Can We Talk About Death? An Open and Relational Vision - available on Amazon !
Can We Talk About Death? An Open and Relational Vision
Why the Book?
The language of life reflects one's thoughts and convictions, as does the language of death. It is important that we pay careful attention to how we speak when talking about more painful matters such as death. We must also allow room for new systems of thought, visions, or ideas for expressing and experiencing our pain. But so often, new thinking is met with resistance and even malice. Orthodoxy, in any context, resists new thinking, and that is never truer than in conversations about death within a religious context. This book takes us down that path.
Career and Academics
Pastoral Ministry 30 years
Hospice Chaplaincy 9 years
BS - Trevecca Nazarene University
MDiv - Nazarene Theological Seminary
ThD - Kairos University through Northwind Theological Seminary
Board Certified Chaplain - APC
Certificate of Thanatology - ADEC
My Journey into Open and Relational Theology
Raised and educated in the Wesleyan tradition theologically, I have always leaned into love as the standard for faith and my understanding of God. However, traditional “church-speak” is usually encumbered with a host of implications and attached assumptions stemming from external sources. Even good Wesleyan teaching is often flavored with fundamentalism. Troubled by this reality, I eventually found a comfortable home in Open and Relational Theology (ORT). ORT has provided a language that allows me to think and speak in ways that make better sense of my world.
On Your Bookshelf
Books and Resources
I am always in the middle of several books. Maybe you're that way, too. Here are some books that I recommend. If you would like to recommend a favorite read, please take a picture and email it to me so I can post it. You might also include a brief one-sentence description.
Consider this two-voume collection of essays.
Published material that I have contributed to.
Love Does Not Control
Essay #28 (p 131) Caregiving Trifecta
In this anthology of clinical practitioners, thinkers, and authors, we explored what uncontrolling love means in our particular disciplines. Therapists, Psychologists, and Counselors will find thjs especially helpful.
Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God
Essay #38 (p 231) God of Grief, God of Love
Essay #70 (p 443) Speaking of God, Death, and Dying
This is a collection of Sermons, Essays, and Worship Elements from the perspective of Open. Relational, and Process Theology.
Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ Affirming
A Place at the Table (p 67)
A Gay Daughter and Her Pastor Father: An Interview (p 89)
An Embrace of Love (p 297)
My daughter, Allison, and I contributed to this compelling essay collection together.
Amipotence vol 2
Essay #39 (p 485) Where is God...?
Thomas Jay Oord coined the word "amipotence" (God's power expressed as love) in response to the traditional "omnipotence," which fosters misleading and often harmful ideas about God. The authors of this book, as well as vol 1, critique Oord's ideas.
Look for the essay here:
Can We Talk About Death? An Open and Relational Vision
I'm very excited about this book. It's the first time I have published on my own. I believe it speaks, and hope someone somewhere will find respite in the midst of oppressive language as they grieve. My goal is to provide a positive and honest vernacular as well as a theological framework for religious/spiritual conversations on the sensitive topics of death and dying.
Renewing Faith: Reigniting Faith and Ministry through Process and Open & Relational Theologies
Are you feeling burned out, bored, or disillusioned with your faith or ministry? Do you long for a revitalized spirituality that speaks to both your heart and your head?
Renewing Faith is a bold and hopeful invitation to reimagine Christianity through the transformative lenses of process and open & relational theologies. Drawing on the rich insights of contemporary theology, science, and philosophy, this book brings together voices of pastors, theologians, spiritual directors, chaplains, and seekers who are rediscovering the vitality and purpose of a living faith.
Whether you identify as a progressive mainliner, contemplative soul, post-evangelical questioner, or spiritual-but-not-religious wanderer, you’ll find fresh pathways to reawaken your passion and deepen your connection to the Divine.
Rooted in the real-life experiences of people and communities who are courageously rethinking and renewing their faith, these pages explore:
- Renewing Faith – Can faith become life-giving again?
- Renewing God – What if God is deeply relational and always present?
- Renewing Jesus – How is Jesus still saving us today?
- Renewing Message – Can ancient texts still inspire transformation?
- Renewing Worship – What remains sacred and nourishing in our rituals?
- Renewing Spirit – How do practices of the Spirit bring healing and wholeness?
- Renewing Community – What does a renewing church or ministry look like?
More than theology, this is a book of spiritual possibility—designed to equip and inspire Christian leaders, seekers, and communities to become not just renewed, but renewing forces in a world that is crying out for wholeness and hope.
Come be part of a movement that is reimagining what it means to believe, to lead, and to love. The world needs your renewed faith.
See my essay entitled "Language for End-of-Life"