ABOUT

Thank you for taking the time to visit, read my blogs, and check out the different resources I have listed! A little about me…

I have an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a degree in Biology. I like to write, read interesting books and articles, and drink coffee. I’ve worked as a youth pastor, a family pastor, a staff pastor, and an associate pastor. I’m passionate about navigating culture with biblical integrity and fostering ministry that crosses boundaries. I’m rooting for the Church, despite her many flaws. And, thanks to Jesus, I have great hope for tomorrow.

This is a space where I write about issues relating to faith, spirituality, and culture. I often focus on the roles of women in the church and world, because of my experiences as a pastor.

Growing up I was taught that women were the equals of men, and could do whatever God called them to, including pastoring. I was aware that some Christians did not ordain women, but I believed they were hold-overs from days of yore, and would catch up eventually. I experienced a very clear call to ministry, and decided to attend seminary. When I was in seminary working on my MDiv (Master of Divinity) I discovered that the theology of male headship was much more pervasive than I had realized. I encountered students who genuinely thought I should not be there, or that I needed to limit the scope of what I planned to do in ministry to something relating to women or children. These were my classmates and colleagues (even if they didn’t view me that way), and I respected their love for Jesus and Scripture. In my desire to be intellectually honest and doctrinally sound, I didn’t want to go against the Word of God, so I spent a year studying the issue.

I was lucky enough during this time to study with Catherine Clark Kroeger, who has since gone on to be with Jesus, and I will forever be grateful for her strong and steady teaching on the issue of women in ministry. The more I dug into the issue and studied it, the less convincing the arguments for male headship became, and the more certain I felt about a theology of gender equality in both value and roles.

I never intended to become an advocate for women in ministry, or to write about it, but I found myself continually running into women and men with questions, concerns, and struggles around the issue. And I discovered how many complex ways gender bias, sexism, and general bad theology in the church were affecting my own experiences in ministry.

So, in the age of the internet, a blog was born.

Thanks for visiting. Jesus loves you, God is good, and coffee is joy.