📣 Time to talk about CHANGE !

Published: Mon, 03/31/25

Updated: Mon, 03/31/25

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Leading your fai

Hello ,

This week we want to welcome to Rev. Dr. Kristen Bentley as our guest at the 3MMM blog. Kris is devoted to understanding the gifts and challenges of bivocational ministry. And we are celebrating with her the publication of her first book, Bivocational Ministry: Field Notes for Congregations and Ministers. It is now available from Chalice Media.

With all that is shifting in church, society, and U.S. democracy, I think Kris's book is extremely well-timed. So much has changed since the multiple pandemics shook the world beginning in March of 2020! More and more small churches are considering the possibility of moving to bivocational ministry leadership.

See what Kris has to say to ministers and congregations with changing vocations.

Learn about Bivocational Ministry from Kris

Series on Calling

with Bonnie Miller-McLemore

Speaking of vocation... through the season of Lent, we have been taking a deep dive together into calling (the good, the troubling, and the surprising) with Dr. Bonnie Miller-McLemore. She's helped us think about conflicted, blocked, and changed callings. She is reading to us from her new book Follow Your Bliss and Other Lies about Calling. And if you've missed any episode, all the links are here. You will be provoked, and I think you will also feel seen, by Bonnie's way of writing about vocation.

Experimenting with Micro Prose

I've also been experimenting with a new form (to me) of writing called, “Micro Prose.” It is a form of writing with limited time and words. I learned about micro prose in a workshop with Darien Gee. Here's a sample...

Changed Callings: A Reflection

I think I like change.
But this is because I plan to live a very long time.
I like the way my living is going.
I fuss. Complain sometimes. Rage a little. Or a lot.

Read the rest of "Changed Callings" here

Two Years Ago:
The Covenant School Shooting
Nashville, TN

My heart stretches out with so much mercy for all who were impacted by the tragedy of March 27, 2023. Two years ago, the Covenant School shooting happened in Nashville. Seven souls died. Hundreds felt the loss and grief and devastation.

Thousands marched in protest begging to put children above guns. The #TN3 were expelled less than 10 days later for advocating to Tennessee's children.

This week I walked some of my Union students through the events of those days in Nashville to help them think about how to become better trauma-informed spiritual care-givers and justice-seekers in the face of tragedy, trauma, and loss.

blog + download | video | podcast

In the days that followed these events I wrote and recorded resources for churches leaders. May you never have to lead people through such days. Yet if you do, I hope you will have resources and skills to meet the moment. This three-page download addressed "Talking through Tragedy" with children, youth, and adults in your faith community, neighborhood, and city.

Talking Through Tragedy

Join me for #FreeWrite Friday!

Part of my vocation these days is to write and accompany writers, like Kris and many others, through coaching and by offering space for their work. Every Friday we offer a free hour of writing alongside pastors, chaplains, professors, poets, and writers. You are welcome anytime. Just sign up and you'll get a Thursday night email with your link and some weekly writing inspiration!