church/state – Salvaged Faith

Confession of a repentant iowa caucus skipper

Katie Z. — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:41:00 +0000

The eyes of the world were fixed on Iowa tonight and the 2012 caucuses. And I sat on the floor in my living room, a bowl of fresh baked cheesy spaghetti in hand, and watched on television. If I were to be asked for excuses for not going, I probably would have started by saying...

Bible and Newspaper #1

Katie Z. — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:08:00 +0000

Coming home from a recent conference in Washington, D.C., I’m trying to be more courageous. But I’m also faced with the reality that being a pastor, and ministering to a diverse group of folks… I can’t always link and share and say everything that I want to… So, here is what I am going to...

a few bytes of inspiration

Katie Z. — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:30:00 +0000

I took copious notes at the recent GBCS forum I attended in Washington, D.C. And then I came home and had hoped to decipher and debrief, but ran smack into four funerals and piles of mail and pastoral visitation needs, and a husband who missed me, and family gatherings… you get the picture. But remember,...

Judicial Retention and the Trust Clause of the UMC

Katie Z. — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:50:00 +0000

This week in Iowa, three Supreme Court Justices were voted out of office. And I’m a little upset about it. A huge part of my frustration comes from the fact that they were voted out because of a homophobic reaction to one decision they made during the course of their tenures. In a unanimous ruling...

The Other Two… Christ & the Holy Spirit

Katie Z. — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:04:00 +0000

What changes has the practice of ministry had on your understanding of a) the “lordship of Jesus Christ,” and b) the work of the Holy Spirit? In my ministry, my understanding of the lordship of Christ has not changed much at all, but I have had the opportunity to preach and teach the Kingdom that...

the one we are waiting for

Katie Z. — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:49:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, our president spoke before the nation and an audience at West Point to announce a surge in military personnel in Afghanistan. This on the heels of being named the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. And only a week before Barack Obama accepted the prize in Oslo. The two are in so many...

torture, ethics, and the state

Katie Z. — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:50:00 +0000

I commented at the end of my last post about a survey which shows Christians are more likely to support torture than non-church goers. Here is what my friend Matt has to say: The Truth As Best I Know It: The Danger of Supporting Torture: “We can give all the lip-service we want to the...

thinking ecumenically and maybe a little politically

Katie Z. — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Lately, I have been having quite a few conversations, theologically and politically with fellow pastors. It would be fair to say that my current colleagues are more conservative than my colleagues in seminary or college. And what amazed me was the fear that “liberal” colleagues expressed 8 years ago over the Bush administration are the...

marriage: job of the state or of the church

Katie Z. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:44:00 +0000

...why it is that clergy are able to sign that piece of paper. It is because we are licensed by an approved body (the church). Or rather, it is because the state recognizes the license I already have. I could get licensed by the state to perform weddings, as a friend of mine did, but I already have a license. No need. Also - the only real "official" thing clergy does as far as the state is concerned is sign the piece of paper...

Lectionary Leanings

Katie Z. — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:42:00 +0000

After preaching last week on who is missing… I feel obligated to listen for God’s word on how we reach those that we have named. This week’s lectionary readings, have me thinking about going to where people are – instead of waiting for them to come to you. Romans has this great two step plan...