, and doubly so when I had a chance to read it. All of which explains why I am now triply excited that he is participating in a MOOC. What is MOOC, you ask? It stands for Massive Open Online Course – short hand for saying it’s an online class that is open to anyone and everyone for free. Sponsored by ChurchNext, Michael’s class is called “How to Be a Crazy...

Churches that stem from the Reformation have for centuries valued and cultivated an educated clergy. We have sought out persons with gifts for ministry and supported them to go to college and seminary. As a result, we have been blessed with generations of capable, profession leaders. Yet while this has benefited us as a church tremendously, one of the unintended consequences of such competent leadership has been a loss of skill and confidence among those our pastors lead. That is, because we can rely so completely on the skill of the pastor – whether to lead a Bible study, interpret Scripture, or pray – the rest of us haven’t had to...

My teacher and mentor Timothy Wengert started a blog not too long ago that offers weekly meditations on the Psalms. Except these aren’t just meditations. In 2001, Tim and his wife Barbara discovered that Barb had terminal cancer. Throughout that year and the next, before Barb died in May of 2001, they would read a Psalm together each night. And each morning the next day, Tim would send an email to their daughter Emily, who was away at college, with the Psalm and his reflections. Now Tim is posting those reflections on his blog once a week in relation to the Sunday reading of the Psalm in the lectionary. Which is what makes these...

It has been an unusually — and delightfully! — busy week-before-Christmas at the Lose household. And I know exactly why that is — because for the first time in fourteen years we are surrounded by family! Which meant time with my parents over my birthday and a trip to Longwood Gardens and then a trip north to see a niece participate in the New Jersey Ballet’s performance of the Nutcracker. What fun, all the way around! This has meant that I’ve missed a couple of posts of late, and yet it seems to me that a little more time to enjoy friends, family, and the holiday is a good trade. And so I’m going to leave...