Next Holiday on the Chopping Block: Christmas?

Posted on December 16, 2025 by smaxreisert

The Trump Administration recently announced that, through the National Park Service, two days on the United States calendar that enjoyed “free admission” status have been removed. The two days that are now no longer free admission holidays for the National Park Service: Martin Luther King, Jr Day and Juneteenth. Both holidays revolving around Black Americans. Although the President has bemoaned the, in his mind, too-long list of “non-working” holidays, his Administration has added quite a few days to the National Park list of free entrance days: Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday); Memorial Day; Flag Day (which, surprise, surprise, happens to be Trump’s birthday); Independence Day; the birthday of the NPS; Constitution Day; and, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday. Veterans’ Day was, and will remain, a free day.

Take away two Black-oriented days. Add White Man Days.

Is this just the beginning of a more serious effort to alter the list of federally recognized holidays?

If so, and if the Administration is really intent on removing anything that smacks of “diversity and inclusion,” it ought to set its focus on Christmas.

At Christmas, Christians celebrate the Incarnation, the birth of the Son of God, born to an ordinary young woman betrothed to an ordinary guy, in a no-name backwater of a place on the edge of nowhere. More importantly, though, is that the birth of the Son of God happened in what we now know as the Middle East— where brown people live. Yes, despite your granny’s favorite portrait of a fair-skinned, blue-eyed Jesus with lovely light-brown locks (at least, that was my grandmother’s favorite depiction of Jesus, hung on her wall at the top of the stairs, just outside her bedroom), Jesus didn’t look like that.

Jesus was brown (or maybe light brown, but not fair), with dark hair.

And, perhaps worse still, according to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus and his family had to escape at some point after the birth, to Egypt, to escape Herod who was so hell-bent on removing any threat to his power that he ordered the slaughter of all of boys under two years of age in the area (it’s important to note here that, though this is a story of significance to many Christians, there is no historical backing for the story, which many historians feel there would be, if there had been an order to slaughter young children for the stated purpose). Their escape made them refugees in need of a safe haven— asylum seekers, if you will.

Why is this Jesus guy given a federal holiday in the United States? He is so remarkably NOT American, and by way of his birth, not aligned with American principles that we Americans supposedly all hold dear. Why are we celebrating a non-white person with a federally recognized holiday, especially when that non-white person also lived part of his life, according to one chronicler, in a state of asylum seeking? And, then went on into adulthood teaching such terrible, unAmerican things like sharing possessions, denouncing the wealthy and powerful, loving neighbors (including enemies), looking out for the well-being of the poor, and eschewing violence?

Posted in current-events, Holy-Days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons I Should Have Learned in Divinity School: Mind Reading?

Posted on December 6, 2025 by smaxreisert

As Old South prepared itself for a major decision-making point and a special meeting of the congregation, the governing board thought it would be a good idea to offer a pre-game gathering, a time for people to ask questions and share their thoughts and concerns, without the pressure of a vote at the same time. At this pre-game gathering, though, there was little in the way of questions, only a couple, and just a concern or two. The whole thing, including introductory comments from a couple of people from the governing board, lasted thirty minutes.

The following day, the moderator of the congregation received a lengthy email from one of those who attended the gathering. The email expressed complete and utter outrage that this person’s questions and concerns were not addressed— even though that person never said a word!

Another person at that gathering expressed grief and heartbreak regarding where the church finds itself, and then started to formulate a question, directed to me, in a not very direct way. When I asked for more information, so that I might be able to respond in a helpful way, the person was noticeably irked and had difficulty in finding the right words to articulate a concise question, yet also made it clear that at least part of the problem was me. Why was I having so much difficulty understanding what was in her head?

In another recent classic church episode, one church member (#1) spoke to another church member (#2) regarding an issue that she, #1, wanted me to address. So, person #2 contacted me about the issue and then I contacted #1 about a plan of action. In #1’s response, she declared that she was hoping that something would happen regarding the issue in question— even though she had had no intention of bringing it to me herself.

