On Wings of Eagles
It is the day before July 4. I am sitting on the back patio of our beautiful Colorado home where I have been watching a golden eagle soar high above the ridge behind the house. I marvel at her beauty and grace as she rides the currents, eyes fixed on the ground below. This is the first season I have seen her on the ridge, bringing her serenity into my busy life.
Since the recent articles in the New York Times and Denver Post, I could use the serenity. It’s been quite a whirlwind. Of all the emails and messages I have received, I am bothered most by the accusations I have abandoned my faith. The truth is my faith is stronger than ever, riding the currents of hope, love and compassion. I have not left my faith, but I have declared my independence from evangelicalism. When a certain brand of Christianity reviles you for being who you are, you are inclined to examine its doctrines and practices. I had begun that process before my transition. It accelerated after I was expelled from within its ranks.
I bristle when people say I am no longer a Christian, for my belief in the message of Jesus is unrelenting. Not only do I believe in Jesus; I believe in the church. In fact, I believe in the church so much I am going back into local church ministry.
I made my way to Highlands Church in the summer of 2015. That first Sunday I knew I was home. For the next two years I began to unlearn what an evangelical male pastor knows. I began to understand what it means to be a woman in ministry. To put it mildly, the difference is massive. When your entire career is spent with no women in leadership (how many places is that true nowadays?) you don’t exactly learn to see with a feminine eye, or become aware of the extent of your misogyny. It’s not that you’re a bad person. It’s just that you don’t know what you don’t know. I had a lot to unlearn. Still do.
About a year ago I began leading the Highlands church planting team, doing what I had done for decades. When it was time to hire pastors for a new church Highlands was planting in Boulder County, Mark Tidd, our founding pastor, said, “Paula, it’s not too late to put your name in the hat.” I cried for a while. In fact, I believe Mark might have gone home, had dinner and returned before I stopped crying. For the third time in my life, I knew I had been called.
So, I am joining my two good friends, Jen Jepsen and Aaron Bailey, as pastors of a new church. Aaron, a successful entrepreneur and member at Highlands, sold his company and began looking for the next big thing. Little did he know God would tell him the next big thing was planting a church! Jen Jepsen, a former member of the megachurch where I once preached, found me after I transitioned and said, “I think I am supposed to plant an open and affirming church in Boulder County.” Even though I discouraged her because of the massive amount of work involved, I knew she was called, and I knew God had sent her to inform me that I too had been called.
Now here we are, the three of us, getting ready to launch a new church. (More staff will be hired in the future.) We’re already holding dinners, starting study groups and joining social justice teams as we look for a place to meet on Sundays. Weekly services will begin next spring. The last time I planted a church was in 1984 in Brooklyn, New York. I was twelve. (Yeah, I’m goin’ with that, twelve.) And here I am again, feeling the call of God so firmly I can hardly contain myself.
Life takes twists and turns and doubles back on itself often enough. It is the way of the Spirit. In my previous life I turned down offers to be the senior pastor of more than one megachurch. Now here I stand, ready to join Jen and Aaron and the people at Highlands in starting the opposite of a megachurch, a new church. Only God knows what is in store.
If you live in or near Boulder County, Colorado, and you are looking for a church that is a truly welcoming place for all, get ready, it is coming. On wings of eagles, it is coming.
This is wonderful news! Congratulations! May you find joy in your new role and I am certain your faith will continue to grow and inspire others! God bless you!
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as you say, “…and so it goes…” it’s gonna be interesting reading your continuing observations of ‘then’ vs ‘now’ in the weeks to come…we’re praying for you and the team, Paula!….ed and Cleta
On Tue, Jul 4, 2017 at 7:31 AM, Paula Stone Williams wrote:
> Paula S Williams posted: “On Wings of Eagles It is the day before July 4. > I am sitting on the back patio of our beautiful Colorado home where I have > been watching a golden eagle soar high above the ridge behind the house. I > marvel at her beauty and grace as she rides the currents” >
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God is always providing the “ram” in the bushes in the midst of our trials and seeming desertion, as God did for Abraham.
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow! I know from your weekend with us here in Cincinnati God has called you do a wonderful and marvelous work!
May God Bless you dear sister!
Peace, Love, Grace,
David E Ellis
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Wonderful news, dear Sister! Blessings as the journey continues ❤️❤️
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Congratulations! Gods not done with you yet! O
Only two people have a say in whether you are Christian or not. You and Christ. No one else gets a vote.
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Paula, your ministry has always met so much to me down through the many years. I read faithfully (and was blessed by) your column, “AND SO IT GOES” in the Christian Standard for years until you no longer wrote the column. I have heard you speak many times and had the privilege of meeting you personally when you spoke several years ago at my place of employment, J. F. Molloy and Associates, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dave Blanford was the owner and CEO. Your current writings mean so much to me! also! I wish I had the benefit of your personal counsel-it would mean so much to me! Although God is always preparing us, it appears He now is launching you into yet another orbit of ministry. I am so glad.
Jim Ewing
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Wow Jim, that was around 1995. I still remember being there. Your words are a great encouragement to me. Thank you so very much.
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Paula, this is not about religion and I would never be so bold or presumptuous as to claim that you are not a true Christian. That is for God alone to decide, not man. I did however, want to share this thought provoking article on the science of transgender. Please feel free to share your thoughts. God bless.
http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/johns-hopkins-psychiatrist-transgendered-men-dont-become-women-they-become
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Jim, all of us who have worked on this issue for decades are well aware of the work of Paul McHugh, and are also aware of the fact that his work has been rejected by the AMA, the APA, and every other reputable professional medical society in the western world.
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Jim, there are real problems with siting Dr McHugh in this context (check out the link below). Things maybe to keep in mind before using him as a reference going forward.
http://heavenandearthquestions.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-problems-with-citing-dr-paul-mchugh.html
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What about using Franklin Graham as a reference? He is highly respected, as is his famous father.
http://www.faithfamilyamerica.com/franklin_graham_explains_how_god_views_transgendered_people
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Thank God for you, Paula! You give us all hope.
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Keep writing. Your story is an important one, and one that needs to be known. Thanks for what you do.
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