ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Pentecost
On Fathers (by Josh)
Sunday was fathers day. We had some friends over Saturday night and one of them asked me if I was ready for my special day. I commented that I don’t really get into the Hallmark holidays. I would like to qualify that I don’t dislike Father’s Day. I don’t not celebrate it. It’s just that if Lindsay and the kids didn’t get around to doing much, that wouldn’t bother me in the same way a lack of Christmas spirit would.
I have spent some time thinking about fathers and fatherhood. There are two streams that are pouring into my thinking. The first comes from a Richard Rohr book I read this last year called Adam’s Return: The Five Promises of Male Initiation. I thought the book was really good. I would call it Wild at Heart for Exvangelicals. The second stream of thought is my constant learning about the ways patriarchy has become so normative in our society that I’m sometimes unable to detect what might not be healthy. Rohr then represents an interesting kind of intersectionality because he is respected by the same Exvangelicals who are also wary of patriarchy. So after I read the book I looked to my left and started interviewing my wokeish friends on some of Rohr’s tenets. I got mixed reviews. Some seemed willing to grant the unique nature of a father’s impact on a child’s life; others scoffed and argued that gender was a construct.
One of the jolting statements Rohr made (or at least I heard him say in an interview on Jen Hatmaker’s podcast) was that in 14 years of being a prison chaplain he never met someone there who had a good father. Surely that is a statement of hyperbole even if statistically true, but you get the point. As for me, I suspect that like grace has reordered and made more beautiful so many other types of relationships, it has the power to do the same kind of work in the absence of fathers. This is one of the mysteries and gifts of shared life in Christ in our new family. We are a village for one another in which we witness the miracle of the Spirit using our gifts to form whole communities.
Still, I spent yesterday afternoon thinking about my dad. When I turn 40 on July 23rd, that will also mark 5 years since he died. One of the gifts that absence gives us is that it lets us detect the ways in which people’s lives impacted us that we weren’t always aware of. This year I have been spending time thinking about my dad’s relative lack of ego. Or at least his relative lack of ego near the end of his life. If I could pick out a theme for my 39th year of life it would be “learning to live wholeheartedly.” You’ve probably detected that theme in my preaching and writing lately and you wouldn’t be wrong for noting it’s pervasiveness. My dad lived wholeheartedly and I think I’ve figured out why he was able to do that. First, my dad loved Jesus Christ. That statement has theological value, which I’ll leave alone because it’s meaning in your life is always the work of the Spirit. But it also has anthropological value (which is inevitably theological). When my sister asked my dad if there was anything he would want to say to his grandkids and generations to come he said, “follow Jesus with all of your heart, seek Him with all your heart.” The anthropological value is/was this, my dad’s life was not about him. That is one of the most basic gifts our love for God does for us. It delivers us from the idolatry of making ourselves the most important person in our life. The second reason my dad lived wholeheartedly was because he didn’t need to win. That’s the ego thing. He didn’t need to win arguments. He didn’t need to get his way. His agenda became unimportant.
I was thinking about Adam’s Return where Rohr proposes that there are four typologies that males need to be initiated into: warrior, lover, sage and king (or father). Of the father-king Rohr says this, “the king is the integration and recapitulation of the other three; warrior, magus, and lover. He holds them together in grand display of balance and wholeness. He is the master of all power, so much so that he can run the risk of looking powerless.” There is something deeply Christological about that notion. The powerful choosing to relinquish, especially abusive use of power. That is one of the real miracles of love. It’s what changes the world. So to all the fathers out there who are loving though peace. Who are secure enough that they need not make use of power. Whose egos have been crucified with Christ and who as a result are offering themselves wholeheartedly - thank you for this work. Thank you for subtly holding up something beautiful while subversively destroying destructive images of masculinity. The world needs you. Keep leading.
Meet the UBCer(s)
Betsy Bracken
Waco Dives - Wednesday at noon
Your favorite summer tradition is back, as we gather again this week for Waco Dives. Waco Dives is an opportunity to meet other UBC’ers, and connect during the week. The location changes each week, so check out the newsletter or listen to announcements on Sunday. This week we are going to a Waco classic: Kitok’s. Kitok’s is a great spot for either a delicious burger or asian food. See you at Kitok’s at noon on Wednesday. #yourbestlunchnow
Nativity of John the Baptist- Thurs 6/24 6pm
What is this? It's an excuse to eat dinner together, to listen to a story, and to think about the changing of the seasons. Bring a dinner of your choice (this was previously announced as a potluck: sry about that) and join us at 6pm on Thursday, June 24th. Wondering about covid precautions? We'll be eating outside. If it rains, we'll be eating in the lobby with the front doors open for airflow.
Leadership Team Nomination
Hello friends, I posted this a few time back in late April/early may, but leadership team will meet Sunday July 11th, so I wanted to make a last call for nominations. Original message below.
We will be replacing three of our valiant leadership team members this July. Thank you to Jeremy Nance, Kerri Fisher, & Joanna Sowards. Description of the role is below. Leadership team members function as the executive decision making body of the church. The commitment is to a three year term. Leadership team terms are three years. If you would like to nominate someone for the leadership team, please do so by using this link to fill out the form.
(A) Purpose. The Leadership Team shall be the primary decision-making body of UBC. The Leadership Team will oversee all the business and property of the church, as well as make the final decisions regarding hiring and dismissal of staff and the acquisition and selling of assets that are beyond budgetary provisions.
(C) Qualifications. Each member of Leadership Team shall have been a member of UBC for at least one year, exhibited an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of the church, and be willing to fulfill all responsibilities in the Leadership Team job description.
(E) Term. Members of Leadership Team may serve for a duration lasting up to three years. While they are encouraged to remain the full three years, members may voluntarily remove themselves from their position at any time.
Liturgy of Mourning (Thurs 7/1, 5:30 PM)
We are all carrying various sorts of grief from this past year. In the interest of grieving well and honoring what has been lost, we are gathering together to offer our mourning to God on 7/1 at 5:30 PM.
Parishioner of the Week
Will Knight for taking his own personal vacation time to take our kids to Camp Eagle.
Leadership Team
If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members.
Chair: Kerri Fisher: Kerri_Fisher@baylor.edu
Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com
Jeremy Nance: Jeremy.J.Nance@L3T.com
Kathy Krey: kathykrey@gmail.com
Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com
Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com
Student Position: Davis Misloski
Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy
UBC Finance Team
Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.
Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com
Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com
Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com
George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com
UBC HR Team
If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.
Erin Albin: erin.albin1@gmail.com
Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com
Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu
Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com
Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com