Faith & Coffee is a blog about the Christian faith in the everyday—from social media, to work, to school, to global events. In the spirit of a “practical theology,” Faith & Coffee seeks to explore what Christian Faith looks like in the real world experiences of people of faith or no faith.
I’m Eric Ledermann, an ordained minister (“teaching elder”) in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 2001. I’ve served churches as both a solo and associate pastor in Ohio, New York, California, and now Arizona. Since February, 2012, I have been serving as pastor of University Presbyterian Church of Tempe, Arizona—about 1.5 miles south of Arizona State University. I hope to be there for a very long time! (Do you hear that as a prayer request, God?) So, if you find yourself in the Phoenix area, please feel free to drop in!
I am a graduate of San Diego State University (Go Aztecs!), with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California, with a Master of Divinity degree. In 2017 I completed a course of study in practical theology, earning a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. The focus of title of my final thesis was: “Toward a More Open and Welcoming Table: Eucharistic Theology and Socio-political Ethics in the Reformed Tradition.” If you really want to read it, you can download it here.
In my “free time” I enjoy photography, reading, writing, hiking/camping, and going out for a cup of coffee with folks to talk and share our stories. So, don’t hesitate to call me, tweet me, message me, or get a hold me any way you can, and let’s go have a cup o’ jo together and grow together!
I started this blog in hopes of contributing to the ongoing conversations about the ever-shifting landscape of religious and public life in North America. My views are my own, and certainly do not necessarily reflect the communities, whether religious or secular, in which I live and serve. I hope you are inspired by what I offer, and I would love to be in conversation with you! Feel free to comment on my posts!