Author: James Deaton
Plumb the depths of our rich history
As we near Easter, Bishop David Bard asks us to proclaim the message of a loving and redeeming God who remains ever near, the same message that has been carried by so many before us… In the last six months, it has been my joy and privilege to travel with groups from both the Michigan… Continue Reading Plumb the depths of our rich history
‘The world needs this kind of people’
As Lent begins, Bishop David Bard calls us to pay close attention to our humanness in all its complexity and develop character qualities befitting such self-knowledge… The church season of Lent begins on March 5 with Ash Wednesday. For a number of years, many Protestant churches did not give much attention to either Ash Wednesday… Continue Reading ‘The world needs this kind of people’
Open-eyed and resilient
In a chaotic world, Bishop David Bard invites us to stay grounded in resilient love as we care for one another, even in disagreement… How many of you remember past Februarys when you pasted colored construction paper over a shoebox, cutting a hole in the top and drawing hearts on the sides? This was the… Continue Reading Open-eyed and resilient
Ways to speak prophetically
In his first blog of 2025, Bishop David Bard outlines how to speak prophetically as people of Christian faith in a world where moral speech is rapidly labeled partisan… Beginning my first blog of the new year with a quote from the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline may not seem like an auspicious start, but here goes. Among… Continue Reading Ways to speak prophetically
You matter to God
The God of Christmas, says Bishop David Bard, loves widely and wildly without regard to status and draws near to the simple and ordinary… I recently returned from a wonderful educational trip with a lovely group from the Michigan Conference, including some Episcopalian and Lutheran friends. We traveled to Greece and Egypt, both fascinating places… Continue Reading You matter to God
Working for the common good
Bishop David Bard says that when the election is over, and the ballots have been counted, the work for the common good begins for everyone, including the church… Many of you may be familiar with the work of Howard Thurman (1899-1981). While I knew of his work before, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself… Continue Reading Working for the common good
‘We are to wear love’
Leading up to the election, Bishop David Bard encourages us to vote, showing up with a demeanor that enhances democracy and reflects who we are as God’s beloved in Jesus Christ… One unique coincidence between our United Methodist church calendar and the national calendar is that bishops are elected and assigned in the same year… Continue Reading ‘We are to wear love’
‘What did you learn today?’
Bishop David Bard encourages us to stay curious, for doing so can help alleviate some of the problems and divisions in our world today… September is a month memorialized in a variety of songs. “See You in September” is a song about a young couple separated by the long summer holiday: “Will I see you… Continue Reading ‘What did you learn today?’
Grace and power to respond
Looking back on the past month, Bishop David Bard highlights a few challenging news items and the shared work in Jesus Christ that is now before us.It has been quite a month… We have had an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The current president, Joe Biden, has… Continue Reading Grace and power to respond
Consider the whole of our history
In our July 4 celebrations, says Bishop David Bard, may we remember the complexities of our history and enlarge our memory so that our future might be better than our past… On June 18, the great baseball player Willie Mays died at age 93. I have long loved baseball, and Willie Mays was one of… Continue Reading Consider the whole of our history