Bethesda Presbyterian Church

Personal — Passionate — Progressive

Sermons for the Church Body and Her Soul:

The Rev. Chuck Booker-Hirsch

 

Chuck Booker-Hirsch began his ministry at BPC the first day of the summer of 2009. A graduate of San  Francisco Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity '94), he comes to Bethesda following 11 fruitful years as Pastor of Northside Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, MI. A passionate advocate for radical church hospitality and faith-based social justice, he served on the staff of interracial congregations in the barrio of Tucson, AZ and the ghetto of Marin City, CA, and worked for four years resettling Central American refugees in this country seeking sanctuary from torture and slaughter in their homelands. Chuck is married to the Rev. Amy Booker-Hirsch, a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister and hospice chaplain. They have a 12-years-young son and Sudoku wizard, Drew Booker.

 
As a result of his nonviolent efforts to resist the Department of Defense's training on our own soil of Latin American military officers in methods of torture, Chuck became one of approximately 250 witnesses to-date who have served time in federal prison -- in his case, three months (Sep-Dec 2002). Throughout his incarceration, he was fully and blessedly supported by the courageous witness of his family, his congregration in Ann Arbor, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on a presbytery and national level. Later, he and nine other Presbyterian prisoners of conscience received the Peaceseeker Award from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship at the 2004 General Assembly of the PC(USA). [For more on Chuck's witness, see his 10 Jan 2010 sermon, "God's Call: Be-Loved (Baptism)".]
 
In addition to his peacemaking efforts, Chuck has served on the national boards of More Light Presbyterians -- an organization seeking full ordination opportunities for church members regardless of sexual orientation and gender identification -- and Presbyterian Health Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA).
 
Chuck's vocational passions include following the teachings of Jesus ("seriously, not literally"); proclaiming the Good News (three dozen sermons published by goodpreacher.com); and interpreting the spiritual lessons Twelve Step groups offer the church.

Chuck can be reached at revbooker@gmail.com or his cell: 734-646-3550. Feel free to contact him!

Last updated by Chuck Booker-Hirsch Jul 8.

Blog Posts

Chuck Booker-Hirsch

Sermon, 7/25: "Our Church: Vision Is *Everything*"

... and so it is! As we focus on God's grand framework of "Personal, Passionate, Progressive" for us, we will do so by worshiping as one in an informal summer fashion: gathering together in one of our two transepts (side sections of pews). Join us at 10!

Posted by Chuck Booker-Hirsch on July 23, 2010 at 5:46am

Chuck Booker-Hirsch

Summer Social Justice Cinema: July Fridays, 7:30p!

Our Community Theater (details: BPC Film Force More Powerful.doc) benefitting Bethesda Cares Outreach for the Homeless continues Friday, July 16, 23 & 30. Two 30-minute clips shown each week from A Force More Powerful: A Century of NonviolentContinue

Posted by Chuck Booker-Hirsch on June 23, 2010 at 11:30am

Chuck Booker-Hirsch

This Sunday's Worship (7/11): Sermon on the Mount continues!

Topics this Sunday include anger, lust, divorce, retaliation, enemies ... life's simple stuff. "Love your enemy": Oh, really?! And doesn't "Turn the other cheek" mean "Get hit with the other fist"? Scripture: Matthew 5:21-48. Come join us at 10a this Sunday!

Posted by Chuck Booker-Hirsch on July 9, 2010 at 11:30pm

Chuck Booker-Hirsch

Our New Statement of Welcome!

Opposite on this page, you will note our brief, clear Statement of Welcome approved on June 15 by our Session (church board). Most mainline Protestant churches such as our own -- never exempt from the human condition -- have played a particularly bigoted role in rejecting our lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender sisters & brothers from full participation in our congregations. We at BPC -- noted for our personal hospitality to all -- feel it our faithful responsibility to counter such an… Continue

Posted by Chuck Booker-Hirsch on June 16, 2010 at 6:00pm

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