Author: Jay Voorhees

Jay Voorhees is a pastor, writer, and community activist located in Nashville, TN. Jay currently is the pastor of the City Road Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison, TN, and is engaged in helping to connect others to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ and to take seriously Christ’s call to love our neighbors in radical ways. Jay is the co-founder of The MethoBlog, a site that aggregates the writings of Methodist-related bloggers throughout the world, and is the former managing editor of The United Methodist Reporter. Jay has been involved in the United Methodist Church at both the local and national level since 1988. Jay is also the owner of Only Wonder Media, a boutique book and media publisher.

The Travails of a Fat Pastor

Last week I got a call from Bob Smietana, the religion reporter at the Tennessean. It seems like Bob is always calling looking for some sort of response on the latest study or some political happening, so I wasn't surprised to hear that he was looking for comments on a recent study out of Duke … Continue reading The Travails of a Fat Pastor →

And we listen to Pat . . . why?

Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess and others scoffed at comments by nationally known televangelist Pat Robertson on his 700 Club program Thursday that Muslims could bribe local officials to expand their influence. "It's entirely possible," Robertson said during the broadcast following a report from his show about the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro's plans to build … Continue reading And we listen to Pat . . . why? →

How Soon We Forget

There are more stories about other groups that are part of the paranoia and fear that periodically rear their ugly heads among us to demonize the newly arriving stranger, the "other" in our midst, this time Muslims. And what distinguishes each movement is that charismatic leaders incite the worst in us. via Edward Schumacher-Matos - … Continue reading How Soon We Forget →

In praise of doubt? (via John Meunier’s Blog)

John asks some great questions and I offered several thoughts on the nature of certainty in his comments. Carry on the conversation there, but I commend this to your reading. In the new Circuit Rider (thanks to Katie Z for the shout out), retired elder Willard "Buzz" Stevens writes with pain and passion about doubt … Continue reading In praise of doubt? (via John Meunier’s Blog) →

Hello. My name is Jay. I used to be a blogger.

There was a time not too long ago when I used to spend time in front of the computer writing about the myriad of things coursing through my brain. But during the past couple of years, I have found those times to be getting further and further apart, to the point where I'm not sure … Continue reading Hello. My name is Jay. I used to be a blogger. →

A Last Minute Pitch

Next Friday, the girls and I will load up the car (and probably a small trailer given the stuff we need to take) and head down I-40 to the mecca of Southern United Methodism at Lake Junaluska. Lake Junaluska is a great place and our family has come to love it, but the main reason … Continue reading A Last Minute Pitch →

A Final Word

This is the sermon I preached today in my last official act as the pastor of the Antioch United Methodist Church. Next Sunday, I will begin my tenure as the Senior Pastor of the Old Hickory United Methodist Church. The text for today’s sermon was Ephesians 4:1-16. Three million, six hundred and eighty nine thousand, … Continue reading A Final Word →

A final word…

It’s Official

Dear Jay, As your current District Superintendent I write to confirm your new appointment to Old Hickory UMC in the Cumberland District for th 2010-11 conference year... So began the letter that I opened a few minutes ago, a letter that is not unexpected, but surreal in my current context of coordinating flood relief efforts … Continue reading It’s Official →

Flooding Thoughts

At this time last week, I was clueless... I had no concept of what was to come. At this time last week, life seemed complicated... Little did I know how simple it would become the next day. At this time last week, I was a simple United Methodist pastor... I had no concept that in … Continue reading Flooding Thoughts →

A Prayer for My City

God, what do you think you are doing? Many times I can write off bad times as the result of a broken humanity; but rains that seemed never ending? I think you are on the hot seat for this one. Yes, I know, nature happens, and we have very little understanding of the stuff of … Continue reading A Prayer for My City →

What Does It Mean to “Grow”?

If you follow my Tweets or Facebook status updates, you probably know by now that I enjoy and appreciate Dan Dick's United Methodeviations blog. Dan is a former consultant and researcher for the General Board of Discipleship who has moved on to be the Director of Connectional Ministries of the Wisconsin Annual Conference, and regularly … Continue reading What Does It Mean to “Grow”? →

Left or Right of Orthodoxy

One of the dangers of having an I-Pod Touch on my nightstand is that when I wake up in the middle of the night, I sometimes turn it on to read myself back to sleep, only to find myself driven more fully awake by something I read. That is the reason that I'm up at … Continue reading Left or Right of Orthodoxy →

Betwixt Here and There — The Consultation Dance

This past January, after much prayer and soul searching (and a bit of divine revelation) I informed my Staff Parish Relations Committee of my intention to ask to be appointed to another church. I have been at Antioch UMC for seven years and have had a good ministry. I wasn't facing any mutiny in the … Continue reading Betwixt Here and There — The Consultation Dance →

Raining on the Parade: The Failure to Support New Potential Clergy

Ed note: It's been a while since I have written here, partially because I have moved my Nashville social commentary to http://justnashville.wordpress.com, but partially because I really haven't had much to say. I am hoping that recent changes in my schedule will allow for more commentary here on faith and life in in the United … Continue reading Raining on the Parade: The Failure to Support New Potential Clergy →

Did David Gamble Misspeak?

I stumbled today on the recent controversy in British Methodist circles about the comments made by David Gamble, President of The Methodist Church in Great Britain. Folks across the pond seem bent out of shape over a speech he made to Church of England’s General Synod which is being interpreted as an expression of desire … Continue reading Did David Gamble Misspeak? →

Congrats to Jim (and David too!)

There have been lots of comments on the Superbowl ads from last night, but the one that seems to have slipped through the cracks is the Cars.com ad. Part of the reason is that it was cute, but not side splitting. However, I liked it because my college roommate Jim's son David played the part … Continue reading Congrats to Jim (and David too!) →

The Missional/Relational Dilemma (The Flip Side)

As I've thought about the comments on my last post, it seems that somehow folks think I am arguing for an "either/or" perspective on a congregation's focusing on mission and relationship. Obviously, from the beginning of this entire church thing, relationships have been important. The early Christians gathered regularly for the breaking of bread and … Continue reading The Missional/Relational Dilemma (The Flip Side) →