WelcomeLast week we began a study of some of the minor prophets of the Old Testament. Amos was one of the individuals who spoke some uncomfortable truths to Israel regarding harmful and hurtful practices that had become common within the community. Pastor Charity asked us to consider who it is in our individual lives who might speak uncomfortable truths to us and how we do at receiving such news. ...  Read More

We’ve been quietly working on a project here at The Gathering that I’m so excited to finally share with you. This summer, we will officially launch The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab, by welcoming three amazing pastoral fellows to our staff team.What is the Church Planters Lab?It was conceived as a way for The Gathering to help nurture and develop pastors on a continuous basis. The Lab is in coll...  Read More

WelcomeOk, we need to talk. It’s time to get honest. You may not want to hear it, but something needs to be said. Ugh. We have all had times like these when someone is about to tell us some difficult news. Those times are usually not fun, but the information is often something we need to hear. This week, we are starting a new series called Uncomfortable Truths. It is a series intended to challenge...  Read More

I just got back from the 2024 General Conference and the news is good, very, very good. I thought I would do the M-Note video style this week, as I share my final update about the results of the conference and what it means for us.Learn more about the news of General Conference.Learn more about the history of the anti-LGBTQ language that we finally removed.Peace,MattP.S. This weekend, we'll begin ...  Read More

WelcomeIt’s our final week of the Screen Time series! We’ve discussed lots of topics, including binge-streaming and tuning out the world, social media and unhealthy comparisons, dualistic thinking (believing that things can only be black or white), and the impact of each of these things on our mental health, relationships, and faith. This week, we’ll talk about how we can decipher between the “tru...  Read More

I am in Charlotte, NC at the United Methodist Church’s long delayed General Conference. This is the legislative body that gathers every 4 years (except for COVID) and decides church law in our denomination. I am one of 6 clergy delegates from Missouri and joining about 750 delegates from all over the world. The last several years have been difficult for our denomination. More conservative churches...  Read More