Today this blog becomes very personal because I am going to begin the process of telling my own story. I am starting at the beginning because I have known many people in many different situations and locations over many years – after all I am now officially chronologically gifted – 66 years. It has been – and continues to be an interesting and wonderful journey.

I was born in the parsonage next door to the little white frame church where my grandparents served as Methodist missionaries to the Cherokee peoples in northeastern Oklahoma – technically in the little town of Bunch. We moved from Oklahoma to Kansas during the summer prior to my sixth grade year so my mother could accept a position as a second grade teacher in Augusta, Kansas – just east of Wichita. I pursued an undergraduate degree in piano performance at Friends University in Wichita, then enjoyed four marvelous years in the band program of the United States Air Force including an opportunity to see the world as part of the United States Air Force European Command Band in Wiesbaden, Germany. Following my adventure in the Air Force I completed a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting and Literature at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Later I completed all of the classwork for a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and Composition at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. In September, 2005 I entered the Master of Divinity degree program at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, graduating in May, 2008 and being ordained and installed as Associate Pastor for Discipleship at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas in March, 2009. I retired at the beginning of 2013 and then accepted my current part-time position as Director of Music Ministries for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church also here in Austin, Texas.

During my more than 30 years as a musician I served Presbyterian congregations in Houston and Austin in Texas, in Nashville, Tennessee, and my first position as a part-time musician at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kansas. I also served congregations that are part of the Disciples of Christ, United Methodist, and United Church of Christ, and was an active participant and volunteer director during my Air Force years at the Hainerberg Chapel in Wiesbaden, Germany. In addition to my service to the church I have also been active in professional musical theatre, symphonic work, and as a published and recorded composer and arranger.

I relate this history to let you know that my journey through the language of arts and the language of arts in worship has been as varied as the positions and situations that I have served – some large congregations and some small congregations – some very traditional congregations and some very non-traditional – some very concerned about being inclusive and many who have had little if any concern for inclusivity. However, without any question the two congregations that are part of my experience that were the most inclusive were College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, and the congregation I presently serve – St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) here in Austin, Texas.

It is also important for you to know that along with increased age and experience the matter of inclusiveness has become more and more important to me. I have also done a significant amount of work with people along the road to recovery from substance abuse, and I have been horrified to hear the stories that almmost all of them have told about the judgements of guilt that were placed on them by churches in earlier times. When I have spoken of the importance of the spiritual element of recovery – many have responded that if I expect them to embrace a God like the one they were taught – or observed by example in the way that they were treated by other “Christians” then I could just forget it. Sadly, when they described those situations I knew that I could never believe in a God or follow a God who clearly was not a God of love and compassion. The God I follow is much much larger than that and completely filled with infinite love, mercy, and grace.

All of this is to set the stage for my current situation and to try to express why I know that I am being called to contribute my thoughts, experience, and, hopefully, vision by writing about these matters – and by inviting others to join the community conversation.

I encourage you to visit the website for St. Andrew’s – http://www.staopen.org – to take the time to become acquainted with who we are, and then, to read the congregation’s stated policy concerning inclusive language. (When you are at the St. Andrew’s website home page – click on the tab to the far right – About Us – which will open a drop down menu – click on Philosophy and Mission and then follow the link to Inclusive Language). I am honored to serve with a congregation who has taken the time to prayerfully discern who they are and then are continually striving to become who God is calling us to be as we move together into the future.

This information will provide the basis for my coming posts and I very much hope you will join our community conversation. Grace and peace