Author: ericfolkerth

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.

My Father’s Workbench

November 20, 2017.Reading time 16 minutes.

My Mother is moving. It’s a good thing. Downsizing. Big estate/garage sale on the day after Thanksgiving. Our own family-led “Black Friday.” Pray for us… But it means we are disassembling the home where she and Dad lived for 40 years. Closet-by-closet, room-by-room, we are pulling out all the lovingly stored items. “We,” by the […]

Surrender

October 30, 2017.Reading time 9 minutes.

“Surrender” It has such connotation of loss and defeat. But it was the word that came to me, along with this new song that I mostly wrote on a recent trip to Mount Sequoyah Retreat Center in Fayetteville. The title means to connote a spiritual sense of “surrender,” which is a spiritual move that […]

Shower The People (Cover)

October 10, 2017.Reading time less than 1 minute.

As the last horrible week unfolded, amidst the mass shooting, hurricanes, and the usual daily Tweets, I had the overwhelming urge to play this song. Life is just so heavy right now, and we’re all in such need of hope. This song has always given me hope. You can’t help but feel a little better […]

My Speech at the Anti-White Supremacy Rally

August 26, 2017.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Many thanks to our good friends at First Unitarian, for posting this video of my speech at the “Anti-White Supremacy” rally in Dallas. What a great night it was. As I say in the speech, standing around and below me were almost twenty United Methodist clergy colleagues who stood in solidarity with us that night. […]

Moral Licenser In Chief

August 15, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

This afternoon, President Trump made it clear that he is our “Moral Licenser in Chief.” He made it clear that he is giving loud and clear permission to racists and bigots to act with impunity. What is “Moral Licensing?” I’ve been writing/speaking about it a lot since the election. Moral Licensing suggests that past “good […]

Why We Should Take Down Dallas’ Confederate Monuments

July 27, 2017.Reading time 12 minutes.

I should say that we have Confederate soldiers in my own family tree. I certainly do not feel pride in this, but neither do I feel shame. I feel neutral about it, frankly. It was what it was. They were who they were. And, thank God, our morality is not wed to our DNA. The […]

An Empty Storefront, and a Heart Full of Memory

July 20, 2017.Reading time 2 minutes.

On mornings when I’m walking Daisy, and on evenings when Dennise and me are out to dinner here, I think about these empty storefronts on Lowest Greenville. Despite the teaming life on Lowest Greenville right now, these spots are empty. They are the place where the old Poor David’s Pub used to be, owned by […]

All He Knows Is Tearing Things Down

July 18, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

In the midst of relief on the part of many today over the failure of the Senate Healthcare Bill, some shocking remarks from President Trump. The President suggested that absent the ability to either pass a new plan, or repeal Obamacare, that we should just let the healthcare system collapse: “And I think you’ll also […]

My Prayer: Police Shooting Prayer Vigil at Thanksgiving Square

July 7, 2017.Reading time 7 minutes.

My prayer from this morning’s remembrance at Thanksgiving Square: Eternal and Loving God, The surreality of events one year ago this day have not faded in the memories of those of us who live and work here in your city. We give you thanks for all who have come to this place of gathering, this […]

Old Age and Experience

July 6, 2017.Reading time 3 minutes.

Sitting on Mark’s bench, having just snapped this pic back up the hill. I looove this time of day….the breath-holding moment of this picture. I’m hearing occasional fireworks off in the distance. Pop up storms about 5:30 almost convinced me not to come out here. So glad I didn’t give into fear. Time and time […]