The Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes

Denomination: United Church of Christ (UCC)

The Rev. Dr. Elnes is the pastor of Countryside Community Church UCC in Omaha, NE, host and producer of Darkwood Brew, a groundbreaking interactive web television program, and Executive Director of OnFaithOnline.tv. He explores progressive/emerging Christian values. 

Articles by The Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes

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Eric Elnes: Where do you see the growing edge of innovation in ministry?

Wednesday July 13, 2016
At the Presbyterian General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, I was invited to participate (as a United Church of Christ interloper) in a panel discussion hosted by San Francisco Theological Seminary on the topic, 'Where do you see the growing edge of innovation in ministry?' Here’s how I answered the question - or rather, the version I would have liked to give had I more time. I would love to hear your response.

Eric Elnes: Suicide or Adoration: The 'Doomsday Clock' and the Abrahamic Faiths

Thursday February 11, 2016
Jesuit paleontologist Teilhard de Chardin once observed that 'humanity is being taken to the place where it will have to choose between suicide and adoration.' If the scientists behind the Doomsday Clock which measures the likelihood of a global cataclysm are correct, then we had best start adoring!

Eric Elnes: How to Pray For a Daughter With Brain Cancer (Or Anyone Else You Care About)

Friday February 05, 2016
In my last post I promised to offer some guidelines I follow when praying for my daughter, Arianna, who was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 2008 and will be undergoing laser ablation therapy at the Cleveland Clinic in mid-February. These guidelines may be helpful for anyone who has the desire to pray for another but does not know quite how to go about it.

Eric Elnes: Quantum Prayer

Tuesday February 02, 2016
I think it must be acknowledged that when we pray for the health of another, for instance, the effects of these prayers may be elusive, making them seem quite 'little.'

Eric Elnes: Did Jesus Leave Us a Mixtape?

Sunday December 27, 2015
If Jesus could record a mixtape to share with the world, what do you suppose would be on it? Actually, some scholars believe Jesus already made one.

Eric Elnes: The Gift of Uncertainty

Sunday December 20, 2015
Religion does us a disservice when it seeks to remove uncertainty from life. Have you ever noticed how the more certainty a religion claims to deliver, the more frenzied and hysterical are its adherents? The fact of the matter is that life is messy and no amount of doctrine or dogma changes this.

Eric Elnes: Beyond Paris: The Life Machine

Wednesday November 18, 2015
In the wake of last Friday's atrocities in Paris, many of us reacted to our feelings of despair and helplessness by reaching out to the world by changing our Facebook profile pictures to reflect both our agony and empathy for the victims. While I was changing my profile picture, however, one of my Facebook friends went a step further. She cast a vision for responding to terrorism that the world sorely needs, yet has thus far proven itself incapable of implementing.

Darkwood Brew: Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God, Part 4: The Pleasure of God - Day1.org

Wednesday September 18, 2013
In Park 4 of the Darkwood Brew series, Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God, Eric Elnes talks with Jennifer Kotler about the Pleasure of God.

Darkwood Brew: Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God: Part 3

Wednesday September 11, 2013
In part 3 of the Darkwood Brew series, Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God, Eric Elnes and featured guest Cecil Prescod discuss the Assurance of God.

Darkwood Brew: Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God, Part 2: The Hope of God

Wednesday September 04, 2013
In part 2 of the Darkwood Brew series, Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God, Eric Elnes and featured guest Phileena Heuertz discuss the Hope of God.

Darkwood Brew: Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God, Part 1: The Yoke of God

Wednesday August 28, 2013
In part 1 of this new Darkwood Brew series, Busy: Reconnecting to an Unhurried God, Eric Elnes and featured guest Marcia McFee discuss the Yoke of God.

Darkwood Brew: If Love Wins...What Now? Week 4: Church

Tuesday August 06, 2013
Rob Bell’s book ”˜Love Wins’ rocked American Christianity with a message of God’s grace for all people. This 4-part series led by Rev. Eric Elnes Ph.D. explores how it works in our life and what it means to people in our communities and around the world. In Part 4, Greg Brekke talks with Eric about the Church.

