Todd Gwennap
@ToddGwennap
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8th Grade ELA Teacher talking about 📚Literature 🖋️Poetry 🚀 Sci-fi 🐉 Fantasy 👨🏫 Teaching 🍺 Craft Beer 📃 Old Typewriters
Warrenton, VA
Joined January 2022
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After nearly 15 years as a PCA pastor, 2 weeks ago, at my request, the Potomac Presbytery removed my ordination credentials. (In technical terms, I “demitted” the pastoral office.) I thought this would be a good time to offer some (critical) reflections on my time in the PCA: 🧵
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10/ Similarly, accused pastors get the privilege of being “in the room” and part of the investigative/disciplinary process, while the accusers (often women) are excluded. This is unjust and has led to great evil.
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12/ The PCA must rid itself of the toxin of White Christian Nationalism. The church must be the place where the universal kingship of Christ takes absolute, unflinching precedence over any national or ethnic identity.
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11/ In my last few years, when women approached me with stories of abusive clergy, I encouraged them to consult a lawyer and/or a journalist. I came to believe that victims had a better chance of receiving justice from the civil courts and the press than the courts of the church.
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6/ I also think the PCA has a “women” problem, in that we struggle to utilize and celebrate the countless gifts of faithful women in the PCA. In my later years of ministry, I encouraged women interested in ministry not to pursue ministry in the PCA.
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14/ The PCA needs to learn institutional humility. We often debate issues as if every GA is the Council of Nicaea. But the PCA is a very small corner of the Kingdom, and we would do well to recognize that fact and let it temper our passions.
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4/ I think the PCA continues to have a race problem. We have not fully grappled with the toxic, evil legacy of Southern Presbyterianism. While some steps have been taken, there remains an institutional coziness with ongoing racism and xenophobia in the ranks of our churches.
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8/ I have no confidence that the PCA is capable of handling abuse in its churches. Over the past few years, I heard heartbreaking story after story of abuse in our churches. In almost all of these cases, victims were driven from the church community while abusers were embraced.
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13/ The PCA must be more diligent in selecting pastors. Pastors must be psychologically screened, vetted, and background checked by competent professionals before being unleashed on the church. This is difficult in a church where large portions reject the very idea of psychology.
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9/ Related, I do not believe the PCA courts are capable of holding abusive clergy accountable. Both the PCA structure and procedures make this almost impossible. Presbyteries are not competent to investigate such claims, and it is difficult to discipline beloved colleagues.
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2/ I never had a theological liberal try to undermine me or split the church, but I often encountered theological conservatives trying to do that. They seemed to think that because the stakes were so high, any course of action was justifiable.
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5/ Similarly, I have tremendous respect for black pastors and elders in the PCA. I am humbled by their willingness to endure not only the normal trials of ministry but also the countless slights, suspicions, and microaggressions that they often receive from pastoral colleagues.
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15/ I offer all these thoughts as someone grateful for the PCA and who strove to be part of the process. It is strange to me to no longer be part of the PCA after 40 years of membership, but I hope to see the PCA grow and change and repent and flourish.
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Some responses to this thread have reminded me that some of the most hateful, vindictive people I have ever met were Reformed Christians. In the past 12 hours, I’ve been called a scourge, a communist, and had my demitting celebrated as me being “handed over to Satan.” Unreal.
After nearly 15 years as a PCA pastor, 2 weeks ago, at my request, the Potomac Presbytery removed my ordination credentials. (In technical terms, I “demitted” the pastoral office.) I thought this would be a good time to offer some (critical) reflections on my time in the PCA: 🧵
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7/ I can’t imagine the frustration of bringing such gifts and training to the table at such a high risk of being ignored or denied a voice in the conversations that matter.
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A lot of new followers over the past two days. Hate to disappoint, but my thread on the PCA was intended as a summative reflection of my time as a PCA pastor. From here on out, it’s poetry, sci-fi, craft beer, and typewriters. Come for the critique, but stay for the fun!
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3/ I think that the PCA form of government is an almost perfectly designed pastoral burnout machine. The sessional government of local churches, in its current iteration, separates responsibility and authority in a way that results in conflict and ongoing pastoral frustration.
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Since I’m the author of the referenced post, figured it wouldn’t hurt to say that a lack of support/relationships was not part of the reason for my demitting. I was part of an amazing pastoral cohort. Further, I would most emphatically NOT recommend the GRN for such fellowship.
