Did our nation make the shift from Decoration Day as a National Day of Mourning to the Celebration of Memorial Day to protect us from seeing the true costs of war? … Read more →
Category Archives: Ministry
The Torch May Pass From Me
Why I may not be becoming an Army Chaplain anytime soon, and thanks to all of the friends and collegues who have sent us support over the last week or so. … Read more →
Emotion, Reason, and Pastoral Care
I want to posit a few aspects of my theory of the primacy of human emotion. The purpose for this article is that I am currently developing, as a part of my Clinical Pastoral Education Residency, both a theory and theology of Pastoral Care. I am well aware that this … Read more →
Service of Ordination at the Unitarian Church of Evanston Illinois
I am honored to announce that, on Sunday June 6th at 4pm, the Unitarian Church of Evanston, IL will Ordain me, David Pyle, as a Unitarian Universalist Minister. Visit the link below to RSVP. Fomal invitations will be mailed by the congregation soon to ministers, family, and colleagues. https://www.rsvpmenow.com/rsvpbeta/?id=20919 Yours in Faith, David
My Military Chaplaincy Application Essay to the UUA
This weekend I am writing several of the essays to move me toward becoming a U.S. Army Chaplain. Yesterday I posted my essay to the U.S. Army. Today I post the draft of my essay to the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. I look forward to the thoughts and feedback … Read more →
My Essay on “Why I Want to be an Army Chaplain”
I am currently putting together my packet to accession as a U.S. Army Chaplain, and part of that packet is a 1-page essay titled “Why I want to be a U.S. Army Chaplain”. Now, the regular denziens of the Celestial Lands can probably guess that what has been difficult has been getting it … Read more →
Religions of Differentiation
At around 18 years old I decided I was no longer a Southern Baptist. There were many reasons for that decision. At the time I would have said that I just could no longer accept the contradictions inherent in accepting the Bible as literal truth, or that the hypocrisy I … Read more →
Why I’m still a Christian
If there is anything that makes some of my fellow Unitarian Universalists more uncomfortable than my military past and probably future, it is my willingness to call myself, both in public and from the pulpit, a Christian. I remember one day in particular that a parishioner in my internship congregation … Read more →
Dancing with Scripture
One of the aspects that I believe defines the religious liberal is the acknowledgement that we encounter the world and everything in it through our own lenses. These lenses are shaped by years of experience… by the people we meet, what we have read, and the journeys (literal and metaphorical) … Read more →
Sermon “Let Us Dare” by David Pyle
I do not often post my sermons directly to the Blog here at Celestial Lands, but something is moving me to share this one here this morning. Perhaps because I have been so disappointed and depressed over some recent events in American Political History that this sermon, written a year ago, … Read more →
Should Military Chaplains Meet Civilian Chaplaincy Certification Requirements?
Most times I take a position on an issue when I write an article for Celestial Lands. This time, I am torn. I know the reasons that I chose to complete at least the base educational requirements for becoming a Board Certified Chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) … Read more →
It’s Time We Studied War
The few weeks around Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day tend to be heavy preaching for me. In several of the services this year, I was reminded of one of our standard hymns during this time, declaring that we will “Study War No More”. What struck me is that, though it … Read more →
My Visit With the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee
You may have noticed Celestial Lands has been abnormally quiet these past few weeks. It has actually been about six weeks since I was last in my regular writing/reflection spiritual practice here at Celestial Lands. That is because six weeks ago I made the decision to move my meeting with … Read more →
The Theological Context of My Ministry
One part of preparing to see the Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the UUA is to write a paper detailing the Theological Context of my Ministry (in 2 pages… you try it sometime!). Not only have I shared this paper privately with some mentors and colleagues, but I also shared it … Read more →
Worship Education
As I am finishing a paper for a class, it struck me that it might be useful for me to put another part of that paper on the web. This paper was for a class with Rev. Betty-Jo Middleton on Models in Religious Education. It is a section of the larger … Read more →
About the UU Worship Service at the Great Lakes Naval Station
As I was completing a paper on an experiment in worship education that was conducted in the UU Worship Service at the Navy Basic Training at Great Lakes, I realized it contained my most extensive analysis of the experience of that worship service over the last 3 years. Now that … Read more →
All of the Things I’m Not Allowed to Write About
Every once in awhile, I get an email or a quiet conversation from someone asking why I had not said something publically on an issue. Most recently, it was an email challenging me to write something publically on my position on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the U.S. Military. What … Read more →
Unitarian Universalism as a Postmodern Religious Faith
There are many different “models” we use to try to describe and understand this living, growing religious faith we call Unitarian Universalism. The most common one is to describe us as a “non-creedal” faith, saying that we are a church that sets no creed or dogma for membership. While that … Read more →
You Want to Join the Military? But We’re UU’s!!!