Darkwood Brew: If Love Wins...What Now? Week 3: Self

Tuesday July 30, 2013
Rob Bell’s book ”˜Love Wins’ rocked American Christianity with a message of God’s grace for all people. This 4-part series led by Rev. Eric Elnes Ph.D. explores how it works in our life and what it means to people in our communities and around the world. In Part 3, Rachel Held Evans talks with Eric about Self.

Darkwood Brew: If Love Wins...What Now? Week 2: Neighbor

Tuesday July 23, 2013
Rob Bell’s book ”˜Love Wins’ rocked American Christianity with a message of God’s grace for all people. This 4-part series led by Rev. Eric Elnes Ph.D. explores how it works in our life and what it means to people in our communities and around the world. In Part 2, Diana Butler Bass talks with Eric about Neighbor.

Darkwood Brew: If Love Wins...What Now? Week 1: God

Tuesday July 16, 2013
Rob Bell’s book ”˜Love Wins’ rocked American Christianity with a message of God’s grace for all people. This 4-part series led by Rev. Eric Elnes Ph.D. explores how it works in our life and what it means to people in our communities and around the world. In Part 1, Brian McLaren talks with Eric about God.

Darkwood Brew: Prophetically Incorrect, Part 6: Amos and Jesus Walk into a Bar

Tuesday July 09, 2013
What does an Eighth-Century Jewish shepherd have to say about the economic bubble, predatory lenders and politics as usual? Join series host Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. and Frank Schaeffer for part 4 of "Prophetically Incorrect: Amos and the Art of Uncomfortable Truth." Watch Part 6: Amos and Jesus Walk into a Bar

Darkwood Brew: Prophetically Incorrect, Part 5: Seek and Live

Tuesday July 02, 2013
What does an Eighth-Century Jewish shepherd have to say about the economic bubble, predatory lenders and politics as usual? Join series host Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. and Frank Schaeffer for part 5 of "Prophetically Incorrect: Amos and the Art of Uncomfortable Truth."

Darkwood Brew: Prophetically Incorrect, Part 4: Whose Kingdom Is It, Anyway?

Tuesday June 25, 2013
What does an Eighth-Century Jewish shepherd have to say about the economic bubble, predatory lenders and politics as usual? Join series host Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. and Frank Schaeffer for part 4 of "Prophetically Incorrect: Amos and the Art of Uncomfortable Truth."

Darkwood Brew: Prophetically Incorrect, Part 3: Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Tuesday June 18, 2013
What does an Eighth-Century Jewish shepherd have to say about the economic bubble, predatory lenders and politics as usual? Join series host Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. and Frank Schaeffer for part 3 of "Prophetically Incorrect: Amos and the Art of Uncomfortable Truth."

Darkwood Brew: Prophetically Incorrect, Part 2: You Only Have I Known

Tuesday June 11, 2013
What does an Eighth-Century Jewish shepherd have to say about the economic bubble, predatory lenders and politics as usual? Join series host Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. and Frank Schaeffer for part 2 of "Prophetically Incorrect: Amos and the Art of Uncomfortable Truth."

Darkwood Brew: Prophetically Incorrect, Part 1: Selling the Righteous

Tuesday June 04, 2013
What does an Eighth-Century Jewish shepherd have to say about the economic bubble, predatory lenders and politics as usual? Join series host Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D. and Frank Schaeffer for part 1 of “Prophetically Incorrect: Amos and the Art of Uncomfortable Truth.”

Darkwood Brew: On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Day 7: The Rest of God

Tuesday May 28, 2013
Are we blessing the Earth or destroying it? Modern science and ancient Celtic Christianity both suggest a better way of being - exercising an ethic of stewardship, not dominion. Join us for part 7 of "On Earth As it Is In Heaven," a provocative seven-week Darkwood Brew series, produced in conjunction with the United Church of Christ's Mission 4/1 Earth.

