Matt Comer
@themattcomer.bsky.social
Uncle. Winston-Salem born. Adopted Charlottean. Baptist. Advocate for ‘the least of these.’ Church comms. Seminary student. 🏳️🌈 he/him
Writings: mattcomer.substack.com
Writings: mattcomer.substack.com
Pinned
Matt Comer
@themattcomer.bsky.social
· Jan 26
Lots of new followers recently, so a short re-introduction:
👑 Charlotte, NC
🐪 Born in Winston-Salem, NC
⛪️ Baptist, work at a UMC as
💻 Communications director
📚 Seminary student
🫏 Democrat
🏳️🌈 Gay/queer (he/him)
🪻 Humble flower gardener
⛰️ Appalachian Mountains
🪕 Country/Bluegrass
👑 Charlotte, NC
🐪 Born in Winston-Salem, NC
⛪️ Baptist, work at a UMC as
💻 Communications director
📚 Seminary student
🫏 Democrat
🏳️🌈 Gay/queer (he/him)
🪻 Humble flower gardener
⛰️ Appalachian Mountains
🪕 Country/Bluegrass
A very quick reminder for my local folks: The "Charlotte Way" is not actually a good way to govern. It sacrifices the voices and participation of the most marginalized in favor of creating even more space at the table for those who already have it all.
June 24, 2026 at 11:28 AM
A very quick reminder for my local folks: The "Charlotte Way" is not actually a good way to govern. It sacrifices the voices and participation of the most marginalized in favor of creating even more space at the table for those who already have it all.
In the 1840s, Baptists nationally united under the Triennial Convention decided slaveholders could not be ordained missionaries.
Slaveholding Baptists in the South left and formed the Southern Baptist Convention.
This post is not about slaveholding Southern Baptists in the 1840s.
Slaveholding Baptists in the South left and formed the Southern Baptist Convention.
This post is not about slaveholding Southern Baptists in the 1840s.
David Easterwood, who is a pastor at the Southern Baptist-affiliated Cities Church in St. Paul, is also the acting director of the St. Paul ICE field office.
Protesters Disrupt Southern Baptist Church of Pastor Who Leads ICE Office in Minnesota
On Sunday, an unplanned liturgy of “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good!” erupted in the sanctuary of a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
January 19, 2026 at 8:05 PM
In the 1840s, Baptists nationally united under the Triennial Convention decided slaveholders could not be ordained missionaries.
Slaveholding Baptists in the South left and formed the Southern Baptist Convention.
This post is not about slaveholding Southern Baptists in the 1840s.
Slaveholding Baptists in the South left and formed the Southern Baptist Convention.
This post is not about slaveholding Southern Baptists in the 1840s.
I don't have time to witness the Walk for Peace monks in Charlotte today, but I commend them on their journey. They are inspiring thousands as they paint a powerful picture of a truly Christ-like posture.
January 14, 2026 at 4:33 PM
I don't have time to witness the Walk for Peace monks in Charlotte today, but I commend them on their journey. They are inspiring thousands as they paint a powerful picture of a truly Christ-like posture.
"Servant leadership" is just a buzzword until you're the one breaking a sweat carrying boxes for event setup, staying late to fold chairs after the event, or doing the next-day post-event data entry. Leadership is 10% vision or platform and 90% service and administrative work.
January 13, 2026 at 8:26 PM
"Servant leadership" is just a buzzword until you're the one breaking a sweat carrying boxes for event setup, staying late to fold chairs after the event, or doing the next-day post-event data entry. Leadership is 10% vision or platform and 90% service and administrative work.
I grew up with pastors and Sunday school teachers repeatedly telling me to "be in the world, not of the world." Years later they've all fallen prey to a hyperpartisan world of outrage, fear, and bigotry, swapping Jesus for a politics of division and in the process hurting both themselves and others.
January 12, 2026 at 3:38 PM
I grew up with pastors and Sunday school teachers repeatedly telling me to "be in the world, not of the world." Years later they've all fallen prey to a hyperpartisan world of outrage, fear, and bigotry, swapping Jesus for a politics of division and in the process hurting both themselves and others.