Just read a heartbreaking post by a PCA Minister who has demitted from ministry, Its so important for ministers to have godly networks for encouragement and support, i heartily recommend
@gospelrefnet
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For the sake of clarity, this thread is not the only reason I demitted the ministry. Pastoring was incredibly hard on me and my family (my wife especially). I really struggled to inhabit that role in a healthy way. The change has been life giving.
After nearly 15 years as a PCA pastor, 2 weeks ago, at my request, the Potomac Presbytery removed my ordination credentials. (In technical terms, I “demitted” the pastoral office.) I thought this would be a good time to offer some (critical) reflections on my time in the PCA: 🧵
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1/ First, gratitude. I am so profoundly thankful for the time I spent in the PCA and especially for the relationships I formed there. So many faithful church leaders and members were and continue to be a wonderful source of encouragement and care for me. Now, for some critique...
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I wouldn’t normally post something like this. But I will not allow my post to be used as recruitment for an organization with which I had major issues.
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@beingandyjones
Thanks for this, Andy. This is very much the spirit in which the thread was intended.
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Just pre-ordered. ELA teachers, these prompts are amazing for unearthing beauty and creativity from middle and high school students.
THE MAGIC WORDS, my book of 50 poetry prompts, is here for pre-order!
Whether you're a student, writer, teacher, or anyone looking to unlock creativity in your life, this book is yours, waiting for you to write in it and discover some magic.
Pre-order:
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@ConradBastable
Probably depends on how you view the nature/purpose of education. I think it makes sense for those who will be designing our future to do focused reflection on shared human cultural resources. I also think humanities students need to reflect on the nature of the physical world.
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@TeachMrReed
I think that communication is key here. If students communicate ahead of time their need for additional time, then I think late work can be perfectly acceptable. That seems like good preparation for future collaborative work (whether professional or personal).
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Adam Roberts (
@arrroberts
) wrote two fascinating books, each exploring a world in which the metaphysics of particular philosophers is true. The first is on Kant (The Thing Itself), and the second is on Hegel (The This). They are both favorites of mine.
Have there been science fiction writers, etc, who wrote science fiction, or did worldbuilding, in a way that draws on theory/philosophy? eg. Deleuze, Derrida, Baudrillard, Benjamin etc
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A Last Alliance of Elves and Men formed in the year 3430 of the Second Age.
men, what is stopping you from dressing like this?
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Every day.
You guys ever get excited about drinking your morning coffee?
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(To my son, violently swinging his legs over the arms of my IKEA sofa): "Son, you're going to break the sofa. It isn't made of steel. It's made of particle board and Scandinavian hope."
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I have this quote on the wall of my classroom.
"The past is never dead. It's not even past…”
- William Faulkner
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@OphiraE
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants by Dav Pilkey could be just the ticket.
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@JosiahHawthorne
I think any surrendering of privilege is on this trajectory. That could mean tidying up after events, having meetings in the offices of one’s subordinates, even giving others the recognition and “glory” for organizational successes.
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@BretDevereaux
No offense taken at all. I’ve just been doing a lot of reading/research about tactics/logistics for some sci-fi stuff I’m trying to write. I keep coming back to things you’ve written. I’ve learned a lot from you.
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“Oh no, not again.”
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Super fun day at TMS. The vibes are not mid. Does anyone have a Chromebook charger?
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I have to say, education rivals presbyterianism in acronyms: RTI, IEP, BIP, 504, IRL, HMH, ISD, FAR…the list goes on.
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Most fun teacher move this year: D&D classroom.
Need to determine a bathroom order? Roll initiative. Wanna switch seats? Roll for it? Kid acting like a knucklehead? That’s a -2 for your next roll. What are we doing today? Roll insight.
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@Fikkert
I can try. Pastors are generally held accountable for the health and flourishing of the church, and yet they have very little authority to make decisions or implement direction. Thus they end up being held responsible for committee decisions. That can be exhausting.
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The first time I read The Wingfeather Saga, I identified a lot with Janner. But as I’ve gotten older and experienced more hardship, I’m starting to feel more like Peet the Sock Man.
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@profsamperry
Seems like a major contributing factor to Bible translation selection is denominational affiliation. Conservative evangelical churches are the primary users of ESV. And my anecdotal experience is that NRSV is favored by mainline denominations (PCUSA, UMC, ECUSA).
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@MarcusLuther6
Just wrote my first syllabus yesterday. Gave students a google form to communicate that assignments will be late and when they are expected. No penalty. Think it's an important way to build skills for the rest of life. Communication about timelines covers a multitude of issues!
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@ALWarLegal
We’ve landed at a non-denom for now that our kids really like. After 15 years of following me around, it was nice to let them have the final say. We are in a small town, but I would definitely look at ECO if there was one around.
