From Baptist Roots to Methodist Fire (Part Three)
Trading Symbols, Finding Grace:
When Church Felt Silent, the Bar Spoke
When I was enduring the spiritual wilderness, I was not finding community in the church. As a matter of fact, I rarely heard from the people in my past who were colleagues. The one place I did find authenticity like I had never felt before was a local bar. I know this is where my story could turn dark and spiral into alcoholism, but that is not my story.
I have struggles in my life, but up to this point alcohol is not one of those. I could have a drink, and honestly, I was happy with just one drink. I could go days, weeks, and even months and not drink. When I did drink, it was a moderate amount.
Where I Found Authenticity
The authenticity in the bar surprised me. I began to think, why am I having conversations here that I never could have had in the traditional church? Why am I witnessing community developing and people taking care of one another in ways that I had not witnessed in my experience of church?
It was in these dark days of feeling broken and isolated from church that God began to reveal something to me that would be the next move in ministry for my calling.
A Church with Taps and Testimonies
It was on a night in the bar—when authenticity and community were flowing much more than the beer—that I began to dream of a church that met here in this space.
What would it look like to have a bar church?
That became the birth of what today is Sacred Ale. It would be a few more years before the start, but in 2014 Sacred Ale began. It is what now I know is a Fresh Expression of church. (video link to one of my doctoral mentors, Rev. Dr. Michael Beck.) It was not until I became a United Methodist did I have the language to describe this work that was happening.
God at Work in Unexpected Places
Sacred Ale still meets to this day and is now over 10 years old. It is a place for all people to come and share in conversation around issues such as doubt, faith, and life.
The goal is not to change anyone’s mind but rather provide a space where they are welcomed—and that this ordained minister can remind them, despite whatever crap you have been told, God loves you, just as you are.
To use the word transformation is an understatement—I have seen God do beautiful things in a bar.
Coming Home
As much as I had a love-hate relationship with the traditional church, I couldn't just get away from wanting to serve her as a pastor. By this point, I knew that I would not come home to the Baptist tradition; it was time to connect where I fit the most.
That fit would be with the United Methodist Church. I had remarried by this point, and in 2018 I began a more formal journey to the UMC. It was here that I began to learn about the work of Fresh Expressions and found language for what I already knew was true and had experienced.
Finding Grace in Wesleyan Theology
My experiences in life and my study of faith had led me to believe that love and grace is the core of what it means to be and to live as a Christian.
John Wesley, who founded what would become known as Methodism, believed that grace was paramount to the theology of a Christian. There are so many intersections of what I have experienced and the teachings of John Wesley. Between the longer held affirmative view on women and the teachings on grace, I found a home in being a United Methodist.
The fact that the denomination is connectional was even more balm on the wound of my feeling of disconnection and loneliness.
Serving Again—and Feeling Alive
I served a short time in a UMC church in an associate role, but I knew I was bound to go back to the role I had been in for much of my adult life, and that was to be a pastor in the local church.
As soon as I entertained the idea of coming back as a pastor, the UMC embraced me and found a space for me to serve.
Since that time, I have pastored Acton UMC in Asheville, NC. I love it there, and I love the people. I decided to go back and get a doctoral degree in ministry with a concentration in Fresh Expressions, which as I have said before is a movement that has changed my life for the better.
Looking Ahead: Multiplying the Call
It is in the trust that God is calling me and using me in the UMC that I will now add an additional church to my responsibilities come July 2025.
I will get the honor of working alongside Oakley UMC in Asheville, in addition to serving Acton and leading Sacred Ale.
You know that 7-day work week I mentioned in an earlier post? Yeah, for now, that is back as well! At the same time, I feel so much life in the work I am being called to.
So, I don’t publish frequently enough to have compensation but I have decided to add this option, Buy Me a Coffee. This is a small way to contribute to some creative projects I have in mind. Feel free to contribute or ignore, you are loved either way :)
Stay Tuned for the final segment, part four...
Next week I will end this series as I reflect on where I am today and how imperative I see Fresh Expressions as we move forward.
Back to my country roots today. I leave you with a little Billy Currington to sing us out, remember God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.
Great work. John Wesley is smiling down. Connectionalism was a great plus when I was a United Methodist. I have it with far too few as a UU, but the ones with whom I do connect are priceless. They convince me I am the fourth or fifth best UU minister I know. Lots of talent, lots of love which is the number one and two reasons I think Travis Smith is anything but crazy. One reason I know a gracious spirit beats at the heart of the universe is this guy.