The UCC needs its ECOTs.
January 23, 2010 – New Braunfels, TX
Courage and rules
Last summer at the UCC’s General Synod in Grand Rapids, Lauryn Farris did something very courageous.  As a transgendered person, she ventured over to the display table for Faithful and Welcoming Churches (FWC), a coalition of UCC members summarized in the acronym ECOT [...]

(The following is an excerpt from the introduction to my upcoming talking at a retreat in San Antonio, Texas.  The retreat is sponsored by the Open and Affirming [ONA] coalition in the UCC’s South Central Conference.  ONA churches advocate for full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church, including ordained ministry, and [...]

THIS WEEK’S READINGS
Jan 18: Gen 19-21
Jan 19: Gen 22-24
Jan 20: Gen 25-26
Jan 21: Gen 27-29
Jan 22: Gen 30-31
Jan 23: Gen 32-34
Jan 24: Gen 35-37
Jan 25: Gen 38-40

NOTES ON GENESIS 19-37
·         Genesis means “beginnings,” and the book covers four events (creation, fall, flood, Babel) in chapters 1-11, and four patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph) [...]

“And God remembered Noah.”  (Genesis 8:1)
Genesis 8:1-22
January 17, 2010
Remembered and forgotten
Being remembered is nice.  Especially by God.
Being forgotten – or even feeling like you have been forgotten – is terrifying.  Especially by God.
I have known both being remembered and feeling like I have been forgotten. 

                Corinth’s Leadership Retreat is always (for me, anyway) a great time of reflection and direction as we look forward to the year ahead.  This year, however, the feedback from participants was particularly encouraging.  “The best ever,” said one person, returning to Consistory after a multi-year absence.