Over the last several years, I have had the privilege to be with several Unitarian Universalist families as they struggled through the complex emotions that arise around a loved one deciding to join the military. Recently, some ministers have even referred such families to me, and I thought it would … Read more →
A Firewall in the Celestial Lands
During the next year, there will be a major section of my life that I am going to do my absolute best to keep behind a “firewall”, to keep from directly influencing my writing or engagement here at Celestial Lands. I am beginning a Clinical Pastoral Education year-long Residency at … Read more →
The Child Within
As I was flipping through websites, I saw that Peacebang had put some wonderful childhood pictures of another minister up, as a reminder of the real human being underneath clerical garb… and I thought it a wonderful idea. Not just for others to see, but to remind each of us … Read more →
Celebrating my “Staycation”
During the months of July and August I have been on “Staycation”, and I have decided that I love it! Unlike the many vacations I have taken in my life, I actually feel refreshed and recharged at the end of these 8 weeks. Usually after a vacation, I feel tired … Read more →
Policy or Vision as the Mission of the Church?
Recently, in private conversation, on this blog, and among radio hosts I listen to, there has been conversation about why the liberal churches do not get involved in certain national policy issues… and each time I hear that call I cringe. Though I have friends in several of our UUA … Read more →
“Army Wives” Find Unitarian Universalism
I am not afraid to admit that one of the television shows I watch regularly with my wife is Lifetime Channel’s “Army Wives”. I pretend it is “research” for this future Army Chaplain. My wife does get annoyed at my regular corrections of their uniforms and their doctrine (but they … Read more →
Unitarian Universalists at Arlington National Cemetery
Click on the picture or this link to see the slideshow During my time in Washington DC these past few months, I spent a few days shadowing the chaplains at Arlington National Cemetery. During a break, I went for a walk among some of the markers, and was surprised … Read more →
My Reticence to Support UU Congregational Outreach to Veterans
Every few weeks I get an email or a call from someone in leadership of one of our Unitarian Universalist congregations asking how they can set up an outreach program to military veterans, servicemembers, and families. For a long while, I would send them the information I have on the … Read more →
In Honor of Memorial Day — UU Servicemember’s Devotional Project
“Each time I have to stand by the “Chaplain Corps” table strewn with religious and spiritual information for the National Guard Soldiers I support, I find myself yearning deeply for material that is representative of the open, diverse, nurturing, affirming and accepting ideas of the UU tradition…So many of our … Read more →
The Ministry and Pastoral Implications of Technology
It began for me with Facebook, this thinking about how the new paradigm in virtual and electronic communications might affect ministry, but it has expanded beyond that to many questions about how this new interconnected, virtual, on-demand world should rest with the traditional understandings of the ministry. What I have … Read more →
Heroic Repression
Recently I have been thinking about American culture around military issues these last six years since the beginning of combat operations in Iraq. Specifically, I have been thinking about what it means to be a hero, and why some segments of American culture have attempted to make “heroes” of every … Read more →
Article on the UUA Advocacy and Witness Blog
I was honored to be asked by the UUA Advocacy and Witness Staff Group to write a guest article on their blog “Inspired Faith, Effective Action” for the 6 year mark of the War in Iraq. Here is a short bit of the article: One of the most common questions … Read more →
Deepening in the Principles workshop
Last Night (February 18th) I faciliated an evening workshop at the UU Society of Geneva, IL about deepening our understanding of the Unitarian Universalist 7 principles by looking at them through the lens of another traditions ethical guidence. As I said that night, I think this could be done with … Read more →
New CLF Military Ministry Website!