These are just a few examples of occasions when it’s been clear that there is, among some, a certain expectation that somehow the rite of ordination bestows the gift of mind reading upon the new pastor, a skill that s/he will employ meaningfully throughout their career. Time and time again, over these many years, I have found myself in awkward situations that revolve around my inability to see directly into a parishioner’s mind and to perceive clearly their question, concern, or worry.

When I was in divinity school many years ago, I’m quite sure there were no course offerings that included lessons on how to read the minds of others, including those who attend church worship on a regular basis and are actively involved beyond worship. Truth be told, there is something alluring about the prospect of being able to read the minds of the people who attend Old South regularly, and to know more fully what they might be thinking. Yet, I’m also quite sure that I probably don’t want to know.

To be fair to my congregation, and perhaps other congregations as well, I have had, over the years, several people who not only assume that I cannot read their minds, but have been all too willing to make sure they find ways of telling me directly exactly what they are thinking. I remember one gentleman, a man who died over a decade ago, who was offended by something I said or did about once or twice a year. When I arrived at the church for Tuesday office hours following one of those offensive events, there he would be, waiting for me. There was another gentleman who would come storming into the parish house, if he saw my vehicle in the parking lot, to let me know the latest thing I had said or done that had sent him into paroxysms of annoyance. And, then there was the woman who wasn’t a member of Old South very long, but came in for a visit shortly before she moved out of state, to inform me that I was “doing it all wrong.” In each and all of these, the conversations that ensued were not easy, but they were always beneficial— to both parties.

And, none of them demanded any mind reading at all.

Ministry, as a unique relationship between pastor and parishioner, is oftentimes a delicate and complex dance. When both pastor and parishioner are able to be open, honest and trusting, the fruits of good relationship unfold with blessing after blessing. When, on the other hand, a parishioner expects the pastor to magically discern what’s on their heart and mind, the result is frustration and a decidedly warped relationship that doesn’t feed the spirt or faith of either.

Even if a course in mind reading were available, it probably wouldn’t actually be all that useful. There’s something significant in the articulation of one’s thoughts to another, parishioner to pastor, and the reverse. As I have experienced with those who have been more than willing to share their anger and frustrations with me, the opportunity for a broader and deeper relationship, with mutual understanding, is powerfully meaningful.

I very much miss those Tuesday morning visits with that long-time parishioner and the random visits from the other, both usually starting from anger but always ending in understanding and growth. But, I doubt I’ll ever miss the angry email outlining unknown questions I mysteriously never answered, or the “hopes” of other parishioners who seem more comfortable in game-playing than in building pathways of good relationship. Ministry is hard enough. Best not to complicate it still more by demanding the skills of the psychic.

Posted in My Life as Pastor | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ridiculous, Stupid and Incredibly Scary

Posted on November 1, 2025 by smaxreisert

“We’re saving Christianity. We’re saving God. We’re saving the family unit. We’re saving the nation.” Eric Trump, on the podcast, “The Benny Show” (October 2025)

It was a shocking moment, to be sure, when Eric Trump declared that the Trump regime and the Trump family, especially the leader of the clan, are basically “saving” not just civilization, but even the deity that many Americans claim to worship, along with the associated religious institution. In addition to this stunning statement, Eric also asserted, without question or humility, that his father is certainly going to heaven, as if he’s the judge of such things. All the while, the host smiled and nodded his head in approval. The remarks did not go entirely unnoticed. Comments were offered by a variety of people, claiming that Eric Trump’s assertions were not only wrong, but betrayed an extraordinary lack of understanding of what it actually means to worship God and to practice the Christian faith. The backlash, though, was not as resounding as it should have been, especially among those who are close to the President and his family.

