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.
Today, I am remembering the one and only time I ever met Joe Biden at a political event, and how somehow it did not dawn on me to get picture with him. It was 2005.Dennise had made history the year before, becoming the first elected Latina State District Judge in the history of Dallas County, […]
“What happened to JD Vance?” This is a question I’ve heard a lot these past few days. And I’d like to offer both an opinion, and some evidence to back up that opinion. Many have suggested that JD Vance has “gone full MAGA” with his support of Donald Trump, and his willingness to be nominated […]
Forgive me while I again look back and make a post about my dear friend, Tom Prasada-Rao. I have two memories, and one regret, rattling around in my head today that I want to share. Perhaps a decade ago now, I told Tom of my regret that we didn’t get together more often when he […]
What a horrible day for America. Sincere prayers for former President Trump, for those injured or killed, and for all those terrorized by this senseless shooting. I have condemned every mass shooting, and I urge everyone to do the same with this one. Political violence is never the answer in a country run through democratic […]
I haven’t said much about any of the recent political news concerning the debate, the SCOTUS decision, or who should/should not be the nominees this Fall. I’m still super hesitant to say anything, because there is so much noise and anxiety out there right now. Let me just make several quick points that reflect my […]
JEFF DAVIS WAS TRYING TO GO TO TEXAS Jeff Davis, he was trying to go to Texas.Thought that he could find some Rebels there.Robert Lee already had surrendered.Loss lay heavy in the Southern air.He tried to sneak across, from down in GeorgiaWhile all the rest, they fled to anywhere.But Jeff Davis, he was trying to […]
Each week, I have the joy of watching a group of parents and children play in Roberts Forest. A few of these are members of our church, but most of them are simply part of the large number of neighbors we serve by maintaining and support that holy space. Also, last week, I watched with […]
This evening the North Texas Conference of the UMC will ordain an openly gay man who has been faithfully serving the church of my confirmation: Lovers Lane UMC. And this has me thinking about Ed Upton. When I first came to Northaven UMC in mid-2001, Ed was a member of our Staff Parish Relations Committee, […]
SEEKING STILL All my life I’ve searched for inner peaceTo make the voices ceaseA sweet releaseThat leads me to a calm And now and then I find a pathway thereSome moment without careA jewel rareLike truth inside a song But soon as I arrive, the destination’s goneI’m back upon a path that’s always winding and […]
And now, we exhale.At least, I do. Now, except for a few more tiny “jots,” the harm is fully gone. The Original Sin of the United Methodist Discipline regarding human sexuality, the word “Incompatible,” is gone.Everywhere from our polity and law, now. The margin was 76%, and included an amendment that came from an African […]
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