10/10/2026
We are pastors AND public theologians. We are called to both. Así el Señor lo decidió y estamos fijos en nuestro llamado.
We have the privilege of leading a local church and a national institution. We shepherd congregants in the pews while engaging in the public square. We preach, disciple, and care for people, while also addressing the pressing moral and ethical questions of our time.
What does that mean?
We will preach salvation through Jesus Christ, proclaim His resurrection and healing power, call people to repentance, and invite them into a transformative relationship with Him.
AND...
We will speak about justice, defend human dignity, advocate for the vulnerable, challenge harmful systems, and call the Church to embody the Gospel we proclaim.
We will pray for the sick AND advocate for access to healthcare.
We will feed the hungry AND ask why so many families struggle to put food on their tables.
We will welcome the stranger AND advocate for just and humane immigration reform.
We will preach reconciliation AND confront the prejudices and injustices that divide communities.
We will minister to the imprisoned AND challenge injustices within the systems that incarcerate them.
We will proclaim that Jesus saves AND insist that following Him must transform how we live, treat others, and engage the world.
This dual calling is not always understood. Frankly, it is not always easy to navigate. We are too pastoral for some activists and too publicly engaged for those who prefer their pastors remain silent.
Some activists consider us too cautious, too pastoral, or too committed to dialogue and reconciliation. They sometimes mistake our commitment to relationships and nonpartisanship for a lack of courage. On the other hand, some Christians consider us too outspoken or too engaged in public matters. For them, “just preach the Gospel” becomes the refrain.
But neither group gets to define our calling. God called Gabriel and me individually when we were both very young to both roles.
We are not advocates who happen to be Christians. Nor are we pastors whose faith ends at the church doors. We are followers of Jesus, called to shepherd His people and bear public witness to His Kingdom.
So, no, we will not retreat into the sanctuary. Nor will we exchange our pastoral identity for the demands of advocacy. We will continue to preach Christ, shepherd His people, seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
We will not always get the balance right AND at the same time, we will not apologize for believing that the same Jesus who saves souls also cares deeply about the suffering of the people He came to redeem.