Darkwood Brew: On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Day 6: Image of God

Tuesday May 21, 2013
In part 6 of this series, Darkwood Brew welcomes John Philip Newell, a poet, peacemaker, minister and scholar, acclaimed for his work in the field of Celtic Spirituality. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Newell’s work relates to the sacredness of the earth and the oneness of the human soul.

Darkwood Brew: On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Day 3: Fecundity

Tuesday April 30, 2013
Are we blessing the Earth or destroying it? Modern science and ancient Celtic Christianity both suggest a better way of being - exercising an ethic of stewardship, not dominion. Join us for part 3 of "On Earth As it Is In Heaven," a provocative seven-week Darkwood Brew series, produced in conjunction with the United Church of Christ's Mission 4/1 Earth. With guests: Kit Evans and Sonsiris Tamayo-Dewitt  

Darkwood Brew: On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Day 1: The Genesis of Environmentalism

Tuesday April 16, 2013
Are we blessing the Earth or destroying it? Modern science and ancient Celtic Christianity both suggest a better way of being – exercising an ethic of stewardship, not dominion. Join us for part 1 of “On Earth As it Is In Heaven,” a provocative seven-week Darkwood Brew series, produced in conjunction with the United Church of Christ’s Mission 4/1 Earth.

Darkwood Brew: Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 7: Our Evolving Faith

Tuesday April 09, 2013
As the series concludes, we offer an interactive wrap up featuring Darkwood Brew’s bloggers: Eric Elnes, Ian Lynch, Cynthia Astle, and Leslie Murrell on issues concerning our evolving faith.

Darkwood Brew: Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 6: Evolution and Curing Disease

Tuesday April 02, 2013
In this Latest Darkwood Brew episode, Eric Elnes and Gayle Woloschak discuss faith, evolution, and healing. It's Part 6 in the series, "Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith."

Darkwood Brew: Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 5: Is There Evidence for God?

Tuesday March 26, 2013
In this latest Darkwood Brew episode, Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 5, Eric Elnes and Owen Gingerich discuss the question, Is There Evidence for God?

Darkwood Brew: Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 4: What's Love and Human Suffering Got to Do With It?

Tuesday March 19, 2013
In this series from Darkwood Brew on Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, host Eric Elnes probes faith and science, doubt and belief. Quantum theory, current theories of creation and evolution, and much more are examined through the lens of faith. In part 4, Eric interviews Lea Schweitz, What's Love and Human Suffering Got to Do With It?

Darkwood Brew: Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 3: Michael Dowd and the New Theists

Tuesday March 12, 2013
In this series from Darkwood Brew on Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, host Eric Elnes probes faith and science, doubt and belief. Quantum theory, current theories of creation and evolution, and much more are examined through the lens of faith. In part 3 Eric interviews Michael Dowd on the New Theists.

Darkwood Brew: Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 2: The Possibility of Life on Other Planets

Tuesday March 05, 2013
In this series from Darkwood Brew on Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, host Eric Elnes probes faith and science, doubt and belief. Quantum theory, current theories of creation and evolution, and much more are examined through the lens of faith. In part 2, Eric and Grace Wolf-Chase discuss the possibility of life on other planets--and the ramifications for faith.

Darkwood Brew: Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, Part 1: Awe, Wonder, and God

Tuesday February 26, 2013
In this new series from Darkwood Brew on Evolving Universe, Evolving Faith, host Eric Elnes probes faith and science, doubt and belief. Quantum theory, current theories of creation and evolution, and much more are examined through the lens of faith. In part 1, Eric interviews Grace Wolf-Chase & Bruce Booher on Awe, Wonder, and God.

Darkwood Brew: Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own, Part 7

Tuesday February 19, 2013
In the final part of this Darkwood Brew video series, "Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own," Eric Elnes talks with Chuck Marohnic about "God and Music."

