Meet Michael Blackwood | Senior Pastor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Blackwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At the United Church of Broomfield (United Church of Christ), we don’t just preach love and community, we promote, advocate and celebrate it. Whether it’s part of our worship services, our community outreach, our social justice work or community engagement, we live out the ideals of welcoming, loving and caring for all of God’s children.

It’s difficult to simply exist in our world today, so it is up to us to meet people where they are instead of just preaching at them. Some people need to hear the gospel message. Some need to be welcomed into a non-judgmental community. Some people need to be clothed, some people need to be fed, some people need emotional presence and some people need to see us actually show up and fight for justice; we do that. The church is extremely diverse and complex – we will not limit or narrow how, when or to whom God speaks. We are not going to insist that the only place where a person can be supported and loved is inside the sanctuary. Often, it happens in one’s home, in shelters or prisons, or in the streets and government capitols.

We love extravagantly and completely because that’s what our community and world need.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As the Senior Pastor at the United Church of Broomfield (UCB), I’m responsible for leading and guiding the congregation and the community in learning, understanding and practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ. There are never two days alike, because being a minister to people and the community means being flexible and adaptable to the needs of the people in our church and those beyond our doors.

The church and religion have a challenging history. In the past several millennia there has been so much good, but also so much hurt, for which we have to acknowledge and contend. I am extremely proud of our congregation because we are the epitome of a “small, but mighty” church that understands the complexities of church history and faith. We don’t focus on being a church that is big or popular or rich.

We focus on being a community that believes in loving our God and loving our neighbors. Our church motto is “rooted in love, rooted in faith, rooted in community.” It means that being a part of our community, whether as a participant or recipient, we don’t expect or require anything other than loving intentionality to care for others. We want people to feel welcomed and included for who they are, not what we or society said they “should be.” In a world that is becoming more and more isolated and fearful, we are trying to live into being a safe and comforting place for being to simply “BE.”

We are imperfect and always trying to be better. That is what we believe God wants from us and what Jesus taught us; to be in relationships where we love each other and keep working at progress, not perfection.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I have friends or folks that aren’t familiar with Denver or Colorado visit, there are a few places I suggest or take them to help them get the feel of Denver and Colorado.

* Celestial Seasons Factory and Tea Tour – it’s such an iconic and well-known global brand that shows the world Colorado’s beautiful and environmentally supportive entrepreneurship. And there’s free tea sampling.

* Golden / Coors – Golden in a beautiful town and Coors has a long history in helping Colorado be what it is. And there’s free beer sampling.

* The Garden of the Gods and Red Rocks – these two locations are simply nature’s beauty unrivaled. At Red Rocks, there are the added benefits of an amazing step-workout and the opportunity to hear phenomenal music unlike any building can
provide.

* The Buckhorn Exchange – the oldest restaurant in Colorado that offers amazing and exotic food that any adventurous foodie can’t resist.

* Estes Park – an amazing little town with shops, restaurants and wildlife like deer and elk routinely walking down the main thoroughfare. It’s the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, which is beyond spectacular.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wasn’t raised with much religion or attending church regularly. In my early 20’s, I felt called to God and church, so I found a church to attend and began volunteering. Meanwhile, I was living my life; I dated and got married. I went to school and got a degree. I got a job and was working in the business world.

In my early 30’s, at the church I had been attending, I was volunteering with children’s ministries and the associate Pastor, Lois, pulled me aside and said that she saw in me, “gifts for the ministry.” She asked me if I had ever considered attending seminary. I hadn’t. I already had two degrees and a good job. I had never considered ministerial work – church wasn’t my job or my passion.

Her comments though, caused me to pause and reflect. I mentioned Lois’ comments to some friends and family and I was surprised to hear many of them respond in kind saying, “I think you’d do great in ministry,” and “I could see you doing that kind of work.”

I spent about a year discerning whether ministry was something I could do and if I really felt called to it. I decided to explore it by applying to seminary school. I was accepted and began a new journey that I had never considered. I worked my business job and attended seminary part-time. Eventually, I became more and more excited about what I was learning and the idea of serving through ministry not just as a volunteer, but as my job.

While attending seminary, I had overwhelming support from dozens of friends and family, old and new, as well as a growing faith in God and Jesus that encouraged me. After graduating seminary and going through the process of becoming ordained in the United Church of Christ, I’ve had the privilege of working as a chaplain in a hospital and in hospice, and now as the pastor of an amazing congregation.

I am grateful to everyone who has been a part of my journey (and continues to be), but I especially am grateful to the Rev. Lois Bucher for seeing something in me that I didn’t and encouraging me to be curious about it.

Website: https://www.broomfielducc.org

Instagram: broomfielducc

Linkedin: United Church of Broomfield

Twitter: @broomfielducc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/broomfielducc

Youtube: @broomfielducc