LOUISVILLE (Louisville Seminary communications) — A religious scholar who explained how one of Christianity’s earliest creeds still applies to contemporary life has earned the 2020 Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion. Stephen J. Patterson, a professor of religious and ethical studies at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, won the award for ideas he set forth in “The Forgotten Creed: Christianity’s Original Struggle against Bigotry, Racism and Sexism.” Oxford University Press published the book in 2018. In his work, Patterson explores the significance of a baptismal creed adapted in a letter by the apostle Paul to the church in Galatia (Gal. 3:26 and 28): “For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith; there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Christ’s first followers were dealing with race, class and gender issues, slavery and conflicts between … [Read more...]

Guided by a pair of seasoned consultants, about 300 of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s national staff engaged in a difficult and draining conversation about race Wednesday. “This is the way we sharpen our axe, so that as we go through the forest we can deal with (racism) in a way that is a blessing to God,” said the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, at the onset of an all-day training informed by a large batch of empirical information compiled by the Racial Equity Institute. “When this information gets translated into our lives, we know we are being the people of God.” REI’s Monica Walker, who recently retired as executive director of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Guilford County Schools in North Carolina, called race “the greatest predictor of outcomes” for Americans. Race significantly determines where people live, how much money they’re likely to make and whether the health challenges … [Read more...]

(PNS) The Board of Pensions has presented its first Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations seminar in Puerto Rico. Congregational leaders of three churches in the Synod of Boriquén and their pastors attended the seminar, conducted in Spanish at Aguada Presbyterian Church in Aguada. Healthy Pastors, Healthy Congregations provides financial education for ministers and congregational leaders and grants of up to $10,000 to qualifying ministers. After a three-year pilot in North Carolina, the Board of Pensions rolled the program out nationally this year, but circumstances unique to Puerto Rico limited access there. At its fall 2019 meeting, the Board’s Board of Directors adapted requirements for ministers in Puerto Rico, nearly doubling the number of those eligible for the program. “For this seminar, the overarching theme was the same, but there was a lot of effort put into translating not just language, but differences in benefits and taxes to ensure relevance,” said Church … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE — A new downloadable resource from the Office of Theology & Worship provides analysis and theological reflection on the Reclaiming Jesus Statement.  Signed in 2018 by leaders of several denominations and organizations, the statement and ensuing movement calls on Christians in the United States to “reclaim Jesus” by focusing on what followers of Jesus are required to do. The Theology & Worship resource is in response to a commissioners’ resolution approved at the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which commended to members, congregations and presbyteries the “Reclaiming Jesus” statement for study, comment and prayer. “In reviewing the Reclaiming Jesus Statement we found commonality with basic affirmations in our Presbyterian understanding of the faith,” said Theology & Worship coordinator, the Rev. Dr. Barry Ensign-George. The office of Theology & Worship document provides a brief outline of the Reclaiming Jesus Statement and … [Read more...]

(OGA) The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a long history of successful partnerships in ministry and service. The impact of partnerships is the focus of Chapter 3 of "Neighborhood Church: Transforming Your Congregation into a Powerhouse for Mission." The book was selected by Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and the Reverend Cindy Kohlmann, Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018). In the continuing video series, Co-Author Rob Mueller introduces readers and viewers to an organization that has made great strides through its partners. Click here for more information about the book and other videos. by Rick Jones, Office of the General Assembly   … [Read more...]

(PNS) From November 10-14, an ecumenical group of mainline denominational camp and retreat associations held the Outdoor Ministries Connection Great Gathering at Lake Junaluska, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The gathering was the first of its kind. The theme of the conference was RelationSHIFT, defined as expanding our understanding of relationship as God’s people. More than 500 people attended the conference, representing seven denomination associations and four other denominations and 335 camp and retreat centers across the United States and Canada. Participating denomination associations included the Presbyterian Church Camp & Conference Association, Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Outdoor Ministries Association of the United Church of Christ, United Church of Canada, and United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries Association. The idea for the conference was born at a joint board meeting among the … [Read more...]