Darkwood Brew: Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own, Part 6

Tuesday February 12, 2013
In Part 6 of this Darkwood Brew series, "Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own," Eric Elnes talks with Doug Pagitt on the topic, "Do You Want to Be Made Well?"

Darkwood Brew: Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own, Part 5

Tuesday February 05, 2013
In Part 5 of this Darkwood Brew series, "Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own," Eric Elnes and Phileena Heuertz discuss contemplation and centering prayer.

Darkwood Brew: Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own, Part 4

Tuesday January 29, 2013
In Part 4 of the Darkwood Brew series, "Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own," Eric Elnes and Bruce Epperly discuss prayer and healing.

Darkwood Brew: Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own, Part 3

Tuesday January 22, 2013
In Part 3 of the Darkwood Brew series, "Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own," Eric Elnes and Carl McColman's topic is "Meet the Committee."

Darkwood Brew: Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own, Part 2

Tuesday January 15, 2013
In Part 2 of the Darkwood Brew Series, "Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own," Eric Elnes and Jack Levison's topic is "Breathe!"

Darkwood Brew: Listen: Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own, Part 1

Tuesday January 08, 2013
In part 1 of this new Darkwood Brew video series, "Listen" Hearing That Still Small Voice and Finding Your Own," Eric Elnes talks with Bishop Yvette Flunder about "Finding Your Cave."

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 8: Spirit

Wednesday January 02, 2013
In the final segment of this special new year's series from Darkwood Brew, "Hope: A Pessimist's Guide," Eric Elnes and Bob Ravenscroft talk about spirit and hope.

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 7: Beauty

Tuesday January 01, 2013
In Part 7 of this special Darkwood Brew series, "Hope: A Pessimist's Guide," Eric Elnes and Melvin Bray discuss hope and beauty.

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 6: Simplicity

Monday December 31, 2012
In part 6 of this special Darkwood Brew series on "Hope: A Pessimist's Guide," Eric Elnes and Carrie Newcomer talk about simplicity and hope.

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 5: Justice

Sunday December 30, 2012
In Part 5 of this special Darkwood Brew series, "Hope: A Pessimist's Guide," Eric Elnes talks with Michael Piazza about justice and hope.

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 4: Fidelity

Saturday December 29, 2012
In Part 4 of this special Darkwood Brew series on Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Eric Elnes discusses fidelity and hope with Scott Russell Sanders and Phyllis Tickle.

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 3

Friday December 28, 2012
In Part 3 of this special Darkwood Brew series, "Hope: A Pessimist's Guide," Eric Elnes interviews Katharine Harts.

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 2

Thursday December 27, 2012
In Part 2 of this special 8 part Darkwood Brew series, "Hope: A Pessimist's Guide," Eric Elnes interviews Scott Russell Sanders and Patrick Swanson.

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide, Part 1: What Is Hope?

Wednesday December 26, 2012
In Part 1 of this special series, the Rev. Eric Elnes and special guests discuss the question, "What Is Hope?"

Darkwood Brew: Hope: A Pessimist's Guide--An Introduction

Tuesday December 25, 2012
In this preview of a special Darkwood Brew series, presented here over the next 8 days, the Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes and guests Kit Evans and Scott Russell Sanders introduce the topic of HOPE.

Darkwood Brew: Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 6: “Jesus, the New Adam – Rethinking Salvation”

Tuesday December 18, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew: Eric Elnes and Beth Johnson discuss Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 6: “Jesus, the New Adam – Rethinking Salvation”

Darkwood Brew: Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 5: “That Darned Tower: Fall #4”

Tuesday December 11, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew: Eric Elnes and Chip Bouzard discuss Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 5: “That Darned Tower: Fall #4”

Darkwood Brew: Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 4: “That Darned Flood: Fall #3”

Tuesday December 04, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew: Eric Elnes and Terrence Fretheim discuss Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 4: “That Darned Flood: Fall #3”

Darkwood Brew: Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 3: “That Darned Brother : Fall #2”