Given the daily avalanche of disquieting actions and messages, one ridiculous quote uttered by a ridiculous (and not especially bright) Trump son on a ridiculous podcast is probably not significant enough for more than a brief dollop of outrage. Still, the quote is one that lingers in my mind as it offers yet another underscoring note of the profoundly problematic worldview of the Trump family. Now that their views and their ways are as tentacles proliferating and invading every aspect of American life, I wonder about the state of American Christianity, and its prospects for the future.

When the then former President Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania in July of 2024, he suggested that he felt that the hand of God had intervened in that moment of shocking violence and that, perhaps, he was saved from death by God himself, for God’s purposes.

It seems that that equation has now been flipped. It’s not God doing the intervening and the saving. It’s Trump himself, with his family in supporting roles.

Eric Trump’s declaration, during an interview on The Benny Show podcast offers a dangerous and frightening step into the morphing of the MAGA movement into a religion itself. It may have the trappings of Christianity, it may share a similar language, but the content, the purpose, the identity is wholly different. And that’s a very scary thing.

While a significant number of MAGA enthusiasts claim that they are adherents of the Christian religion, many of the characteristics of MAGA are not in any way in line with the basic tenets of Christianity and the teachings of Jesus— loving God and neighbor, including those who hate you; the welcome of “outsiders”; kindness to the marginalized; care for widows and orphans; etc. With Trump now characterized as the “saver,” a word alarmingly close to “savior,” where is this movement going? In what ways will the essential elements of Christianity be overrun and cast aside by the demands of the MAGA movement? Will the idolization of Trump slide into deification?

It may seem stupid and ridiculous, but it’s also incredibly scary, and still more alarmingly, not at all outside the realm of possibility.

Posted in current-events | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Kind of “Christians” Are These?

Posted on October 15, 2025 by smaxreisert

There’s a certain pastor who’s having his big moment in the spotlight. I’m reluctant to spell out his name because I don’t want to add to that spotlight. But, what he is preaching and sharing is deeply disturbing and unsettling. He’s yet one more “Christian” pastor whose understanding of the Christian message is profoundly different from mine.

This pastor was recently interviewed by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, as part of his “Interesting Times” series. The pastor is a Christian nationalist who claims to be a “theocratic libertarian.” He believes that the entire United States must acknowledge “the authority of God,” and by that he means his “Christian” concept of God. He is the pastor of a supposedly growing network of churches (Pete Hegseth is a member of one of these churches) that endeavors to incorporate, as part of their mission, the re-creation of a strictly patriarchal society. Among the features of this society is the idea that voting in elections should be exercised by household units (rather than by individuals), and that the male of the household is the decider of how votes are cast. This pastor not so long ago declared, during an interview with CNN, that “women are the kind of people that people come out of,” as if the bearing of children provides the only worth of female human beings.

In one part of the interview with Mr. Douthat, the pastor makes a rather startling assertion, declaring that we, in the United States, “should stop making God angry.” When asked to elaborate, the pastor outlined “awful crimes” for which the American public needs to repent: “no more pride parades; no more drag queen story hours; no more abortion on demand; no more legalized same sex unions . . . .” Douthat asked for clarification on this point: “So you’re a libertarian on how people worship, but you’re not a libertarian on who they sleep with. Is that right?” The answer: “yes.”

How can it be that these our most egregious sins in God’s eyes?

What about issues like child poverty? According to the Children’s Defense Fund, in their 2023 State of America’s Children Report: among the 74 million children living in the U.S., 11 million lived in poverty; one in six of those children were under the age of five (the highest rate of any age group); almost half of those children lived in severe or extreme poverty; 9 million children faced food insecurity; and, 4 million children lived without health insurance. In the state where the pastor is based, the poverty rate of children under the age of five was 17.6% between 2016 and 2020.

In terms of what the pastor is most concerned with: in 2022, only 2.3% of all marriages in the state where he is based were same-sex marriages. As of mid-2025, only 1.2% of all married couple households are same-sex in the entire United States.

