Two Things of Which I Am Proud....

Two things happened to me today that make me so proud.

This morning, we met Andria Davis, a young woman from the Beatitudes church and a recent grad from Smith College. She is headed to Chicago Theological Seminary. After examining her, and hearing her pastor, the Rev. Nancy Elsenheimer, and a mentor, Dana Bender, share with us the gifts they see in her, the Committee on Church and Ministry gladly and enthusiastically granted her Privilege of Call.



When I returned to my office later in the afternoon, I found a facebook posting from the pastor of the church Mimi and I attended while we were in St. Louis. He wanted to share with me what the sign in front of the church looked like today. Well, here it is:



It does make one proud.

More wedding pics

It was two weeks ago today. I can't believe how the time flies - and I promised a few more pics from my son's wedding. Let me get to that, because there will be some new Conference news to post soon enough and this will have been forgotten about.

I am still sort of basking in the glow of what was in incredible family event for the Dorhauer clan. Once again, I will let the pictures tell the story.

This is I with my Godson Chris, whose wedding I did just a month ago in June.


This picture reminds me - about the knot on my head. Many of you have asked me about this. I was carrying two of my nephews on my back on some wet grass (there was a lot of rain) the night before the wedding. Between the wet grass, and one of the nephews sticking his leg between mine, I went down. I fell so that they would not get hurt - and that meant I got hurt. Looks worse than it was. If you're going to go after a Dorhauer, don't hit them in the head: hard as rocks up there. 'Nuff said.

This is my brother Jimbo - more bark in him than bite.


Here we are, grandparents, bride and groom, with the Dorhauer family.


And here is the wedding party - good friends, good people, good memories.

Back from retreat....

It was an important week I just spent on the California coast. I spent it on retreat with my colleagues in Conference Ministry. It was significant - and much of what we talked about, wrestled with, and imagined could have long term implications for the shape, the mission, and the future of the United Church of Christ.

Iwill write more about that soon, but for now let me just share a few pictures with you from the week.

Well, it wasn't all important work. Kent Siladi and I took a free afternoon to visit one of golfing's great Meccas - Pebble Beach. This is I at the 18th green.

Here is Felix Villanueva - a new friend and the new CM in Southern Cal, Nevada Conf.

Here is my close and dear friend Sheldon Culver, from Illinois South.

Here is my good friend Kent Siladi, Florida Conference.

And here is another very good friend, Mike Denton from the Pacific Northwest.