Tuesday November 27, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew, Eric Elnes and Reinhilde Ruprecht discuss Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 3: That Darned Brother : Fall #2

Darkwood Brew: Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 2: “That Darned Snake: Fall #1”

Tuesday November 20, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew, Eric Elnes and Nadia Bolz-Weber discuss Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 2: That Darned Snake : Fall #1

Darkwood Brew: Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 1: “Imago Dei – Rethinking Our Creation”

Tuesday November 13, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew episode, Eric Elnes, Kevin Miller and others discuss Failing, Falling and Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace – Week 1: “Imago Dei – Rethinking Our Creation”

Darkwood Brew: Curious Companions of Jesus, Week 6: Pharisees and Scribes

Tuesday November 06, 2012
This week's Darkwood Brew episode: Hookers, Looters, and Cheats: The Curious Companions of Jesus -- “Pharisees and Scribes”. Eric Elnes, Steve Knight, and more.

Darkwood Brew: Curious Companions of Jesus, Week 5: The Lying Cheat at the Well

Tuesday October 30, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew episode, Part 5 of Hookers, Looters, and Cheats: The Curious Companions of Jesus -- “The Lying Cheat at the Well”. Join Eric Elnes and the Rev. Bruce Van Blair and more.

Darkwood Brew: Curious Companions of Jesus, Week 4: The Looter Who Became Jesus' New BFF

Tuesday October 23, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew episode, Park 4 of Hookers, Looters, and Cheats: The Curious Companions of Jesus -- “The Looter Who Became Jesus’ New BFF”. Join Eric Elnes, Rev. Fred Plumer, and more.

Darkwood Brew: Curious Companions of Jesus, Week 3: The Looter Disciple

Tuesday October 16, 2012
This week's Darkwood Brew episode: Hookers, Looters, and Cheats: The Curious Companions of Jesus, Part 3: “The Looter Disciple”. With Eric Elnes and guest: Chris Heuertz.

Darkwood Brew: Curious Companions of Jesus, Week 2: The (Alleged) Hooker Disciple

Tuesday October 09, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew, watch part 2 of Hookers, Looters, and Cheats: The Curious Companions of Jesus -- “The (Alleged) Hooker Disciple”, with Eric Elnes, Dr. Emilie Townes, and more.

Darkwood Brew: Curious Companions of Jesus, Week 1: The Unnamed Hooker Who Showed Jesus Great Love

Tuesday October 02, 2012
In this week's Darkwood Brew, watch Part 1 of Hookers, Looters, and Cheats: The Curious Companions of Jesus--“The Unnamed Hooker Who Showed Jesus ”˜Great Love’”, with Eric Elnes, Jana Reiss, and more.

Darkwood Brew: Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 6: In All Things

Tuesday September 25, 2012
In this Darkwood Brew program, Dr. Eric Elnes and Dr. Samir Semanlovic discuss the Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 6: In All Things.

Darkwood Brew: Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 5: Areopagus to Aerospace with Brian McLaren

Tuesday September 18, 2012
In this Darkwood Brew episode, Eric Elnes and Brian McLaren discuss the Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 5: Areopagus to Aerospace.

Darkwood Brew: Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 4: Other Sheep

Tuesday September 11, 2012
In this Darkwood Brew program, the Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes and Dr. Diana Eck discuss the Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 4: Other Sheep.

Darkwood Brew: Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 3: The Lord Alone?

Tuesday September 04, 2012
In this Darkwood Brew program, the Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes and Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz discuss the Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 3: The Lord Alone?

Darkwood Brew: Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 2: The Most High God

Tuesday August 28, 2012
In this Darkwood Brew episode, Eric Elnes and Leong Seow discuss the Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 2: The Most High God.

Darkwood Brew: Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World 1: The Way, the Truth and the Life

Tuesday August 21, 2012
In this Darkwood Brew episode, Eric Elnes and Allen Hilton discuss the Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World. Part 1: The Way, the Truth and the Life. Watch it!