Dear Caldwell, One of the books I am reading before my second round of intensive doctorate-in-ministry classes in June is by one of the great Old Testament scholars, Dr. Walter Brueggemann of Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta. It’s titled The Practice of Prophetic Imagination: Preaching An Emancipated Word. As we travel from Sunday to Sunday …
Dear Caldwell, For decades, Caldwell has “nested” non-profit agencies in need of low-cost office space, an expression of our ministry of hospitality that builds community. Hospice of Charlotte got its start here. More recently, the Islamic School of Charlotte, the Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, Partners for Out of School Time (POST) and others have called Caldwell …
Dear Caldwell, One of the first people to ever encourage me to consider ministry was the late Jack Tate. A banker and civic leader, Jack also had a deep passion for the future of the church. He organized a group of business, civic and church leaders to help identify college students who showed gifts for …
Dear Caldwell, Sometimes, as we begin the Affirmation of Faith in worship, I ask from the lectern, “Sisters and brothers, what do you believe …?” What usually follows is a written statement, old or new, that is an expression, a claim of belief. We call these “creeds” which comes from the Latin word credo, for …
Dear Caldwell, In “churchy language,” the word proclamation often refers to the act of preaching. But we all “proclaim” the gospel, in our actions, in our living and in our witness to Christ in all we do. I’m reading a book by the great Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann titled, “The Practice of Prophetic Imagination: …
Dear Caldwell, What do you think of when you hear the word “community?” That word came up several times in a rich conversation at Theology on Tap last night and it will be a central idea in Evie’s message on Sunday. We might think of it as the “word of the week” as we travel …
Dear Caldwell, Have you come to the Caldwell family in the last year? Wonder where Presbyterianism came from and, more important, where it’s going? Questions about what’s behind our patterns of worship? Want to know more about Caldwell’s history, resurrection and tour the campus? Looking for your place in ministry here? Want to know what …
Dear Caldwell, I am in an Easter state of mind. That’s what I told the staff at our meeting today, as we caught our breath and “checked in” with each other. I thank you for that – you who helped glorify and serve God in so many ways through Lent and Holy Week, you who …
Dear Caldwell, Have you walked today with Jesus through arrest, trial, beating, crufixion and burial? Those are the steps, the stations of the cross, that are laid out for us to take along the back hallways of the church. They will remain in place for our reflection and participation. As the prayer vigil winds down, …
Dear Caldwell, Many have kept the vigil through the night since our Maundy Thursday service last night. The stations of the cross have been created with remarkable depth and artistry in the hallways behind the sanctuary. I hope you can make time to help keep vigil and reflect on Christ’s humility on the cross and …
