Remembering Walter Brueggemann


The community of Church Anew joins scholars, preachers, and people of faith around the world in mourning the loss of Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggeman, who entered eternal joy today at the age of 92.

For the last five years, Church Anew has been honored to share the timely and prophetic proclamation by Dr. Brueggeman. Walter has written over 240 weekly articles for the Church Anew blog since March of 2020. His clarion call has only become more essential in these later years, and we -- like the rest of the worldwide church -- will remain ever in his debt.

Remembrances and gratitudes are pouring in from many of our past contributors whose work has long rested on Dr. Brueggemann's shoulders. We hope to share those memories and visions in featured posts for the weeks to come as we celebrate the life and witness of a man who impacted so many. Please consider visiting his website to leave a message of gratitude for his family.


Rev. Emmy Kegler

Emmy Kegler is a queer Christian mom, author, pastor, and speaker called to ministry at the margins of the church.

Emmy has a Master’s in Divinity from Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minn., and is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.  She was raised in the Episcopal Church and spent some time in evangelical and non-denominational traditions before finding her home in the ELCA. For six years she served as the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Northeast Minneapolis, a small servant-hearted neighborhood congregation focused on feeding the hungry and community outreach, where she co-founded the Queer Grace Community, a group of LGBTQIA+ Christians in the Twin Cities meeting for worship, Bible study, and fellowship.

When her son was born, Emmy transitioned out of called ministry. She currently serves as the interim executive director for Inside Out Faith, which promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion within faith communities, fostering a space where everyone can thrive spiritually and be embraced for their authentic selves.

Emmy is also the Editor of the Church Anew blog, where she helps curate an amazing collection of new and long-time authors that share a fresh, bold, and faithful witness for the church.

Emmy’s first book, One Coin Found: How God’s Love Stretches to the Margins, tells her story as a queer Christian called to ordained ministry and how it formed her relationship with Scripture. Her second book, All Who Are Weary: Easing the Burden on the Walk with Mental Illness, offers a pastoral and Scriptural accompaniment to those facing symptoms and diagnoses of mental illness along with the families, friends, communities, pastors, and therapists who care for them.

As a preacher and writer, she is passionate about curating worship and theological practices that dismantle barriers to those historically marginalized by Christian practice. She believes in and works for a church rooted in accessibility, intentionality, integrity, and transformation, knowing that God is already out ahead of us creating expansive space for those most hungry for the good and liberating news of Jesus.

Emmy lives in Minneapolis and has a life full of toddler-chasing and baby-entertaining alongside her wife Michelle.

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Between and Beyond Certitudes