It’s appalling that the growing ranks of these so-called “Christians” are more concerned with sexual behaviors and gender identity— issues that are not central themes of the Bible— and less focused on those issues that are highlighted again and again in our holy scriptures, like poverty, welcoming strangers, compassion, and justice. This pastor, of a growing network of churches and followers, says that he is interested in having society “follow the Bible.” The Bible, though, seems to be solely summed up in the Ten Commandments which he believes should then become the law of the land.

Somehow, the Greatest Commandment is nowhere to be seen:

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NRSV)

While I’m not exactly comfortable making a declaration about what I think makes God angry, or not, I am comfortable accepting that Jesus clearly laid out the priorities for people of faith. Jesus could have spent time preaching on the importance of posting the Ten Commandments all over the place, of instituting and maintaining a patriarchal society, of castigating those outside of white heterosexuality, but he didn’t.

The pastor’s “vision” of a Christian society is something that appears to align more closely with his personal hopes and dreams for the United States, rather than one that is shaped by holy scripture. To call himself a “Christian,” much less one who believes that he may speak for God, this pastor (as well as others like him), might be considered “interesting” for the times in which we live. And, that’s too bad. In these interesting times, we could really use a more faithful approach to how we live out the lessons and stories of the Christian faith.

Posted in current-events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Wondrous Hate Is This

Posted on September 24, 2025 by smaxreisert

At the five-hour mashup of memorial service, evangelical Christian revival, and political rally for Charlie Kirk this past Sunday afternoon, President Trump articulated several incredibly troubling sentiments. The most important of these: his musings on hate. As part of his remarks, Mr. Trump declared, “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.” He then offered a follow up to Kirk’s widow who had just talked about love and had forgiven the assassin who had killed her husband, “Sorry Erika.” The tone, though, didn’t feel like he was actually sorry at all. Instead, it was more sorry, not sorry.

And since then: only the silence of evangelical leaders and pastors of evangelical churches regarding Mr. Trump’s assertion of hate rather than love, vengeance rather than forgiveness. I’m sure those leaders weren’t exactly surprised that the President invoked hate during the service, since expressing hatred is one of the things that the President is good at. Still, the silence— yet again— of the evangelical community in response to decidedly unchristian things the President says is staggering and insulting to anyone who actually tries to walk in the ways of the Christian faith.

The most basic, most foundational, most elemental of Christian values is love. The Gospel writers tell us that Jesus was very clear about love. One must love God with one’s whole being, and love one’s neighbor as oneself. It’s called the Greatest Commandment. In the Sermon on the Mount from, Matthew 5, Jesus taught:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [Matthew 5:43-48, NRSV]

Love is a hard road to follow, and most of us aren’t very good at living the greatest commandment, but it is the road that is set before each and every Christian. There is no other.

Evangelical leaders who choose to ignore or dismiss the hatred in the words and actions of Mr. Trump because, after all, Trump is accomplishing so many of the things on their “to do” list, demonstrate the flimsiness and vacuity of their own faith. Many of those evangelical leaders will observe that the President is not the “Pastor in Chief” and that there are examples in the Bible of unworthy people who end up doing what is assumed to be God’s will. It’s not that Mr. Trump must share the faith, as long as he’s getting evangelical projects done. To declare his hatred, though, of the “opponent” with such clarity during a Christian memorial service ought to be considered a complete out-of-bounds moment, especially as it undermined and showered contempt upon the grieving widow who, even in her profound grief, was able to speak anguished words informed and framed by the challenging faith she endeavors to follow. The disrespect shown to Erika Kirk by the President deserves a clear and vehement response from evangelicals.

I won’t hold my breath. But, I will grieve the continued abuses directed at the Christian faith, inflicted and promoted by those who claim to be Christians themselves.

