A major part of my just completed PhD dissertation (Fuller Seminary, 2009) deals with the ways traditional denominations need to resist institutionalization in order to remain missionally engaged in culture. The Evangelical Covenant Church is one of a handful of denominations which is taking intentional steps to avoid an unintended, but often predictable, drift towards [...]

My entry for the  Good News for your City series with JR Woodward is now up.  This is a great series, with people from a number of backgrounds speaking. You can read what I wrote, and what others are writing here

I am part of a writing project conceived by JR Woodward.  My post will go up on JR’s website on Tuesday April 21st. The task is as follows: From the streets of LA to the skyscrapers of NYC, from the flats of London to the halls of academia, people are discussing the Good News. In [...]

Professional clergy are in constant danger of being so consumed by their congregational duties that ministry in their local neighborhood is minimized or neglected altogether. The demands of the institution press upon the pastor with a vengeance. This often leaves the pastor, as well as the congregation, un-engaged and isolated from their wider community. This [...]

Tomorrow is Easter. As a preacher turned seminary professor, I am agitated today. Preachers everywhere tomorrow get to proclaim once again the amazing story of the Easter event.  That event not only was unprecidented historically, but continues to impact history, lives, neighborhoods and cultures.  The Easter story, proclaiming that Jesus is risen, offers hope.  It [...]

Hi all! I have been away for sometime. Sorry about that!  I just finished my dissertation and sent it off to the Research Librarian at Fuller Theological Seminary for a final look over. I will be earning my PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller in June.  My dissertation concerns a missional imagining for denominational structures that [...]