The new resume for ministry: Have you ever sported a Mohawk or been a Meth addict? If “Yes”, sign up here!

In total, I studied for 10 years of college and grad school on my way to become an ordained pastor. My ordination was revoked (I was defrocked) in March 2010 because of my theology and practice that the church is impoverished when it does not fully embrace lgbtq people and their spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the upbuilding of the body of Christ. Funny thing is, I’ve never felt more sure of my calling. I’m still a pastor; I have no frock but I’ve still got a flock.

I am absolutely grateful for my theological education, but going to seminary is not the only way to become a pastor. I want to tell you about two Highlanders who pastored very well this last week.

Last Saturday, Katix Crawford officiated at the memorial service for Dino Rojas’ niece, whom he helped raise. There were at least 350 people in our sanctuary and Katix guided the mourners beautifully to remember Sommer, tell their stories, and find peace with God in the midst of it. I asked Katix if she would do it because she is a pastor and a good friend of Dino’s. She didn’t know she was a pastor till I asked her.

Sunday after Sunday, Katix leaves the auditorium during communion to be able to meet and greet the folks who choose to leave at that point of the service. Maybe they just need to get going, but maybe they feel unworthy to partake or feel so far from God or the ritual itself triggers something bad. It doesn’t matter, Katix makes sure they leave blessed for coming in the first place. All the seminary in the world can’t teach you a pastor’s heart, it’s God gift to the church flowing through Katix, who can sometimes be spotted at church with a fiery red 6” high Mohawk. But not the day of the funeral.

Last Sunday another “pastor” at Highlands called me after she’d fed a homeless youth but didn’t know what to do for him as it grew dark and he said he had no place to go. I asked for counsel from Tom Rossi, a Highlander on the board of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and without hesitation he said, “Do you want me to go with you?” I, without hesitation said, “THANK YOU”.

When we went to retrieve the youth, Tom sat down and talked heart to heart with him giving good advice and hope as well. See, Tom had been a meth addict selling and living on the streets for 6 years. He was exactly the pastor this kid needed to talk to, and all the seminary in the world can’t teach you what Tom knows.

I finally crawled in bed Sunday night around 1:00 a.m. grateful that Highlands Church has hundreds of amazing pastors. This is about two them fulfilling their calling last weekend.
Nothing but love,
Mark