Dwight J. Friesen

“Raising Little Dwights”

Raising Dwights by Dwight J. Friesen When fear comes,it is rarely alone.A little boy arrivesalready scanning the roomfor danger.A teenager pulls out his résumé,certain he can earn our belongingif given enough work.Another reaches for humor.Another for theology.Another quietly packs a

Dwight J. Friesen July 18, 2026July 18, 2026

Trouble Naming my Substack

Every piece of marketing advice I’ve encountered begins with the same commandment: Find your niche. Choose a lane. Become known for one thing. Make it immediately obvious why someone should subscribe. Build a recognizable story brand.  Then, stay in your

Dwight J. Friesen July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

A Mary Oliver Kind of Day

Some days seem to know exactly what they are. Friday was one of those days. My partner and I went to see the new Mary Oliver documentary at SIFF near Seattle Center. Before the film, we stopped by KEXP, where

Dwight J. Friesen July 11, 2026July 12, 2026

“The Quilt We Make Together”

The Quilt We Make Together by Dwight J. Friesen No single squareever calls itself the quilt.It arrives offering what only it canits own beautiful history—a worn sleeve,a child’s Sunday dress,a farmer’s shirt softenedby seasons of weather and work.On their ownthey

Dwight J. Friesen July 7, 2026July 7, 2026

“Harmony”

Harmony by Dwight J. Friesen The world keeps asking for a single note.One flag lifted above every other.One story told loud enoughto drown out the rest.One certainty.One tribe.One voice.Yet every spring, the forest declines.The cedar does not become fern.The river

Dwight J. Friesen July 1, 2026June 29, 2026

“Breathwork”

Breathwork by Dwight J. Friesen Before you learned the names of things,before you called anything sacredor ordinary,you were breathing.The first sermonwas not spoken,it entered your lungs.Each inhale:receiving what you did not create.Each exhale:returning what was never yours to keep.The trees

Dwight J. Friesen June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

Dwight’s Top Ten Books of 2025

Each December, as the days shorten and the year slows its final turning, I find myself returning to the quiet practice of naming the books that have accompanied me. Reading has has emerged as one of the ways I stay

Dwight J. Friesen December 15, 2025December 17, 2025

A Case for Followers of Christ Engaging the SDGs

A Case for Followers of Christ Engaging the SDGs by Dwight J. Friesen I want to suggest that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not a political experiment or a secular distraction—they are a faithful, tangible way to live out

Dwight J. Friesen November 13, 2025November 13, 2025

Faith for Cities + IDGs = SDGs

This is my presentation titled, “Inner Development Goals & Faith for Cities: Cultivating the Inner Capacities for Sustainable Urban Futures.” I was hoping to present it in person in Yogyakarta, Indonesia next week but sadly my funding fell through. The

Dwight J. Friesen November 1, 2025November 6, 2025

Thank You St Paul, MN

Thank you to all the St Paul people and groups who collaborated together to co-create the 2025 “Theology Beer Camp,” hosted by Tripp Fuller of Homebrewed Christianity. Special thanks to the good folx at Luther Seminary for hosting the pre-event

Dwight J. Friesen October 20, 2025October 22, 2025

My Poster Board on Faith for Cities

As part of this year’s “Day of Scholarship” at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, I presented a poster board highlighting some of the work I do in service of the UN-Habitat’s efforts at implementing the Sustainable Development Goals

Dwight J. Friesen January 11, 2025January 17, 2025

New Essay in The Other Journal

As it says on The Other Journal’s website, the latest issue of the journal is akin to a roundtable response to Esther Meek’s work as the Senior Scholar at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. The issue features a thoughtful

Dwight J. Friesen January 8, 2025January 14, 2025

Dwight’s Top Ten Books of 2024

This is my 25th top ten list of books for the year. Wow, I’m really getting old! In celebration of my book list’s silver anniversary, I’ve revisited all my prior years’ lists… so fun for me to see what I

Dwight J. Friesen December 17, 2024December 10, 2025

Mission in a New Reality

Beginning later today, I will be serving as the Theologian in Residence for this year’s Western Gathering of Leaders. Innovative Episcopal leaders will be convening to share best practices, and I get to frame some of the shifts within Western

