By Chaplain Mike A couple of years ago, I agreed to help a small group that was losing their “pastor.” They weren’t really a “church,” but a small band of exiles from traditional churches that met in house groups and then gathered together on Sunday. When the church planter who had formed them moved awayContinue reading “Genesis and My Post-Evangelical Wilderness”
Category Archives: Evangelical Issues
Skye Jethani on “The Daisy Cutter Doctrine” of Ministry
Presented by Chaplain Mike One of today’s most clear-sighted Christian leaders talks about where our legitimacy in ministry comes from. Quotes to Remember: What I call the “Daisy Cutter Doctrine” is a lie that I think a lot of us in ministry have fallen into, which is the belief that the larger the impact ofContinue reading “Skye Jethani on “The Daisy Cutter Doctrine” of Ministry”
Paul the Pastor
By Chaplain Mike We will conclude our little flurry of posts on being a pastor and the duty of the church to provide pastoral care to its members by looking at another of the apostles, Paul. I had a great breakthrough in my understanding of pastoral theology during seminary, when I realized that I couldContinue reading “Paul the Pastor”
Peter the Pastor
By Chaplain Mike I have written several posts over the past year on the subject of pastoral visitation and the importance of church communities taking seriously the responsibility for the personal care and tending of their members. In a comment I received to one of those posts, a church leader wrote that some pastors shouldContinue reading “Peter the Pastor”
A Black and White Concern
By Chaplain Mike It is my hope that our conversation here at IM will include perspectives from as many cultures and traditions of the Christian faith as possible. One privilege a hospice chaplain has is to become acquainted with people from various backgrounds and experiences. For example, I have thoroughly enjoyed befriending, serving, and spendingContinue reading “A Black and White Concern”
Thoughts about Women in Ministry
A recent iMonk Classic mentioned the issue of women in ministry. I thought I’d take it up. Armor? Check. Shield, gas mask, safety glasses, earplugs? Check. Here goes. First of all, I won’t say anything about Bible passages dealing with women’s roles in the church. Everyone who cares about the issues knows them, and yetContinue reading “Thoughts about Women in Ministry”
The Archbishop Strikes Back
By Chaplain Mike Maybe there is some fight left in the Anglican Church after all. At Pentecost, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, sent a letter to the Anglican Communion encouraging a renewed focus on mission, and suggesting discipline for elements of the church that fail to abide by requests to avoid controversial decisionsContinue reading “The Archbishop Strikes Back”
Wash Your Ears Out with This
By Chaplain Mike I just started reading Eric Metaxas’ acclaimed new biography, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. I’m anxious to share it with you soon. In the meantime, and especially in the light of last evening’s post about “Pastor Ted,” wash your ears out, regain your bearings, and stimulate your spirit with a few ofContinue reading “Wash Your Ears Out with This”
Update: Easter Morning…for Ted
By Chaplain Mike WARNING: As you read this update, the sound you will hear is the voice of cynicism. With a bit of sarcasm thrown in. As well as a healthy dose of antipathy. If I didn’t think the evidence deserves this kind of response, I would stay quiet. But this is bad news, aContinue reading “Update: Easter Morning…for Ted”
The Comeback Kid?
By Chaplain Mike Americans love a comeback story. Don’t we? And Christians believe in the God of second (and third and fourth…etc.) chances. Don’t we? Yesterday in Saturday Ramblings, Jeff noted and commented on Ted Haggard’s return to ministry. Ted Haggard’s “surprise announcement†was anything but a surprise. He is planning to launch a newContinue reading “The Comeback Kid?”
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