It is my honor and privilege to invite Military Affiliated Unitarian Universalists (and indeed all Unitarian Universalists) to visit the new Military Ministry Website, sponsored by the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF). www.clfuu.org/military We hope it will become a place for those of us of liberal faith with a … Read more →
The Problem with being Lambs
Recently in an email someone said to me that they were still a “lamb of God”, even though they were working through some issues in their faith. As Jacob once did, they have been “wrestling with God”. I remember the metaphor “be ye lambs of God”. I remember those words … Read more →
Courageous Colleague
I don’t usually point others to another blog and say “Read this one when it posts something new!” After some deliberation, and a decision to not let my own fears of guilt by association stop me, I am going to point you all to the new blog “Calling Ministers“. It … Read more →
The Iron Law of Human Self-Interest
In 1994 I was injured in a training accident in the U.S. Army. I fell out of a helicopter simulator during fast-rope training and broke my tailbone. For a little over a week I was bedridden, unable to sit and in deep pain when I walked. One of my fellow … Read more →
Realizations from Sesshin
Now that I have been home from my first Zen Sesshin for about a week, I feel I am able to write about the experience. I have tried to stay out of my discursive mind as much as possible this week, although that is challenging when you have final academic … Read more →
Thanksgiving and Grief
My thanksgiving present to all of you is this video… but read the article first, the video will then make more sense. Giraffe Stuck In Quicksand | Funny Jokes at JibJab It has been an amazing few years, since I began the path toward the Unitarian Universalist Ministry. It has … Read more →
Ministry and the Moral Implications of Combat
As I was researching for a speech I am giving this weekend, I came across this short essay I wrote on my theology of war and of military ministry when I was at the Chaplain School. It is an attempt not only to define where I stand on the moral implications of … Read more →
The Abuse and Misuse of Emotions
This week, I have been wrestling with how to talk about something that has been instrumental in my recent ministerial formation, while still “agreeing in love”. It is hard for a seminarian to say something that might be construed as critical of colleagues, even if, as one minister friend told … Read more →
They Just Fade Away: Veteran’s Day Sermon
For Veteran’s Day, I am posting to Celestial Lands my Veterans Day sermon from last year… I hope it inspires thought. This past summer, I had the honor and privilege to attend the retirement ceremony of the senior military chaplain of our Unitarian Universalist faith, Chaplain Colonel, the Reverend Vernon … Read more →
Titles and Clown Noses
During a ceremony today at the Zen Temple I attend, my teacher became a Roshi, receiving the final “seal of approval” from his own teacher. As the ceremony was beginning, with his students sitting seriously with just a little bit of awe (at least I was), he reached into the … Read more →
Tired of Negative Apologetics
Perhaps it is that I am deeply involved in reading Reinhold Niebuhr, but I am tired of people attempting to prove their own beliefs by showing what is wrong with everything else, or negative apologetics. I’m tired of listening to political candidates discuss everything that is wrong with their opponents, … Read more →
Unitarian Universalist Peace Ministry Network
The Congregational Study Action Issue Core Team on Peacemaking has unveiled a new website, designed to provide communication and connection for Unitarian Universalists as we move forward in our work to create a more peaceful world. The website (http://uupeacemakers.org/) founds the Unitarian Universalist Peace Ministry Network, and I encourage all … Read more →
Combat Medical Ministry Course
The past two weeks, I have been at Ft. Sam Houston outside San Antonio for the Combat Medical Ministry Course. It was an incredible experience, which “reframed” my experience in Clinical Pastoral Education (hospital chaplaincy internship) in light of a military environment, and challenged me to use the self-reflective skills … Read more →
The Privacy of Politicians
It’s possible I am going to ruffle some feathers with this post, and I know I have been more focused on politics than on liberal faith this past few weeks. It’s that time in the political year. And, there is a parallel to life in the ministry that I think … Read more →
Farewell UCE
Today is the last day of my Internship and then Summer Ministry at the Unitarian Church of Evanston Illinois. It was a wonderful and formative experience, and I will miss being a part of the life of this wonderful congregation. Here is a link to the sermon I preached this … Read more →
A Seachange in our Faith
Rev. Kit Ketcham, a UU Minister, fellow blogger, and in some ways a kindred spirit has recently observed on her blog how UU’s and UU Congregations seem to have trouble reaching out to military personnel. Her article apparently was inspired in part by conversations she has had with fellow ministers … Read more →
Commenting in the Celestial Lands
I remember a conversation one day in the Curtis Room at Meadville Lombard Theological School, where among the students that had gathered were several seminarians who were active UU bloggers, myself included. We were discussing some of our motivations for our regular online writing about our Liberal Faith tradition, about … Read more →