Articles by Kevin Baird

I have my own personal interest in the latest news coming out of the United Methodist Church General Church Conference. As many may already be aware (in a nutshell) the UMC denomination has opened its doors to full inclusion and participation of LGBTQ+ persons in the ministry. Those clergy members who may have been defrocked or licenses suspended in years past for officiating or assimilating S/S marriages or ministry as per their manual of Discipline, will now be restored to full ministerial status within its circles.

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When Eric Metaxas’ book was released, Letter to the American Church, I made sure I quickly secured my copy. His previous books, Martin Luther, and Bonhoeffer were both interesting and compelling works to read. As a former local church pastor, college professor, and current director of Church Engagement with a state-based policy organization, his premise in Letter to the American Church, solicited both my interest and anticipation. It was with equal interest that I have also viewed the recent release of the movie under the same name. The movie was a source of concern within the state policy organization I work for due to a donor who asked that we consider promoting this movie at a high visibility event we were hosting. The conversation swirled specifically around the 90-second marketing trailer which was being asked to be shown and whether its presentation at our event constituted an “endorsement” or just an “advertisement”. In much the same way vendors set up their tables for closely related events, could this trailer be presented to our audience? It caused no small discussion with opinions across the theological and practical spectrum.

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I recently was visiting with an Episcopal Priest (Ph.D. from Oxford no less), and he mentioned the concept of the “third place”. It has nothing to do with the position one might achieve in an athletic competition, but rather the sociological identification of the space we humans occupy as a priority in our life. For example, the first place would probably our home. The second place might be the workplace. But what occupies the third place and beyond that, what SHOULD occupy the third place?

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This is an edited repost from a previous year but I think it’s worthy of consideration…

January 1st has no inherent magical quality which transforms you into the person you always wanted to be…

It does, however, provide a starting line for you to begin the important, often times arduous journey, of implementing important change and prioritization in your life…

Seven areas to consider (at least I do):

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