Guest commentary by Andrew Whaley “They didn’t teach us that in seminary!” How many times have pastors shared this phrase when relating the beautiful and confusing and frustrating stories of ministry? The truth is, though, that there is no way three years of study can help us to gain even rudimentary exposure to the biblical knowledge, theological skill, questions of pastoral presence and leadership ability needed to navigate this lifelong calling. In fact, most of those experiences that seminary did not train us for are only learned in the daily practice of ministry in the church. In August of 2015, I left my first call as a solo pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson City, Tennessee, to accept a head of staff position at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, Virginia. During our season of discernment, I told the pastor nominating committee that managing a church staff and daily church administration was the area in which I would need to grow the … [Read more...]
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Commentary 5 hours ago
They didn’t teach us that in seminary!
Guest commentary by Andrew Whaley “They didn’t teach us that in seminary!” How many times have pastors shared this phrase when relating the beautiful and confusing and frustrating stories of ministry? The truth is, though, that there is no way three years of study can help us to gain even rudimentary exposure to the biblical knowledge, theological skill, questions of pastoral presence and leadership ability needed to navigate this lifelong calling. In fact, most of those experiences that seminary did not train us for are only learned in the daily… continue reading... -
Looking into the lectionary 6 hours ago
October 2, 2016 – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lamentations 1:1-6; Psalm 137; Luke 17:5-10 Ordinary 27C Proper 22 There are times in our lives when lament is the only response possible. Jill Duffield’s lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlook’s email list every Monday. There are seasons in communities and nations when corporate lament erupts. The words from Lamentations and Psalm 137 resonate as I write this week in the wake of more death, violence and suffering. Bitter weeping, groaning priests, young girls grieving – these images are all too relevant in Tulsa and Charlotte and Syria and… continue reading... -
Outlook Features 1 day ago
30 years of World Mission: An interview with Hunter Farrell
Hunter Farrell, who has served as director of World Mission for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 2007, has announced that he is leaving that position as of Oct. 14 to discern another call. Farrell, 58, had a conversation with the Outlook’s national reporter, Leslie Scanlon, to share some of what he’s learned in his 30 years in international mission work, and talk about what’s next. This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. Q: How did you decide to leave World Mission, and what do you see ahead for… continue reading...
Parties in Stamford case had tried to expedite process in order to get a ruling on the merits of the case January 1, 1995 Uncategorized75 views The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission -- in sidestepping the question of exactly how deeply a session should be required to probe into the private life of a gay elder who has acknowledged being in a committed, life-long relationship but has declined to say whether he is sexually active -- has put the question off but has not put it to rest.- Ministering with the Earth January 1, 1998 Book Reviews72 views By Mary Elizabeth MooreChalice. 1998. 226 pp. Pb. $19.99. ISBN 0-8272-2323-4 Ministering with the Earth is a quiltwork, both the on-the-ground activity and Moore's book about so ministering. Moore, professor of theology and Christian education at Claremont School of Theology, is fond of the metaphor, suitably pastoral and feminist.
- Remembered Voice: Reclaiming the Legacy of 'Neo-Orthodoxy' January 1, 1998 Book Reviews80 views By Douglas John HallWJKP. 1998. 145 pp. Pb. $18. ISBN 0-664-25772-0 It was in this order. I first read Tillich's Dynamics of Faith. Riveting. Next came The Courage to Be. Gripping. Then I went back and read the first volume of the Systematic Theology. Things began to make sense. Next came Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality. Positive.
Mission Agency board to meet this week in new structure September 12, 2016 Outlook Reporting3 comments
LOUISVILLE (Outlook) – Hoping to spend more time thinking about big issues facing the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Presbyterian Mission Agency board will at its meeting this week put into play a new committee structure and a new way of doing business.
The basic idea: Spend less time at meetings on routine business and more on “generative thinking.”
The agenda for the board’s meeting Sept. 13-16 will be a mix of idea...
Stony Point to work toward financial self-sufficiency June 9, 2014 Outlook Features3 comments LOUISVILLE, KY - After a long and somewhat contentious stretch of trying to figure out the future of Stony Point Center, a plan seems to have emerged — a roadmap for trying to make Stony Point financially self-sufficient within the next three years.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board voted April 24 in favor of a plan that:
Affirms the mission, including interfaith work, of Stony Point Center, a Presbyterian conference center outside New York City. Rick and Kitty Ufford-Chase, Stony Point’s co-executive directors, described as crucial the willingness of the leadership of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ...
