Eric Folkerth is a minister, musician, author and blogger.
He is Senior Pastor of Kessler Park UMC United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Previously, he was pastor at Northaven UMC in Dallas for seventeen years.
Eric loves to write on topics of spirituality, social justice, music/art and politics. The entries on this blog reflect that diversity of interests.
His passion for social justice goes beyond mere words. Eric was arrested at the White House, defending immigrants and “The Dreamers;” and he’s officiated at same sex weddings.
Eric was the 2017 recipient of the prestigeous Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner. (Human Rights Campaign)
Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips to build houses and bring medical care around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, Guatemala, and Nepal. He is proud of have shephereded Highland Park UMC's construction of ten Habitat for Humanity homes, (and one Community Center) and helped forge an alliance with Habitat that led to the construction of 100 homes in Dallas, housing thousands of people.
His wife, Justice Dennise Garcia, has 20 years experience as a state district judge and appelate justice in North Texas.
First elected in 2004, she was the first Latina ever elected to a Dallas County state district bench, and she she left that position whe was the longest currently serving district judge.
In 2020 Dennise Garcia was a elected as a Justice of the 5th District Court of Appeals for Texas. She is currently running to be Chief of the 5th District Court of Appeals in the 2024 cycle.
They have the world’s best daughter, Maria, who is a practicing professional counselor in Dallas.
Find links to Eric’s music-related websites, at the top of this site’s navigation menu.
“Now…remind me again….which of the Beatles are still alive?” “Paul and Ringo, Mom.” It is Thanksgiving Day, one year ago tomorrow. We are at our family’s Lakehouse, and we are watching Peter Jackson’s “Get Back” documentary which has just dropped for streaming that very day. More accurately, *I* am watching the documentary, and the rest […]
“All the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus to listen to him. The Pharisees and legal experts were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.””Luke 15: 1-2 “Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”Luke 19: 7 I’ve been thinking about Zacchaeus, […]
Today would be my Mom’s 88th Birthday, and we miss her alot. Anniversaries are hard. But, I’ve been thinking alot about her 60th birthday this month, since I just had mine. That day –right about this time of morning, on my birthday– was extremely hard for me. September has always been “birthday month” for us. […]
This morning, the world is on-fire with conversation regarding “student debt forgiveness.” I am listening to this debate, as I also meditate on Sunday’s scripture from the Gospel of Luke (Chapter 14), and other Bible stories that speak to us today. In verse 11 Jesus says, “All who lift themselves up will be brought low, […]
Stopping for a moment to read these words. This old, yellowed quote from Frederick Buechner has been on the wall of every office study I’ve had for 30+ years. What’s YOUR favorite Buechner quote? (Copy/paste it in the comments…) I can’t even begin to calculate the numbers of times I’ve quoted Buechner in sermons, Sunday […]
Eulogy for Pat FolkerthAugust 13, 2022 On behalf of my sisters, Dianne and Linda, and all our families…we are so very grateful to all of you for being here at this service to honor our Mother. It means so much to see you all. And a big “thank you” to Revs Ann Willett and Blair […]
“AND…WHO AM I?” This is the unspoken question the religious lawyer quizzing Jesus never asks. I really wish he had. Because I need the answer to this question, and so do you. I’m talking about the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Every time I preach on that parable —as happened yesterday— I’m struck by a […]
“I am going down with the ship.” I can’t speak for everyone. I can only speak for me. I can’t fault any other choice anyone else might make.All I am saying is: If Texas goes down, I’m going down with it.To the bitter end. I’m here to stay and I’m ready to fight. Ever since […]
“Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God.”— John 16:2 “When your icon of the enemy is completeyou will be able to kill without guilt,slaughter without shame.The thing you destroy will have becomemerely an enemy of God, an impedimentto the sacred […]
To the Pride Flag Vandal, I don’t know who you are. I don’t know your motivations. I don’t know why you chose to cut down our KPUMC Pride Flag from the flagpole on our property. But I thought I’d write you a short note today. Please know that we, the members and staff of Kessler […]
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