Dwight J. Friesen September 30, 2024September 30, 2024

Launching a Short Series

This weekend I get to preach at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Kent to launch a short series of midweek conversations about our evolving times and cultural context. My working title is: “What’s Going Here?  Becoming St Columba’s in a

Dwight J. Friesen September 18, 2024September 18, 2024

Featured on My School’s Site

Here’s a short profile, highlighting the focus of my teaching and scholarship at The Seattle School. I believe it was posted last week. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen July 23, 2024July 23, 2024

Guest Preaching . July 21

On Sunday, July 21st, 2024 – one week from today – I have the privilege of guest presiding & preaching at St Luke’s in North Bellevue. That week’s Gospel lectionary text is Mark 6:30-34 & 53-54 – while I’m still

Dwight J. Friesen July 14, 2024July 13, 2024

Leadership as Convening

So I was poking around the interwebs and stumbled across a little conversation about “gathering” that I forgot about. Enjoy… Peace, dwight View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Seattle School (@theseattleschool)

Dwight J. Friesen July 13, 2024July 13, 2024

Winnipeg & Warroad

I just returned from a wonderful – though very full – trip to see family in Manitoba. Thanks to all of you who made it happen and made it so fun… so much love! Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen July 10, 2024July 12, 2024

MATC Degree

The Seattle School recently filmed and uploaded a couple of Instagram posts describing the school’s MATC degree. Enjoy! Peace, dwight View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Seattle School (@theseattleschool) View this post on Instagram A post

Dwight J. Friesen June 24, 2024July 10, 2024

…On This Day

Today is the third of March. An important day in my life, for it marks my birth, and so much more… March 3… 1263 – Hugh of Saint Cher dies; he reputedly compiled the first Bible concordance, and divided the

Dwight J. Friesen March 3, 2024March 1, 2024

Guest Preaching this Sunday

I am delighted to be invited back to St Luke’s in North Bellevue to preside and preach this weekend. It’s going to be so wonderful to be with this community again. This is the faith community with whom I served

Dwight J. Friesen January 10, 2024January 9, 2024

Dwight’s Top Ten Books of 2023

Here’s my top ten list of books from 2023. At the end of each year I reflect on books that I engaged this year that sparked imagination… this is my 24th such list. In some way, each of these books

Dwight J. Friesen December 9, 2023December 10, 2025

My Time @ St Luke’s Coming to a Close

If you’re a regular to my site you might recall that I have had the privilege of serving as the “substitute pastor” for an ELCA (Lutheran) community here in Bellevue since January 2022. Even though I am not ordained Lutheran

Dwight J. Friesen August 25, 2023August 25, 2023

C-TEN Interview

podcast interview “Church after Mars Hill” In this episode, I am hosted and interviewed by Dr Joel Kiekintveld.

Dwight J. Friesen July 18, 2023August 18, 2023

Has it Really Been that Long?

Well, I’m finished with classes for the trimester. Of course, there is still assessment of student work to complete, a few details for next trimester’s syllabi and online classrooms to button up, and preparations for the January low-residency retreat and

Dwight J. Friesen December 16, 2022February 18, 2025

Dwight’s Top Ten Books of 2022

This is my twenty-third top ten list of books I’ve generated. I just took a few moments to review my prior lists, and I have to say that I am so grateful for the wise humans who continue to offer

Dwight J. Friesen December 12, 2022December 10, 2025

“If I Reach the Light of Day”

Those who know me well, know that I have lived with clinical depression for much of my adult life. It’s probably more actuate to acknowledge that I’ve been navigating depression as long as I can remember, long before any diagnosis;

Dwight J. Friesen September 6, 2022September 28, 2022

Speaking @ Urban Economy Forum 4

In October I will have the privilege and responsibility to offer a neighborhood-rooted, grassroots-parish, faith-based, gift-economy perspective, that is so vital to the ongoing conversation about sustainable urban economics. The City of Toronto is hosting (in-person & on-line) the fourth

Dwight J. Friesen August 19, 2022August 27, 2022

Tested COVID Positive

Last night I tested COVID positive! After dinner a headache, body aches, and a cough settled in. Then today I’ve had a sore throat, and a low grade fever hovering around 100. And I’m fully vaccinated, boosted, and wear a

Dwight J. Friesen May 4, 2022May 5, 2022