About

LessHerod.com is a blog by Guy Gray

Exploring the intersection of power, Christian leadership, and the way of the Cross

From 2016 through 2022, I taught a course, designed for pastors, at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon – Biblical Literature with Application to Christian Leadership.

It was a time, much like today, when nothing escaped the public gaze: pastoral failures, abuse of power, church meltdowns, and more. Blogs and books, podcasts and newsletters multiplied in response. Exposing, explaining, dissecting, debating, amplifying or minimizing, judging or justifying.

At the same time, Christian nationalism was spreading like fire. Some saw it as a spiritual movement, a God ordained spark igniting the faithful to action. Others saw it as the sin of  idolatry, a misguided blend of Christianity and political ideology, seducing the church from its true calling.

Along with every pastor in the room, I wrestled with questions. What is leadership? What is good leadership? What is Christian leadership in particular?  Is there one essential quality at the core of Christian leadership? If so what? And why so many examples of crisis in Christian leadership just now? What are the issues? What is at stake? How do we move forward?

LessHerod.com was born from my search for answers. The search continues.

I write from personal experience.

Through 50+ years in pastoral ministry, church planting, and leadership mentoring, I have seen the shining beauty of the church at its best, but also the dark tragedy of the church at its worst. These posts will be tinged with both, but always with hope, longing for the church to become all that it can and should be.

I write from reflection on scripture.

The Biblical story – Genesis to Revelation – has enthralled me from the day of my conversion. At age 19, I experienced a dramatic conversion from atheism to Christian faith. Three months later I was enrolled in a college program, learning Greek and immersing myself in the text of the New Testament. Decades later, having added Biblical Hebrew to the mix, I found myself leading pastors in the study of Biblical Literature and Christian Leadership. I suspect all that, too, will bleed into the pages of Less.Herod.com

Thanks for joining me.

*I encourage you to start with the first post and read through the posts in sequence. This blog is less like a newsletter of random thoughts and more like a series of developing themes, like chapters in a book.