Posted in current-events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fewer Buts Please

Posted on September 12, 2025 by smaxreisert

In recent weeks at Old South, as we contemplate yet another season without a viable offer for our real estate, there have been a number of discussions— large and small; formal and informal—about what to do next. Just keep on keepin’ on, wishing and hoping that a buyer will come around one of these days? Or, should be more proactive and begin the process of moving full-time into the parish house, mothballing the sanctuary building (find a new home for the organ or put it into storage, drain the pipes, turn off utilities, stop heating it, etc.)? In the midst of these discussions and wonderings, there’s something that feels a little strange. While most of the congregation has been willing, with a few even eager, to sell the sanctuary building, the suggestion that we decommission it has been met with resistance.

Throughout this stage of the process, there’s one word that has started to stand out to me, a word that feels like it is becoming an insurmountable obstacle to our ability to move forward in a meaningful and faithful way. What could that word be? It’s the word “but.”

“I know the best path forward is probably to mothball the sanctuary building, but I just can’t do it.” “I know it’s important that the sanctuary building not become our primary mission, but there’s just got to be another way.” “Mothballing the sanctuary building is probably the best way forward, but moving into the parish house only feels like the least bad of a lot of bad options.” “I would prefer to just keep doing what we are doing and wait for an offer, but that’s probably not reasonable.”

The “buts” are seriously getting in the way.

Here’s the situation: We have two buildings— a sanctuary building (sanctuary) and a parish house (offices, fellowship hall, kitchen). Both of the buildings require work. In maintenance, upkeep and renovation work, the sanctuary building far exceeds the needs of the parish house. When it comes to evaluating assets, the sanctuary doesn’t have much. It’s a good worship space and has a nice organ; not much else. Importantly, average worship attendance is now down to the low to mid 20s. With those numbers, the sanctuary makes the congregation feel even smaller (in the parish house, it’s the reverse). The sanctuary building was put on the market in January of 2024. The parish house was added earlier this year. While we have had several interested parties and a couple of offers (that were later withdrawn), we currently have no prospects of a new offer anytime soon. And winter is coming.

Our real estate agent assures us that there is a buyer out there somewhere, but will our wait for prince or princess charming become our undoing? For me, this process has peeled away the veneer that has shielded an important reality from us. For those of us who gather in the Old South sanctuary Sunday after Sunday, most find it to be a lovely and peaceful place, a space that conveys a sense of wonder and beauty, even if that beauty is faded and peeling. The reality, though, is that the building is a hugely demanding one that requires a great deal of energy and financial resources just to maintain. Renovating is a significant prospect for anyone who’s not incredibly wealthy. It’s also not a useful building for the kind of world we live in now and is not easily converted to other uses. The building is nestled into a hillside, with only two or three parking spots immediately adjacent to the building (all other parking is across the street, behind and beside the parish house). The sloping floor in the sanctuary itself, which is part of the structure of the building, is a sort of early version of stadium seating. Great for a great view. Not at all great if you have mobility issues or if want to transform it into anything other than performance space. And, those who have looked at it as potential performance space have eventually realized that it’s hard to have good performance space without good parking. And, then there’s the architecture and the roof. The soaring and distinctive clock tower, which seems to have been deliberately fashioned to be the tallest steeple in the town, is another troublesome element of the building, in terms of maintenance. The roof is slate, and, if the rumors are true, was installed by the company that offered the lowest bid and, let’s just say, cut a corner here and there, corners that are now showing themselves to be serious liabilities. Finally, the building—though not terribly large— is a complicated one with a complex design of ceiling and roof. This, of course, adds still more the costs of maintenance and improvement.

“I know we should probably decommission and mothball it, but I just can’t do it.”

But?? Why not? The longer this goes, the more eager I am to decommission and mothball the sanctuary building. It all feels like we are being led to notice and absorb that the sanctuary that we love is really a monument to hubris, a monument that was meant to signal prominence in a small town with too many churches, as if the building itself could take care of the call to be a witness to God’s love and care.

“I know it’s important that the sanctuary building not become our primary mission, but there’s just got to be another way.”

The “buts” are getting in the way of recognizing and appreciating some hard truths about the sanctuary building, that the building is eagerly and hungrily draining our resources, exhausting us all body, soul and endowment.

