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Vital music ministries at healthy churches

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What does a vital music ministry look like in a healthy church? It is my belief that a vital music ministry has three key elements: The music ministry provides opportunities for singing God’s glory from cradle to grave. The music ministry is fully integrated into the life of the church. The music ministry leaders work collaboratively with pastors to provide vital worship. The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is: “What is the chief end of man?” Answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” Of course, the word “man” in this historical document is used to include all people of all ages! While there are many ways to glorify and enjoy God, music is a powerful gift that enables us to do so in a particularly poignant way. When we sing together, we praise God and we are united with one another and with God in a mysterious way that transcends mere language. A vital music ministry gives our youngest children, even babies, ways to … [Read more...]

Tagged With: healthy congregations • music

Jeffrey Myers

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“We’ve got to stop hate and it can’t just be to say we need to stop hate. We need to do, we need to act, to tone down rhetoric. Hate is not welcome here in Pittsburgh. It should not be welcome in our borders at all.” – Jeffrey Myers, rabbi at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, in an interview with Today … [Read more...]

On the South’s racial crisis (60 years ago)

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60 years ago — December 8, 1958 In November 1957 a group of Atlanta ministers signed a statement dealing with integration and the public schools. In light of the threat by political leaders to dismantle the public school system, a second statement was issued by the ministers in 1958 emphasizing the first statement and clarifying its points in light of the unfolding events. This second statement was signed by 312 ministers — 78 of which were Presbyterian. “Six principles set forth in this statement as essential to the solution to our problem may be summarized as follows:  Freedom of speech must at all cost be preserved.  As Americans and as religious leaders, we have an obligation to obey the law.  The public school system must not be destroyed.  Hatred and scorn for those of another race, or for those who hold a position different from our own, can never be justified.  Communication between responsible leaders of the races must be maintained.  Our difficulties … [Read more...]

A Presbyterian prophet of black power: The witness of Gayraud S. Wilmore

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American Presbyterians have an imperfect history regarding racial justice, but in the 20th century they took some courageous stands. While white people like Eugene Carson Blake and J. Randolph Taylor deserve some credit, so does the steadfast prophetic witness of black Presbyterians. During the civil rights era, it was primarily the actions of black Presbyterians, wrestling like Jacob with their denomination to demand its blessing, which caused the “northern” – or United Presbyterian Church (UPCUSA) – to fully commit to the struggle for equality. Gayraud S. Wilmore was a central figure in this struggle. Now retired and living in Washington, D.C., Wilmore is well known in seminary circles as a theological educator and a key ally of the late James H. Cone in the creation of the field of black theology. However, less well known is that prior to his academic career, Wilmore was the top racial justice official for the UPCUSA, and was arguably the most important Presbyterian civil rights … [Read more...]

Tagged With: African-American Presbyterians

#LoveKnowsNoBorders: The privilege, people and power of nonviolent protest

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Guest commentary by Bruce Reyes-Chow “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35) Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) Face to face with a riot-geared border patrol agent. My body inches away from rubber bullet rifles and tear gas canisters. His baton raised and pushing, pushing, pushing at my chest. The line of agents chanting and advancing with an eerie synchronicity — “Move back!” Step. Push. “Move back!” Step. Push. “Move back!” Step. Push. My hands raised above my head. My body braced. My spirit calm. I close my eyes to remember and pray for those to who would have already been beaten and detained, if not for the camera lenses that were protecting us. “Move back!” Step. Push. I open my eyes to look into the eyes of this human being in front of me searching for compassion and … [Read more...]

Tagged With: immigration

A journey to faithful racial discomfort

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The Christian tradition has always been home to human evils that divide and destroy. The Crusades of the Middle Ages, chattel slavery in America, ongoing inequality according to race, gender or sexual orientation — the injustices of Christian history are many and they have not stopped. Those who love the church must speak honestly and confessionally about the vile parts of our tradition and own responsibility for sins that injure God’s precious creation. For the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), this means directly and honestly facing the impact of racism on how we have done and continue to do our ministries. For a 90 percent white denomination in a rapidly changing country, this work is as urgent as ever. At NEXT Church – a community of church leaders engaging faithful, creative work all over the country – we are trying, quite imperfectly, to be about the work of inclusivity and reconciliation. One example began three years ago when we made an intentional decision to develop our … [Read more...]

Tagged With: African-American Presbyterians • NEXTChurch

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