Steven (Steve) Liechty, Author at United Church of Christ

White Privilege

Recently, a white man claiming to be a missionary to Uganda was filmed hurling racial abuses and...

Generations of Joy

While away on a brief vacation recently, I had the joy of holding my granddaughter for the first...

Column

The Deaconess witness in the German Reformed Church

The deaconess movement, rooted in the early church, was a non-ordained ministry for women. In the...

An Homage to Spiritual Directors

I had my first spiritual director what I was 14 years old. I was a freshman in High School, my...

Parenting

When does one stop being a parent?Come December, all my children will have reached their 30th...

Family Reunion

Last week, my extended family gathered at a city park in St. Louis. There were over 70 of us...

Independence Day

I am a fan of freedom. I believe in the inherent dignity of all God’s beautiful children. I am a...

Column

Roger Nathaniel Pohl

Roger was a very curious child filled with questions. He wanted to understand the world....

Two days in Montana

Last week, my travels took me to Montana. I spent the first three days meeting with leaders from...

Going Home

This last week, I had the honor of returning to the place where I spent my first twenty years in...

Column

John Williamson Nevin: A Man Unappreciated in His Time

In the early 1800s, revivals and camp meetings became very popular on the American frontier. During...

Into the Mystic: Pentecost

There is a line I have been repeating since my election as General Minister and President of the...

Mom

I’m going to talk about how my Mom reminds me of, and teaches me something about, God. I don’t...

Open Commensality

Commensality – that’s not a word you hear every day. I think the first time I saw it used was...

Who Are We that…

I arrived at the office early this morning. The city was awakening from its slumber. The almost...

Column

Cultivating Conversation about Race, Gender and Class

She had two daughters. She loved the church, she knew education was important, and she was deeply...

Namaste

Namaste.The divine in me greets the divine in you.I’m a disciple of Jesus. He didn’t say that....

Fiddler on the Roof

Do you remember “Fiddler on the Roof?” It is one of my favorite Broadway plays. I especially...

Unite to End Racism

Into the Mystic is my weekly reflection on the spiritual journey we all find ourselves on. I am...

Speak the Name

My favorite gospel is Mark’s. It was the first written. It is the shortest. It has a real sense...