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.
I’ve been completely speechless for several days, after seeing this video featuring several local women, supporting Donald Trump, and excusing his affair with a porn star, and doing so based mostly on their so-called Christian faith. The American view of Christianity was already in tatters *before* Trump came along. In the past decade, the number […]
I took the first of these pictures one year ago tonight, as I first arrived at DFW Airport, for what would become known as the “airport protests.” My dear Muslim friends, Alia Salem and Omar Suleiman has urgently texted us just as the Sun was setting on a Saturday night, to let us know that […]
Two works of art from “shithole” countries, both displayed prominently in their usual place, above the couch in our living room. At bottom right, next to the light switch, a small painting I bought on my trip to El Salvador. On the left, a larger painting that the people of Petit-Guave Haiti gifted me with, […]
So, I actually figured out one resolution that I DO have for 2018: I resolve to block, ban, and otherwise ignore the “You’re Doing it Wrong” memes and videos. You know the ones I’m talking about. They’ve been around for several years. “10 Ways You’re Folding Your Sheets Wrong…” “6 Ways You’re Brushing Your Teeth […]
Was this a horrible year? Or was it the stepping stone to something more amazing? And, can we know for sure whether it’s either or both? These are the questions on my mind, during these last hours of 2017. I can think back to this moment last year, and how it seemed like the world […]
So, this happened.A nice feature on me and my music, in the current issue of the Advocate Magazine. I believe it’s running in both the Lakewood (near home) and Preston Hollow (near church) editions.Thanks to all the good folks at the Advocate, to Patty Vinson and Kathy Tran. It’s an incredibly generous feature. And I […]
The final moments of light on the shortest day of the year. And now, we enter into a period of the Longest Night. As I jump back in the bike in a moment, I’ll crank up the Peter Mayer song, and sing to myself as I ride into the longest night. And the Joe Jencks […]
I was honored to receive the “Humanitarian of the Year” Award from the Black Tie Dinner. The complete video is now up. Thanks again to the board for this truly amazing honor. 2017 Black Tie Dinner – Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Black Tie Dinner on Vimeo.
As I watched tape of Al Franken’s resignation speech yesterday, my thoughts went back to Bob Livingston and Newt Gingrich. The pair, as some will recall, were leaders of the effort to impeach and remove President Bill Clinton from office in the late 1990s. At the very height of that terrible time, Gingrich was forced […]
Dear Interfaith and Atheist Friends, A few days back, I was with a Muslim friend who I know well enough to joke about our faith. He said to me, “Can’t you guys do something about the decorations in the stores in October?” I said, “The truth is, we can’t. The Powers That Be have discovered […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.