I’ve really lost a lot of steam as a pastor. And a huge part of it is watching hip, conservative church starts flourish while I bust my tail to innovate within a gigantic old structure AND preach a message of love, equity, and inclusivity.
Preaching love & justice doesn’t sell. I don’t sell a sexy enough brand or something. It absolute CRUSHES me when anti-LGBTQ+ & anti-feminist churches seem to grow with ease. I hate feeling that envy and frustration. But it’s also just like beating my head against a wall.
The kicker is when their parishioners say to me, “I’m so much more in line with you theologically, but all of my friends go to Church X.” Or when I get to clean up the toxic theology & tend the trauma wounds of people who have twisted themselves into pretzels to match the dogma.
Writing this thread has brought something together for me. What I have thought was burnout might really be heartbreak. Losing “The Church” again & again to what is really #ChristianNationalism & tribalism. I didn’t want any of that. I want to practice a Love that is RADICAL.
Wow. So. Hello, good morning. Lovely to meet you all. I pastor @StCharlesAveBC here in the magical city of New Orleans. My gratitude for my church is tremendous. I am proud of who they are & the space they hold. My frustration & 💔 with the whole system lives alongside that.
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