Upper House Commons is welcoming pastors, church staff, lay leaders, and anyone interested in the health of the local church to reimagine vocational ministry through the agrarian metaphor of gardening.  

Join us as we welcome Matt Erickson, a Milwaukee-area pastor passionate about reframing and revitalizing pastoral work with a life-giving and restorative vision. Drawing from his book The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry, Matt will share insights shaped by his own experiences and reflections on what it means to serve as a pastor today. 

In a cultural moment marked by strain on traditional religious pathways, pastors and the communities they lead face unprecedented pressure. 

Matt offers grounded and hopeful guidance: “I have found that at least one way out of the confusion is to plunge our hands into the soil and get into the garden. What has helped me is reconnecting through the soil with those who have gone before me so that I can recalibrate and find my way today.” 

This event includes lunch. Matt's book will be available for a suggested donation.  

Tickets: $10/ attendee  

Matt Erickson is a pastor, writer, speaker, and disciple of Jesus. Since 2010, he has served as the Senior Pastor at Eastbrook Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Matt holds a BA in English and Christian Education from Wheaton College, an MDiv from Northern Theological Seminary, and a DMin from Western Theological Seminary. Matt has spoken in a wide range of settings and written for publications such as Christianity Today and The Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, in addition to maintaining an active writing ministry on his blog.