I’d rather put the “buts” aside and start working on some “ifs.” IF we mothball the sanctuary building, what might happen then? IF we were able to spend a lot less time fretting over such a complicated and costly physical structure, what new things might make themselves known? And, what might it be like to embrace that we are the witness to God’s love and not that building in which we gather?

Ifs could help us to see beyond the difficulties of the present and imagine a different and more meaningful tomorrow. Instead, we are caught under a whole lot of buts, that stifle our faith rather than feed it. Will we be able to find the courage and grace to heave the buts and embrace the ifs?

Posted in Buildings | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Confession, What Is It Good For?

Posted on August 24, 2025 by smaxreisert

As any good Christian ought to know, confession is in integral part of the faith experience. While I don’t think confession ought to be focused on beating oneself up for every shortcoming, especially to the point of mental, emotional and/or physical damage, it’s important that people of faith take a moment to take stock of themselves, their relationships with others, and the world in general— and confess failures, inconsistencies, and blatant resistance to things like the Golden Rule.

There’s an old Scottish proverb that declares that “confession is good for the soul.” Why is that? Confession offers an opportunity for honest reflection, to consider, meaningfully and purposefully, the ways through which an individual— or an entire community— has not lived up to basic elements of faith. For me, rage against some of the signage I encounter on a regular basis comes to mind— and my quick, and not very neighborly, use of certain gestures in response. There’s a house not far from mine that sports large pro-Trump banners, usually with at least one of those banners employing obscene language and/or imagery. When I’m heading to Old South, there’s a small group of old men who are often camped out at a certain intersection with lots and lots of anti-abortion signage, including misleading and just plain wrong information. It’s likely that my gestures in response are not seen by anyone other than myself. Still, I usually take a moment to confess, that that gesture that appears so quickly, and sometimes without any thought, is not in any way productive. And, that’s just a relatively small transgression.

Confession offers something of a mirror to take a good look at oneself, especially at one’s inner life, while also providing a moment for opening one’s heart and mind to God’s love and desire for reconciliation, an assurance of God’s pardon. Confession does the same for a community as well. Without confession, it’s all too easy to lapse into arrogance and a stunted connection with one’s community, with the Divine and with oneself. It is through confession that we are reminded, intimately, that we are not divine and always in need of not only love, but correction.

Although the United States is not a Christian nation— and let’s hope it stays that way— a sort of confession on a national scale is a good thing, and good for the national soul. It’s too bad that all of those supposedly good “Christian” advisors and staffers, along with congressional leadership, somehow haven’t got the memo about confession, and have failed to share with the President the benefits of reflecting on our national transgressions— like slavery.

The President recently wrote on his social media platform, “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been— Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.”

It’s hard to fathom how the President can possibly believe that we should minimize, or even ignore, the complete and utter wrongness of slavery and how it was practiced in the United States, along with the reality that the legacy of slavery continues to make its presence known in our society and culture today. Because of our lackluster and skittish national assessment of the evils of slavery over such a long stretch of time, we remain stuck in this strange and dangerous place, where we cannot experience reconciliation and stronger community connections and relationships.

There is no true accounting of “brightness” without an honest look at the wrongs of the past, along with a confession that acknowledges that the wrongs of the past continue to invade our national identity. If President Trump truly wants to celebrate “Success” and “Brightness,” his so-called Christian advisors ought to remind him that we cannot achieve such a thing without first confessing the horrors we have so brazenly tried to push aside. As the letter of James sums up nicely, “For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.” (James 5:16, CEB)

Posted in Bible, current-events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Haven’t Felt So Much Like a Teenage Girl in a Long, Long Time

Posted on July 31, 2025 by smaxreisert

The sanctuary building of Old South has been for sale for more than a year and a half. Over this time, the building has been visited and examined by quite a few possible suitors. A few have visited on multiple occasions, sometimes for hours at a time, taking a good long look all around. One of the suitors went so far as to propose— to make an offer— to engage in a long-term relationship with the sanctuary building. In the end, though, the suitor bailed, leaving the sanctuary building at its own altar, all alone. No note. No text. No explanation.

