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.
Some days, you really do feel the past and future come together and touch each other. Today was one of those days for us, as Dennise and me went back to visit “Kasha-Katuwe, aka Tent Rocks,” here in New Mexico. You may recall that back in May, I blogged about our 20-year anniversary. Even though […]
Although I blog about a lot of things, I’ve never written much about abortion or about why I am fundamentally “Pro-Choice.” But my friend Rev. Jim Rigby, a minister from Austin, asked yesterday for clergy who are Pro-Choice to sign their name to statement. I was please to stand with many other Texas clergy who […]
In the past several days, I’ve had several talks with folks regarding the twin Supreme Court rulings on same sex marriage, and its implications for the United Methodist Church. The gist has been to lament just how dramatically “out-of-step” the United Methodist Church has become on the issue of same sex marriage, and LGBT issues […]
Today is The Judge’s birthday. I won’t spill the beans on how old she is. That would be foolish on my part. Btw, if you’ve considered getting a gift, I would suggest that campaign contributions make a very nice one. 🙂 But as you’d imagine, I’m deeply grateful she was born. I’ve been meditating on […]
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” — Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. I don’t know. Today, it sure feels like that arc is picking up a little steam. My first thoughts on reading the Supreme Court decisions had to do with our families here at Northaven Church. When […]
Right now, State Senator Wendy Davis of Fort Worth is filibustering on the floor of the Texas Senate. I thought you would appreciate reading a part of a message that I just sent to her: As a United Methodist clergy in Texas, I am horrified by the bill before the Texas Senate. Years ago now, […]
Dear Church of Jesus Christ, That seems like a pompous salutation for a blog. But I don’t know what else fits. I am led to write to anyone who considers themselves a follower of Jesus Christ. I am led by God’s Holy Spirit to write to you about the situation with Exodus Ministries International, and […]
Let me get my full geek on, and offer you a George RR Martin quote for the day: “Winter Is Coming.” I know. I know. That’s crazy talk. The hottest days of Summer haven’t even arrived. Whether you love Winter or hate it, it’s foolish to talk about it being on the way. But, scientifically? […]
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