My love letter to Oklahoma Faith Network

It has been a distinct honor to serve you.

In the spring of 2017, the Oklahoma Conference of Churches came into my life in a whirlwind. Fresh from the end of my marriage, I made my way to OKC with my three year old daughter to begin a new kind of ministry in a new kind of setting. When I was in seminary, I never really pictured myself pastoring in a congregational setting, but didn’t know what else was out there. I was about to learn very quickly.

Within 10 months of my hire as the Director of Community Engagement, I was named the acting executive director, making it permanent three months later. I was both honored and terrified, emotions that feel exceedingly true in this moment, as I step into something new yet again. I was almost 35, I had never been the “boss” before, and quickly had to master the art of building the plane while I flew it.

A LOT of things unfolded the first months in this role, much of it behind the scenes. I very quickly had to learn to master the art of taking the high road, and let go of any need to control whatever narratives people decided to put in the world. (Sidebar, taking the high road… can royally suck) Someday, I might share the details of the journey endured during that time, but I’m glad to say I persevered and went on to achieve every goal I set for myself within my leadership of the organization.

Oklahoma, together,

• we confronted our privilege…

• we shut down a discriminatory Chaplain policy at the state capitol (which turned out to be only the beginning of Christian Nationalist takeovers)…

• We launched an entire anti-hate campaign (No Hate in the Heartland) based around an unapologetic inclusivity…

• We journeyed through an organizational rebrand, taking us from the Oklahoma Conference of Churches to the Oklahoma Faith Network…

• We showed up in the community to provide programs to strengthen families, address addiction and suicide, promote gun safety, and MORE…

• We were blessed with the opportunity to participate in the movement to save the life of Julius Darius Jones, one of the most special and holy things I’ve experienced in my life…

• We organized faithful presence at multiple vigils, gatherings, and press conferences, reminding our state that Christianity is not unilateral and ALL faiths deserve a seat at the table..

• We took on the rising Christian Nationalist rhetoric at every single turn, an element of the work for which I am exceedingly proud, and an element that we must all continue to be steadfast within.

I know the amazing work will only continue to evolve, grow, and meet the moments in front of us all. My time as the leader of OFN is ending, but the organization’s heart and soul never only belonged to me. I never did any of this alone, not once. It has always been you.

This organization taught me what it means to lead, my way. It taught me to navigate struggle, what it truly means to sacrifice, and how to stand firm in what I know to be right. You have taught me. And for that, I am abundantly grateful.

As I step into the next iteration of what God has called me to, I hope I have made you proud; because you have made me exceedingly proud. You’ve shown up, you’ve taken things seriously with devotion, you’ve shown what holy community can and should be. I take all of you forward with me with these promises…

• I promise you I will not be silent.

• I promise you my voice will stand firm in opposition to narratives that strip abundant love from the teachings of our collective faiths.

• I promise you my heart and soul remains firm in this work, even when fear tries to derail it all.

• And I promise you, this is not goodbye.

Many blessings for the journey friends! I’ll see you again very soon.