Then there was the time when a friend said that one of their friends would be a perfect match. After spending about ten minutes together, though, it was clear that that friend wasn’t interested even in a second date, let alone a longer relationship.

All of this has me feeling like a teenage girl who just wants to be, like her pals, in a long-term relationship. Yet, despite interest from various parties who have taken a good look at what I have to offer, nothing even remotely meaningful develops. Visit after visit comes to nothing.

What’s wrong with the sanctuary building? Did it say something you didn’t like? Is it not attractive enough? Is its conversation skills lacking? Is it not smart enough? Or maybe it’s too smart? Does it come across as too high maintenance? Sure, that might be a point, but it would be so worth it!

The sanctuary building knows that it could use a bit of spiffing up and I’ll grant you that the building is not the most accessible of buildings (inside and out), but it’s often described as “lovely” and it has a great personality! And check out that organ and that bone structure! Impressive.

It doesn’t help at all that there are other buildings very similar to ours that have found a new long-term someone special, sometimes in just a matter of months. Why not our building? How did we end up here, waiting, trying to keep up a positive attitude?

Our dating coach tells us to be patient, that there’s someone out there for us. But, I can’t help but be increasingly doubtful, and feeling like a forlorn teenage girl, wondering if I’ll ever meet that special someone.

Posted in Buildings | Tagged | Leave a comment

Let a Whole New Era Begin!?

Posted on July 12, 2025 by smaxreisert

“Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn’t lose tax-exempt status, IRS says in filing” [AP, 7/8/25]

“Churches can endorse political candidates to congregations, IRS says” [Reuters, 7/8/25]

According to a story in the New York Times this past Monday, the days of will they or won’t they, should they or shouldn’t they, when it comes to preachers and explicit endorsements of certain political candidates are over. We preachers can now say what we wish, and can endorse, or oppose, whomever we wish, from the pulpit, without risk. That is, without the risk of having the church stripped, by the IRS, of its nonprofit status.

When I read this little headline, and the accompanying story, I was initially completely taken aback, wondering why the story seemed buried in only a few newspapers. Why wasn’t everyone abuzz regarding this big change? Why wasn’t this front-page news? I realize there are terrible tragedies unfolding all around us— clearly much more important news. Still, this change in the relationship between churches and the IRS seems and feels like a huge shift in the world of churches, preachers and the connection between faith and politics.

Of course, there are a lot of questions about how this change will actually play out. Will some churches essentially become extensions of the offices of political candidates or arms of political action committees? How will parishioners actually feel about preachers endorsing certain candidates? What will happen when a preacher endorses a candidate that many of her/his/their parishioners deem unworthy of that endorsement? Will parishioners demand a thorough rendering of a preacher’s endorsement of a political candidate, with clear reasoning and connection to faith and scripture? Will preachers now take the place of certain newspapers that have abdicated the role of candidate endorsement?

To what extent will preachers be expected to endorse? Does this extend to local and county elected positions? And, what about primaries?

While there’s been plenty of endorsing going on over the years, in various ways, in churches across the United States, there’s also been a lot of confusion about the role of preacher in the realm of partisan politics. Christian preachers— and the congregations they lead— ought not consider the preacher to be ultimately beholden solely to the national enterprise. The calling of the preacher is to a higher authority and that requires that preachers recognize and appreciate the sometimes tricky road we walk.