Adopting Belhar, the 222nd General Assembly makes history June 23, 2016 Outlook Reporting2 comments PORTLAND, Ore. – The 2016 General Assembly made history by voting June 22 to add the Belhar Confession – a moving call for reconciliation, and a condemnation of racial injustice written in the crucible of the struggle over apartheid – to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Book of Confessions. Belhar becomes the first confession from the global south the mostly-white PC(USA) has ever adopted – and the PC(USA) has done so at a time when racial tension, injustice and violence in the United States make headlines nearly every day.
Christians from South Africa told the assembly they have been waiting for this da...
They didn’t teach us that in seminary!
Tagged With: theological education
October 2, 2016 – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lamentations 1:1-6; Psalm 137; Luke 17:5-10 Ordinary 27C Proper 22 There are times in our lives when lament is the only response possible. There are seasons in communities and nations when corporate lament erupts. The words from Lamentations and Psalm 137 resonate as I write this week in the wake of more death, violence and suffering. Bitter weeping, groaning priests, young girls grieving – these images are all too relevant in Tulsa and Charlotte and Syria and Yemen and… and… and. How lonely sits the city that once was full of people. The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to the festivals. Jerusalem has been destroyed and the people are exiled. The author of the introduction to Lamentations in my study Bible writes, “Lamentations is first and foremost an eloquent expression of grief that helped survivors come to terms with the historical calamity they had gone through.” Perhaps this is the Sunday, then, to preach from it. The prophets were right. Sin has painful … [Read more...]
Suicide leaves scars, not the stain of sin (Commentary)
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. (RNS) September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and every September I hear that suicide is the unforgivable sin. As a minister and theologian, I understand the rationale. It goes something like this: Sin is doing something that offends God. It is the pride of trying to be God. And murder is a sin. Because that’s what it says in the Ten Commandments. And because only God can determine life and death. So murder is taking on God’s role. It is a sin. And suicide is an unforgivable sin because if you murder yourself, you aren’t alive to repent of it later. More generous Christians are willing to admit that all sins are forgiven by Jesus’ work of salvation. In this thinking, suicide is a forgivable sin, but still a sin. This fear of condemnation may cause many suicidal individuals to pause, stop and choose another path. Because religious fear trumps psychic fear. But more often, this teaching brings pain to those of us … [Read more...]
30 years of World Mission: An interview with Hunter Farrell
Hunter Farrell, who has served as director of World Mission for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 2007, has announced that he is leaving that position as of Oct. 14 to discern another call. Farrell, 58, had a conversation with the Outlook’s national reporter, Leslie Scanlon, to share some of what he’s learned in his 30 years in international mission work, and talk about what’s next. This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. Q: How did you decide to leave World Mission, and what do you see ahead for you A: “A couple of years ago I told Linda Valentine (the former executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency) that I was open to the next call. When I took the job in 2007 I came from mission work in Peru, we’d been there for 10 years, and was willing to provide some leadership to World Mission at what felt like a critical time. I saw it as doing a term of mission service back in Louisville. She said, ‘How about two [terms]?’ I said OK. So we were … [Read more...]
The God Particle: God-Talk in a “Big Bang” World
by R. Kirby Godsey Mercer University Press, Macon, Ga. 112 pages In 2012 scientists discovered the Higgs boson. What is the Higgs boson? Named after scientist Peter Higgs, it not only confirms that all things have mass (including people, galaxies, etc.), but demonstrates how this is even possible. This is the astonishing discovery that the author builds upon to frame a conversation about science and faith. It’s a good conversation explaining how the latest developments have a profound influence on how we think of God, the universe, humans and all creation. Godsey’s larger project is an argument for faith with reason. This is not a new idea for many Outlook readers, but it is for large numbers of Christians who feel compelled to abandon reason when it comes to their faith. Godsey argues that scientific discoveries, primarily in physics, have altered the way we understand the working of the universe. Some Christians have embraced the challenges of this new … [Read more...]
We’re not going it alone: A pastoral conversation about mentoring relationships
by Lori Archer Raible and George C. Anderson As a newly ordained minister, Lori Archer Raible participated in the Trent Symposium, a comprehensive, annual meeting designed to practically equip pastors for effective church leadership. Along with Ken McFayden, George Anderson directs the Trent Symposium, which Second Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, Virginia, and Union Presbyterian Seminary have sponsored since 2008. The Trent model focuses on practical areas of need, best practices, leadership of experienced pastors and congregation members, peer support, worship and rest. The Trent model has gone on to be applied to other forms of community building and leadership development. Raible, Anderson and others work together to share and expand the best parts of what the Trent model has to offer. Some would say Raible and Anderson’s partnership is unlikely based on their differences, but they share one hope: that all newly ordained pastors in the Presbyterian Church … [Read more...]
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