Archive for the ‘Theology’ Category

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I’m still here.

April 21, 2009

Hello all.  It has been almost two months since my last post.  I am sorry to be so slow with updating my blog.

Today I am in Washington, D.C., with the Lewis Fellows program.  We just had a session about Fruitful Leadership with Lovett Weems.  He pointed out the need for clergy to fulfill all three of these areas (skill sets): Character, Competence, …. AND Contribution.  He talked about the importance of asking about the fruits of our work and ministries. Lovett used the phrase, “so that” to get at the heart of our fruit and contribution.

To explain: we do the various aspects of our ministry (worship, preaching, visiting persons in the hospital, praying with people, visioning, facilitating meetings, etc.)….so that… (here we would fill in the fruit we plan to produce and harvest).  The practice of asking the “so that” question is vital to get at the heart of why we do what we do, or to what end.  It is really all about vision and the calling God places on us as clergy leaders and as congregations!

Lovett invited us to discern the fruit of the following practices to try this question out:

we worship…so that…_____________
we have a choir…so that…_____________
we have ushers…so that…_____________
we have a bulletin…so that…_____________

How we answer each of these questions ought to line up with one another and connect with the larger vision of our church!  Try it for yourself!

There are other learnings from the Lewis Fellows program that I want to reflect upon, but asking the “so that” fruit question is one of the most helpful!

Posted in Church Leadership, Ministry, Theology, Young Clergy | Leave a Comment »

New Page – More About Me

January 15, 2009

It is amazing that the most popular page/post of this blog is the one about me (232 views as of Jan 15, 2009).  I guess that is normal.  If I like a site/blog, I usually want to learn about the author…and am often left wishing there was more info.  So, this is my attempt at providing a little more story, background, and juicy details (OK, not really)!

Clergy Family:
Maybe the most unique part of my story is that I am a UM clergyperson, as is my wife, her sister, and the sister’s husband!  Yep.  All four of us (two sisters and their husbands) are UM clergy.  All four of us went to seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology and now serve in the state of Kansas.  Here is a pic from when Shelly was ordained, with all of us together in a row.


Pastoral Journey:
I have been very blessed with some really cool (and very diverse) pastoral placements since 2000.  I first served as the circuit riding pastor (not a horse but a Dodge Stratus) for three small-membership congregations south of the Kansas City Metro area – Parker, Beagle, and Fontana UMCs.  It was a really great first appointment.  The people really took as part of their ministry the raising up of new clergy leaders.  I was blessed!  I lived half of the week in Parker and the other half in Kansas City, MO. 

When I graduated from seminary (with a Master of Divinity degree) I moved to Northeast Philadelphia.  It was culture shock no doubt, but a really cool adventure!  Over the course of the first two years I served as the pastor of two congregations in urban settings with changing neighborhoods (Tabernacle Memorial and Central/Rehoboth UMCs).  I served part-time while attending Princeton Theological Seminary seeking a Master of Theology degree in Biblical Interpretation: New Testament.  (I had thought I might be called to a ministry of teaching in a seminary.)

My third and final year in PA was one where I served and focused my ministry on one congregation – Bristol: Harriman UMC.  It was an opportunity to focus more on my local church ministry and the importance of its context and local community.  I also enjoyed my role within the Conference Committee on Finance and Administration.

In 2006 Shelly and I shared in being placed together in a larger membership church in Olathe, KS.  Yes, we came back to our home state.  We were both Associate Pastors (not main preaching pastors, but had other more specialized ministries).  I served as the pastoral of discipleship and evangelism for Grace UMC of Olathe.  Much of my ministry was that of adult education, helping people get connected, and reaching out with various ministries. 

I hope to provide more information – or change it at times.  Let me know your thoughts!  Dustin

Posted in Church Leadership, Clergy Couples, Family, Kansas, Ministry, Theology | Leave a Comment »

Grace to Goodland – 4 of 6

November 11, 2008

As I continue this back and forth engagement with my hopes and griefs, I turn today to name a grief of mine as we leave Olathe.  It is really tied to the blessing that Shelly and I have connected well with a group of younger united methodist clergy in the KC Metro area.  Across the denomination the number of younger clergy is very low, about 4.5% of all elders, yet in the KC Metro area there is a higher concentration of us.  Shelly and I have been able to share meals, travel to local clergy and church events, travel to the Holy Land, and really connect with our peers in ministry in this area.  Thus I am grieving that we will soon be further from them.

One of our friends offered a rebuttal that even though we will live across the state from each other, that doesn’t mean we cannot be connected.  Most of us subscribe to one another’s blogs.  Most of us are on Facebook and are friends with each other.  Technology today allows people to be connected in new ways, not possible before.  Plus we will still be able to reunite at annual meetings – either KS area professional seminar or annual conference! 

Finally, this new opportunity will allow Shelly and I to connect with and support the more scattered younger clergy in Kansas West.  We may have further to travel, but there is great potential to be bound together for life and ministry! 

Thanks to the many people who have supported, loved, challenged, and called us to greater depth in faith and greater heights in vision!

