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 writes on topics of spirituality, social justice, music/art and politics. Entries here reflect that diversity.

His passion for social justice goes beyond mere words. He’s been arrested at the White House, defending immigrants and “The Dreamers,” and officiated at same sex weddings in his churches, in defiance of what some believe was United Methodist teaching at the time.

Eric is an avid writer and published author, and 2017 recipient of the prestigeous Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner. (Human Rights Campaign)

He is an award-winning singer-songwriter, who performs throughout Texas and the Southwest. His songs have won honorable mention in both the Billboard and Great American song contests; and he’s been a finalist in the 5th Street Festival and South Florida Folk Festival songwriter competitions.

Eric was coleader of Connections, a unique band comprised of United Methodist clergy and layfolk from throughout North Texas. Connections performed “cover shows” of artists like Dan Fogelberg, Chicago, Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and others. Their many shows drew thousands of fans, and they raised more than $350,000 dollars for charity.

Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips around the globe, to Mexico, Haiti, Russia, Nepal, and more. He worked with lay persons to build ten homes, and one Community Center, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Dallas. He’s a popular preacher, and often tackles challenging issues of social justice in his writings and sermons.

His wife, Dennise Garcia, is a Justice with 5th District Court of Appeals for the State of Texas; and was the first Latina ever elected to a state district bench in Dallas County, serving in that role for seventeen years. She also performed the first Same Sex wedding in the State of Texas, the day of the Obergerfell decision. Their daughter, Maria, is a therapist in Dallas, at Mays Willow Therapy, a name that plays homage to her Grandmother, and Eric’s Mother.

They live in a unique log house in the heart of Old East Dallas, and have the world’s smartest and most beautiful daughter, Maria, and an amazing dog, Holmes.

Find links to Eric’s music-related websites, at the top of this site’s navigation menu.