Applying Jesus to New Vision - Interview with Rev. Dr. Tori Butler
One of my favorite humans is talking with us today about her life in ministry and how to engage gender equality in the Church. We are joined by my preaching coach and pastoral mentor, Rev. Dr. Tori Butler. She is so special and just the best person to talk with at any point in time.
Season 2 is intentionally different than Season 1. In this season, we are talking with folks hard at work re-imagining what it means to respond and reform the issues within our society. These conversations are going to help us, in the Church, re-imagine what it means to be a part of the solution - the Kin-Dom Come.
About Rev. Dr. Tori Butler
Rev. Dr. Tori Butler was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She received a BA in History and International Relations from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. She received her call to ministry following a semester abroad in Argentina. She is a graduate of the Divinity School at Duke University where she received her Master of Divinity degree. She was recruited out of Duke to serve in the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church where she ministered in three cross-cultural appointments as well as being the Chaplain at Wiley College. She was ordained by Bishop Janice Riggle Huie in 2014. By God’s amazing grace and through tremendous perseverance on May 13, 2019, she received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Emory University with a concentration in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation. Her Doctor of Ministry project is entitled, “The Power of Mourning: Creating Spaces of Vulnerability for Black Clergywomen to Lament and Holler.
She recently had the honor of speaking at the 57th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Dr. Butler is a contributor to Do Not Be Afraid: Bishops & Young Clergy Share Signs of Resurrection & Words of Hope and I’m Black. I’m Christian. I’m Methodist. Her sermon entitled, “Holy Spirit, We Need You” was placed on a list of Anti-Racism Sermons in June of 2020 by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church. She contributed a devotion for the United Methodist Communications Lenten Devotional Series called, “Holy Saturday: Tarrying Together.” She has been a featured panelist for Emory University, Howard University, the Convocation of Black Pastors, and the General Commission on Religion and Race. Her passion is talking about how God uses lament to give voice to individual and communal pain and in the same breath gives voice to a God who is able to step into that pain and transform it into joy.
The new joy of Dr. Butler’s life happened on July 1, 2021. Rev. Dr. Tori Butler became the senior pastor of Asbury Town Neck United Methodist Church in Severna Park, Maryland where worship can’t be explained but must be experienced! In this new role, she wants to invite people into a transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit. Her prayer is that all would know the healing, redeeming, and restorative love of God. Her calling is to help others discern their purpose, and get to their next level in life and in the Lord. Therefore, she seeks to honor God in everything that she does. Her goal in life is to be his hands and feet in the world. She sincerely prays that God will use her as a prophet, teacher, preacher, scholar, activist, evangelist, counselor, writer, shouter, and dancer all for the glory of God.
Applying Jesus is hosted and produced by Amy Vogel, Director of Spiritual Growth for Upper Room Heights and our Technical Director is Xach Blunt. We record at the Chapelwood UMC Digital Studio in Houston, TX. We hope something you heard today deepened your faith, opened your eyes and led you to not only knowing God in a more expansive way, but shifts how you connect, especially with those who are easy to overlook. Visit www.urheights.com to learn more!