The Unjust Steward: Wealth, Poverty, and the Church Today

Homily preached at Holy Apostles NYC on March 26, 2023 .  It is an honor to be here this morning at the Church of the Holy Apostles. Holy Apostles is a place with a long history of living out Jesus’ call to ministry at the margins and, of course, of feeding the hungry.  As someone who has lived in New York since 2004, I have had the privilege of visiting Holy Apostles on multiple occasions. Around 2008, I attended Wednesday evening Bible study sessions here led by the Reverend Liz Maxwell. A few years later, during an especially stressful period in my life, I would quietly stop in for the Friday night Shabbat services held by Congregation Beit Simhat Torah, where I listened to the cantor’s beautifully sung prayers and felt the Spirit of God’s peace fill this space. While I haven’t been here in some time, Reverend Hill has shared with me how Holy Apostles’ feeding ministry has grown exponentially since the pandemic. Truly, Holy Apostles is a special place, a beacon of hope in a city whe

I recently had a chance to speak with Bishop Rayford Ray and Canon Lydia Bucklin about the model of economic fellowship that has taken root in the Diocese of Northern Michigan. This ended up being one of the most radical (and intriguing) conversations I've had about money in the church in a long while. Take a listen and let me know what you think.