According to an article in The Christian Century:

People in the US—including those who are religious—generally take a dim view of political endorsements in the pulpit. According to an analysis of 2023 polling provided by the Public Religion Research Institute, majorities of all major religious groups oppose or strongly oppose allowing churches and places of worship to endorse political candidates while retaining their tax-exempt status. That includes White evangelicals (62 percent) as well as Black Protestants (59 percent), White mainline or nonevangelical Protestants (77 percent), White Catholics (79 percent), Hispanic Catholics (78 percent), Hispanic Protestants (72 percent) and Jews (77 percent). [“Churches can endorse politicians, IRS says in court filing,” by Bob Smietana and Jack Jenkins, christiancentury.org, 7/8/25]

In what ways will this “dim view” toward political endorsements from the pulpit have sway? Enough to hold candidates at bay who eagerly court the attention of preachers? And, what about the community of preachers and denominations? Will a dangerous sort of competition set in— my preacher endorsed so-and-so, who did your preacher endorse? Will larger bodies, like denominations, try to influence the preaching of their pastors?

For certain candidates and for certain churches this may all seem like a dream come true. The endorsement of political candidates, the strong encouragement for individuals to vote a certain way, offered from the sanctity of the pulpit, is now without guardrails. It’s hard to see, though, that this is good news for American religious life, or the American political scene, for that matter. Religious communities ought to be appreciated for, and respected as, holding a different sort of place in the public square, as institutions that nurture and guide the spiritual development of individuals and communities for all dimensions of human life. It’s not that religious leaders ought to ignore politics, but when churches simply become spheres of partisanship, we all lose.

Posted in current-events | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The DEI Program Instituted by Jesus Christ

Posted on June 14, 2025 by smaxreisert

The current Administration in Washington appears to revel in dismantling DEI programs in as many aspects of American life as it can get its hands on— legitimately or not. Other conservative leaning politicians and leaders are also extolling the necessity of dismantling DEI programs. Embedded in the rhetoric is the notion that the smartest, most capable, most able of everything and anything are straight white men.

If the New Testament is to be believed and followed— especially the Gospels— it’s hard to imagine that Jesus would approve of the removal of DEI programs. How do I know this? It actually doesn’t take much digging into the Holy Book to appreciate that Jesus was (and is) all about inclusion, casting the net wider than one’s small, safe and predictable community, and beyond the realm of men. Let’s consider a few examples:

  1. The “confession” that Jesus is the Messiah belongs to Peter in Matthew, Mark and Luke. In John, it belongs to Martha: “She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” (John 11:27)
  2. One of Jesus’s most well-known parables, the Good Samaritan, features the good and selfless work of a man from one community/group who reaches out to a man from another community/group who is in desperate need of help. These two communities/groups despised each other in the first century.
  3. The Samaritans got another good shout out in John, when Jesus engaged in a fruitful— and nonjudgmental— conversation with a shunned Samaritan woman.
  4. In the Great Commission, in the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus encouraged his followers to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
  5. And, not to be forgotten, the news of Resurrection was given to Mary of Magdala, according to all four of the canonical Gospel writers.
  6. Finally, as a man from the Middle East, Jesus himself would have been more brown than white.

Jesus was generally known for hanging around with those who lived on the margins of society— tax collectors, prostitutes, etc. He also healed the sick (in body and/or spirit), touched lepers, and gave sight to the blind. In one of his more famous sermons, he lifted up the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the mournful and claimed that they were blessed. Most, if not all, of such people would be called, by the current President, “losers.”

Where are the so-called Christians in the Administration, the ones who ought to know— especially given the jewelry they sport around their necks— that the Christian faith is an inclusive faith, and that those who practice the faith are encouraged to be inclusive people, breaking down barriers, rather than putting up still more? I am not one who would claim that the United States is a Christian country— or ought to be— but the White House claims a special affinity for and to Christianity. Clearly, only in word.

It is simply appalling to witness the dismantling of programs and policies that have sought to put to good use the many different kinds of people who make up this ragtag nation of immigrants with grand visions of the “land of the free and home of the brave.” By doing so, this Administration, as well as others who follow the same policies, are rejecting some of the most essential qualities of the movement that Jesus Christ fashioned and inspired.

Posted in current-events | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment