I’m a 30 something pastor chica with deep love of Duke basketball, baking, long conversations among friends. I love beautiful sentences, great memoirs and the thought of publishing my own book one day. I’m married to the fabulous, Kevin Hagan who happens to be the President of Feed The Children, a non-profit committed to education, feeding and better health care around the world for children and families which is based in Oklahoma City, OK.
This blog originally began during my tenure as pastor of Washington Plaza Baptist Church in Reston, VA in 2009– a great little church in the suburbs of Washington, DC.
As a new phase of my journey began in 2013 as a pastor on the plazas around the world– not in an official role with a particular church, but among faith seekers as a freelance writer, preacher, and pastoral care giver, my goal in all of these things is to learn how to be a human being. I want to know my Creator, to give and receive love, to respect others as much as I do myself, to use the resources of time, talent and finances I have for the good of the world.
I’m ordained in the Baptist tradition but not your traditional Baptist, most calling this Baptist group my home. I am very interested in Interfaith dialogue and non-judgmental conversations among those seeking church outside the walls of church. I have often done weddings, funerals and other committment ceremonies for those who aren’t a member of a particular congregation, but who want a pastor too. (I love being this kind of pastor!) In my preaching, teaching and writing, I seek to point to the beauty in the traditions in what others who have come before us have treasured and taught us, but bringing new light to the old.
On the blog, I like to muse about big questions of life like:
Where is God when life hurts?
How does meaningful conversation find us in the mundane?
What does it mean to pray?
What is my life’s purpose?
What is the future of the church? And so much more. . .
I hope to connect readers to others who are asking similar questions and who are looking for honest answers (even if the truth hurts a little).
I’m excited about the journey with you, my online community of friends,
Elizabeth
Feel free to contact me at elizabethevanshagan at gmail dot com if you’d like to take the conversation off-line.
Note: that any comments I share on this blog are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my denomination (American Baptist USA), the schools where I have degrees (Samford University or Duke Divinity School), my family members, my husband’s place of employment or all people of faith.
