Darryl W. Stephens

During these summer months, I have been teaching and learning about the diaconate of all believers at Otterbein UMC, Lancaster, PA. We started by sharing how each of us volunteers in service in the community. Then, we asked, Where is God in these relationships? Listen to our podcast about “Diakonia, how and why we serve … Read more

Today’s post is by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Frank, retired, University Professor and Associate Dean of Continuing Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Wake Forest University. His publications include Polity, Practice, and the Mission of The United Methodist Church (2006) and The Soul of the Congregation (2000). Sometimes it seems like Christians are the … Read more

Today’s post is written by the Rev. Amy Banka, pastor of Hopewell Church, Downington, PA. Pastor Amy delivered this speech at the conclusion of the Eastern Pennsylvania annual conference, on May 20, 2023. The conference theme was “possibility.” The affiliation and change to which she refers is a bishop-led, “strategic direction” in which the EPA … Read more

“Bivocational and Beyond offers an insightful and solidly researched entrée into the strange new landscape of part-time and bivocational ministry, not as an indicator of failure in the metrics of numbers and money, but as a rich, new possibility for calling forth Christ’s people in God’s mission.” Ross Bartlett, Reading Religion, April 2023 “an ambitious, informative resource … Read more

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In this day and age of #MeToo and #ChurchToo, churches are on the front lines. Assault victims sometimes confide in clergy and other church leaders when they feel there is nowhere else to turn. Churches are also places of violation. Yesterday, yet another report of decades of abuse and … Read more

I’m seeing stars! Thank you to everyone who has taken time to rate and review one of my books on Amazon. Your ratings and reviews make a huge difference. If you’ve read one of my more recent books, please consider taking a few minutes to offer your review—even if you didn’t buy it from Amazon. … Read more

Join me for a conversation about The United Methodist Church, disaffiliation, and shared discipline. The Rev. Dr. Jonette Gay interviewed me in February 2023 on the podcast of Otterbein UMC, Lancaster, “Hey! Hey! Anybody Listening!”

Diakonia of the Americas and Caribbean (DOTAC) is hosting a series of virtual seminars in May on the theme, “Perspectives on the Diakonia of All Believers.” I am honored to be among the presenters (download flyer). Please join us to learn more about ministries of love, justice, word, and service.

COVID, racism, institutional change—trauma is all around us. The project, “Trauma-Informed Classroom Teaching at Lancaster Theological Seminary,” equipped our faculty to improve classroom learning for students with existing and ongoing trauma histories. We became trauma-aware, the first step in becoming trauma-informed. We are still on a journey from classroom to community. Read more in my … Read more

So grateful for the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Soto Albrecht! She shared a vision and invited me to accompany her in a collaboration. The result was the book, Liberating the Politics of Jesus: Renewing Peace Theology through the Wisdom of Women, now #4 on Amazon’s list: I’m humbled to be among these giants of liberation theology: … Read more