Amidst a wearying drumbeat of bad news, I'm starting this Friday with gratitude:
January 9, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Amidst a wearying drumbeat of bad news, I'm starting this Friday with gratitude:
If the world feels very heavy right now, you're not alone and you're not wrong. That feeling you have to want to solve it all, to take away the pain and hurt: that just makes you human. Take deep breaths. Pray. Find time to rest. Find and build community. We're in this together.
January 8, 2026 at 6:19 PM
If the world feels very heavy right now, you're not alone and you're not wrong. That feeling you have to want to solve it all, to take away the pain and hurt: that just makes you human. Take deep breaths. Pray. Find time to rest. Find and build community. We're in this together.
Fourteen years ago today, I attended my first worship service at my now-home church in Charlotte. I'd made a New Year resolution to get back into church, after years of intermittent church shopping. St. John's had been waiting for me the entire time.
1/4
1/4
January 8, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Fourteen years ago today, I attended my first worship service at my now-home church in Charlotte. I'd made a New Year resolution to get back into church, after years of intermittent church shopping. St. John's had been waiting for me the entire time.
1/4
1/4
It's been a hot minute since I've regularly used Bluesky, but I'm hopping back in as I brew up some writing projects this year. I'd love to connect more and follow fellow progressive/moderate Baptists, LGBTQ Christians, and folks from Charlotte, North Carolina, and the larger South.
January 8, 2026 at 12:53 PM
It's been a hot minute since I've regularly used Bluesky, but I'm hopping back in as I brew up some writing projects this year. I'd love to connect more and follow fellow progressive/moderate Baptists, LGBTQ Christians, and folks from Charlotte, North Carolina, and the larger South.
Armed officers of a pseudomilitary government agency specifically trained to turn against and target the people living and working under its jurisdiction is never a good idea, is a sign of democratic backsliding, and will always inevitably lead to fatal consequences. Abolish ICE.
January 7, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Armed officers of a pseudomilitary government agency specifically trained to turn against and target the people living and working under its jurisdiction is never a good idea, is a sign of democratic backsliding, and will always inevitably lead to fatal consequences. Abolish ICE.
Moving to Charlotte in 2007, I was just a blogger-turned-rookie journalist with a laptop. I didn’t know then that this city would become the place where I’d find my voice, my calling, my husband, and a life rich with meaning and purpose. The Queen City isn't perfect, but it is home.
January 7, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Moving to Charlotte in 2007, I was just a blogger-turned-rookie journalist with a laptop. I didn’t know then that this city would become the place where I’d find my voice, my calling, my husband, and a life rich with meaning and purpose. The Queen City isn't perfect, but it is home.
I saw a TikTok post this morning of a 20-something trans creator explaining the emotional and spiritual toll the world has taken recently. There's nothing scarier than seeing the light and joy in someone else's eyes start to dim. 1/2
January 7, 2026 at 1:49 PM
I saw a TikTok post this morning of a 20-something trans creator explaining the emotional and spiritual toll the world has taken recently. There's nothing scarier than seeing the light and joy in someone else's eyes start to dim. 1/2
Epiphany is a season of revelation and manifestation, and as Christians living in the world today we, too, have a role to play. As the Body of Christ, we live as the physical manifestation of God’s presence on earth — the very hands, feet, and heart of Jesus himself.
January 6, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Epiphany is a season of revelation and manifestation, and as Christians living in the world today we, too, have a role to play. As the Body of Christ, we live as the physical manifestation of God’s presence on earth — the very hands, feet, and heart of Jesus himself.
Epiphany is a season of revelation and manifestation. While God alone is the builder, God call us into active involvement and participation in God’s mission on earth.
January 6, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Epiphany is a season of revelation and manifestation. While God alone is the builder, God call us into active involvement and participation in God’s mission on earth.
On this day: That one time my reporting was cited by Bill Moyers.
January 5, 2026 at 10:27 PM
On this day: That one time my reporting was cited by Bill Moyers.
My Mondayest of all Mondays turned out half decent. Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was the power of self-fulfillment. Either way, I’ll take it.
It's the Mondayest of Mondays, on this first full work week of a new year. If your week is off to anything like mine, things are not going as we originally planned. But that's okay! We can't always choose the journey, but we can roll with the unexpected turns and find new blessings along the way.
January 5, 2026 at 9:45 PM
My Mondayest of all Mondays turned out half decent. Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was the power of self-fulfillment. Either way, I’ll take it.
From Elevation's new university partner, their community covenant banning LGBTQ students. I continue to be saddened that Elevation's marketing (intentionally?) fools LGBTQ people into thinking the church is friendly, welcoming, or affirming.
January 5, 2026 at 6:23 PM
From Elevation's new university partner, their community covenant banning LGBTQ students. I continue to be saddened that Elevation's marketing (intentionally?) fools LGBTQ people into thinking the church is friendly, welcoming, or affirming.
It's the Mondayest of Mondays, on this first full work week of a new year. If your week is off to anything like mine, things are not going as we originally planned. But that's okay! We can't always choose the journey, but we can roll with the unexpected turns and find new blessings along the way.
January 5, 2026 at 5:03 PM
It's the Mondayest of Mondays, on this first full work week of a new year. If your week is off to anything like mine, things are not going as we originally planned. But that's okay! We can't always choose the journey, but we can roll with the unexpected turns and find new blessings along the way.
I was struck by the comments from Esau McCaulley on a recent Holy Post episode from: Refuse to be the avatar of other people's rage. Don't just yell about the things that upset you. Instead, work to build something constructive.
September 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I was struck by the comments from Esau McCaulley on a recent Holy Post episode from: Refuse to be the avatar of other people's rage. Don't just yell about the things that upset you. Instead, work to build something constructive.
At church today, we will celebrate the lifelong ministry of our senior pastor, who is retiring. His 14 years with the congregation mirrors my own time there. I’ve had very few leaders I’ve been able to call “my pastor.” He’s one of them. I expect many (happy and bittersweet) tears today.
August 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
At church today, we will celebrate the lifelong ministry of our senior pastor, who is retiring. His 14 years with the congregation mirrors my own time there. I’ve had very few leaders I’ve been able to call “my pastor.” He’s one of them. I expect many (happy and bittersweet) tears today.
Someone stole a package off my doorstep sometime overnight on Friday. They very clearly needed their own copy of "Learning Theology: Tracking the Spirit of Christian Faith."
August 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Someone stole a package off my doorstep sometime overnight on Friday. They very clearly needed their own copy of "Learning Theology: Tracking the Spirit of Christian Faith."
As a church staffer, the absolute best congregational leader/lay leader is the kind who sends reminders and offers check-ins. You saved me from dropping a big ball this weekend, Trish!
August 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
As a church staffer, the absolute best congregational leader/lay leader is the kind who sends reminders and offers check-ins. You saved me from dropping a big ball this weekend, Trish!
The wife of my work church's pastor shared this, and I just thought it was a powerful word: "When you learn how to sit at the same table as your Judas, you'll understand the love of Jesus Christ."
August 21, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The wife of my work church's pastor shared this, and I just thought it was a powerful word: "When you learn how to sit at the same table as your Judas, you'll understand the love of Jesus Christ."
There is no way to overstate the trauma James Dobson caused for countless LGBTQ young people and adults. While he can no longer cause this pain, do not mistake his death as some end. The rabid hatred he proclaimed lives on, and it’s our responsibility to continue to counter it.
August 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
There is no way to overstate the trauma James Dobson caused for countless LGBTQ young people and adults. While he can no longer cause this pain, do not mistake his death as some end. The rabid hatred he proclaimed lives on, and it’s our responsibility to continue to counter it.
Great article from Ryan Burge today. I'm certainly among the 66% entering ministry from a different career. I'm also comfortable with what's most likely in my future — bivocational ministry — something many others are doing, too. What's normative isn't always what's most visible!
August 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Great article from Ryan Burge today. I'm certainly among the 66% entering ministry from a different career. I'm also comfortable with what's most likely in my future — bivocational ministry — something many others are doing, too. What's normative isn't always what's most visible!