Posted in Church Leadership, Clergy Couples, Family, Kansas, Ministry, Theology, Young Clergy | 1 Comment »

Grace to Goodland – 3 of 6

November 10, 2008

I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the Goodland congregation into God’s vision for us. I enjoy thinking and visioning about what opportunities of discipleship and ministry are possible, and then to equip, encourage, and lead the congregation into that preferred future. The ministry of vitalizing local churches has at its heart going deeper and going out – going deeper in our relationship with God, and going out to engage the community and invite others into relationship with God and being disciples of Jesus Christ. From the learning I have gained at Grace and especially through the Lewis Fellows (via the Lewis Center for Church Leadership) I hope to help the congregation name and claim a vision for their lives and ministry to both make disciples and transform the world!

Posted in Church Leadership, Family, Kansas, Ministry, Theology | Leave a Comment »

Shelly graduates from Drew

October 28, 2008

This past Friday, the 24th of October, Shelly was awarded the degree of Doctor of Ministry from Drew University in Madison, NJ.  We flew to New York City with family on Thursday so that we could attend the graduation and reception.  On Saturday we returned to Kansas. 

Shelly’s focus (the track she was in) was Worship, Spirituality, and Preaching.  She engaged the spiritual disciplines, especially how we might connect with God through the use of a labyrinth; one was erected at Grace as part of the project.  The thesis paper was called: “Walking the Labyrinth of Our Faith: From the Frontier to the Future.” 

Here are a few pictures of the graduation!

Posted in Church Leadership, Family, Kansas, Theology | 1 Comment »

Lewis Fellows in Kansas City

October 28, 2008

Last week I was with the Lewis Fellows for our October meeting here in Kansas City.  Our focus for this session was that of engaging context and the different ministries that are shaped by our context.  We visited five ministries sites in the metro area, talked with leaders in those places, and also learned tools to strengthen our spiritual health and church finances. 

On the 21st we visited The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and spent time visiting with Adam Hamilton (after reading his book, Leading Beyond the Walls, in preparation).  We also shared time visiting Jacob’s Well and talking with Tim Keel (after reading his book, Intuitive Leadership, in preparation). 

On the 22nd we then visited Revolution Church, including their Neighbor to Neighbor program of developing community and sustaining new hope for the disenfranchised of that area.  We then visited Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, talking about their current ministry and need for transformation within that community.  Finally, we visited the Center of Grace Mission and Outreach Center of Grace United Methodist Church!  It was really cool to share with my peers the ministry we are engaging via the Center! 

Check out my flickr photostream for pics. Here is one of them!

Posted in Church Leadership, Ministry, Theology, Young Clergy | Leave a Comment »

The Parables of Jesus class begins today

September 17, 2008

Check out this trailer for my new online Lay Academy class:

I am excited that the Parables of Jesus (online version) begins today!  This is really a new and different way of connecting people and doing adult education.  Those participating already have offered so many great voices to the group! 

If you would like to learn more or join this class, email me and I can work to get you registered.

Posted in Ministry, Theology | Leave a Comment »

My ministry at Saint Paul

September 16, 2008

Last Tuesday, the 9th, I began a new role at Saint Paul School of Theology in the contextual education program.  I am a Supervisory Group Leader for the Engaging Local Ministries (ELM) class throughout the fall into the spring.  Each week I will facilitate a small group of seminary students as they reflect upon their ministries in the local church and find ways to strengthen their self understanding and skills. 

I am very excited to be a part of this program, allowing me to stay connected with the seminary, and to strengthen relationships with the new pastoral leaders coming into the local church – United Methodist and other.  I look forward to the practical theology that we will engage as we reflect upon the ministries to which God has called us.  I hope to foster an environment where they can recognize and reflect upon God’s work in their lives and future.

Posted in Church Leadership, Ministry, Theology | Leave a Comment »

Lay Academy at Grace is Here!

September 9, 2008

The Lay Academy brochure is now available for the Fall 2008.  There are offerings of classes in Bible, theology, mission and justice, stewardship, and discipleship living. 

The ones that I would like to highlight are Disciple I Bible study (an great way to engage the whole of the Bible), an online class that I am teaching about the parables of Jesus, and even a one-day retreat to strengthen couples’ relationship.  I hope you will check out the brochure in pdf and sign up: Lay Academy Brochure – Fall 2008. 

Email me if you have questions, comments, or if you want to sign up for a class!

Posted in Bible, Family, Ministry, Theology | Leave a Comment »

Parables of Jesus Blog

August 25, 2008

I am going to be teaching a Lay Academy class online this fall; it is called The Parables of Jesus.  Through the blog we will be using a video curriculum that I have been able to make available online, but only to those who sign up for the course (for copyright protection).  The video curriculum comes from www.modernparables.com, providing six parables in modern form.

If you have interest in this class, send me an email and I will add you to the roster.  The cost of the course is $15, which is for the curriculum and a study book you will recieve.  This will be a new adventure in connecting people, I hope you will consider joining us!

Posted in Bible, Ministry, Theology | Leave a Comment »

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