ministry – Formats of the Gods

Hartley’s Band

July 5, 2023July 17, 2023 Don Shrumm

Felt the thud. People started scrambling… Non-denominational churches were coming into their heyday when I graduated from seminary in 1987. U.S. Mainline congregations accustomed to dominating American religion for 2 centuries were badly drifting. We just assumed we were too big to fail. Down south pastor friends were already accustomed to being surrounded and overwhelmed by Baptists, conservative theology and more regressive politics. Out West growth of the un-churched and “Post-Christian” sounded ominous. Up on the Atlantic coast where my career was launched tradition (including stately religion) holds more sway.…

Quarantine Day 19

April 16, 2020July 10, 2023 Don Shrumm

Quarantine Day 19 Laying in the hot tub and looking up through the steam I hope for no shooting stars. No getting pulled that far up and out of myself.

Being Shepherds for Seekers Part 1

May 4, 2015August 24, 2015 Don Shrumm

In an Activist congregation we turn to John 10 and those we (each of us!) lead :

Cancelling Worship

February 25, 2015April 21, 2015 Don Shrumm

It is not an easy decision for a pastor to make! This past Saturday I started calling and emailing. I posted on Facebook; all in an effort to get more input on what Genesis should do about the unfolding snowstorm. They were saying 8 inches, maybe 15 inches. Around the front range here west of Denver there is wide variation! And from what I can tell over the past 9 years living here it is pretty tough to predict snowfall amounts. You don’t want to cancel too early, or too…