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Went for a short walk this evening and saw a healthy clutch of ivy growing over a massive, desiccated stump. Somehow, I identify with both the stump and the ivy.
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@DustiBowling
I think the potential downside of too little underwear far exceeds the minor spatial inconvenience of packing a little extra.
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@N569AS
I’m teaching 8th grade English in the public school system and bartending and loving them both. No plans to do anything else but this for now.
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@BretDevereaux
I’m glad you’re so busy, and I’d love to see you land a TT position somewhere. (Btw, I’m a UNC alum, and I spent some time in the PWAD dept when I was there.)
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Working on writing some military sci-fi and want to understand battle tactics more soundly. Also fascinated by antiquity.
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My wife (
@JennGwennap
) is a dietitian, and we often laugh about a story one of her professors in undergrad told. Out of a desire to just see what would happen, she ate nothing but Snickers bars for a set period of time. The result?
She got scurvy. /1
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@BeritOlam
@JennMGreenberg
The mustache was tremendously fun, though. Maybe it will come back this summer.
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@darterdancer
@stevemarusich
is a great pastor and a fierce defender of those who have suffered. I’m honored to be one of his friends.
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I can post amazing away messages on AIM.
People born before 1990, what trivial skill do you possess that no one uses anymore?
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Observation from church today: I think Christians are virtually the only people who use the phrase “this place.”
Everyone else seems to prefer “here.”
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@theapostleGH
I am teaching 8th grade English in the public school system and doing some bartending. Really enjoying them both.
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She had the illusion of sustenance, but the diet was actually killing her. /2
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@Joseph_Fasano_
"War is older than mankind.
But it is younger than grace."
-Joe Pug, "Bury Me Far (From My Uniform)"
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Without giving your age, post a show you watched as a kid.
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Favorite spot for winter evenings.
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@aaronjhann
Reminds me of a (now-deleted) tweet that
@aimeebyrd
quoted:
“The BCO is never what you are navigating, it’s always the whims and group dynamics of particular presbyteries made up of a pastoral guild that has no training relevant to running a court..."
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Fully support all of Flanneries O’Connor.
Two new Flannery O’Connors—a film and a book! What a great year!
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@OedipasKvass
I read weekly at the bar near my house. Monday tradition. Walk there and escape to science fiction. Only feedback I've ever gotten is the bartender telling me that she's jealous I can read during the day.
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I’m thinking I will try to tackle some major novels in 2024. Interested to hear recommendations for best novels over 600 pages? Bonus points for “off the beaten path” recs!
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@JesterWootton
Yes. Worked at that church. The length of your stay should be directly proportional to the ability you have to effect health in the system.
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This is why we must take seriously the work of thinkers like
@amicusadastra
,
@LMSacasas
, and
@ahc
. We need to read our McLuhan, Postman, and Illich. /end
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@BretDevereaux
I’m looking for a book (or books) about the history and evolution of military strategy/tactics. Like how the phalanx was superior to __ but the Roman legion was even better. And how firearms changed the game, etc. Appreciate any recommendations you can give!
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Not poetry, but Dostoevsky!
What line of poetry would you tattoo on your body?
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@The_SergeMG
They are awesome. One celebratory website calls typewriters "machines of loving grace." I just think they are fascinating, intricate machines that connect mind to paper in a beautiful way. For my 40th birthday, I got a tattoo of the typewriter I inherited from my grandfather.
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These electronic media are the Snickers of interpersonal relations, and as a society, we have connection scurvy. We think we are building relationships, but our devices are actually, literally killing us. /5
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Chumbawamba math.
“If you get knocked down seven times, you get up eight!”
This does not make sense.
If I get knocked down seven times, each time I would get up for a total of seven get-ups. Unless I’m starting down? Like I get up first before getting knocked down?
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@Fikkert
Not arguing for some kind of pastoral autocracy. Rather, I think something like a policy governance model is healthier…where pastors are given measured independence and elders focus more on prayer and direct shepherding.
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I rarely describe books as "beautiful." Here are four that fit the bill and have stuck with me:
1. This Is How You Lose the Time War, El Mothar and Gladstone
2. The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
3. Einstein's Dreams, Alan Lightman
4. A Soldier of the Great War, Mark Helprin
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@Fikkert
On top of that, in many sessions, there is no real regard for pastoral expertise, training, or experience. In some sessions, that idea is openly disregarded. Our 2.5 office view ends up cutting off the strength of trained and experienced pastors.
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