Mormons lift the veil on official “handbook”
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) — For Mormons – or anyone else – who might be wondering, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes no stand on drinking Coca-Cola.
The Presbyterian Outlook
Creating and curating trustworthy resources for the church, the Presbyterian Outlook connects disciples of Jesus Christ through compelling and committed conversation for the proclamation of the Gospel.
More Stories from this Author
WCC leader gives Pope gloves to warm relations
ROME (ENInews) — The head of the World Council of Churches in his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI has said he wants to strengthen cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church.
Michelle Obama takes obesity effort to religious groups
WASHINGTON, D.C. (RNS) — First Lady Michelle Obama has expanded her “Let’s Move” initiative to reduce childhood obesity to include working with religious and community organizations.
Clergy’s professional reputation in the middle
(RNS) — Slightly more than half of Americans (53 percent) rate the moral values of priests, ministers, and other clerics as “very high” or “high.” That percentage is a slight bump from 2009, when only 50 percent of Americans said men and women of the cloth are ethical paragons, the lowest number in Gallup’s 32 years of measuring professional reputations.
Vatican defends pope’s record on sexual abuse
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Benedict XVI, while still a cardinal, sought in vain to expedite the process for defrocking priests guilty of grave crimes, according to a 1988 letter published in the official Vatican newspaper.
Jordan retiring
HUNT, TEXAS — David W. Jordan, the president of Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly in Hunt, Texas, has announced his retirement effective fall 2011, concluding 12 years of service.
Wrong reading of Bible story “legitimizes” exploitation
MANILA (ENI) — Asian Christian leaders have challenged what they describe as a distorted interpretation of the Bible's Genesis story about God telling Adam and Eve to "subdue" the earth and to "have dominion" over other living species and non-living resources on the planet.
Family Research Council added to list of hate groups
WASHINGTON, D.C. (RNS) — The Southern Poverty Law Center is adding the Family Research Council and four other conservative religious organizations to its list of hate groups because of “falsehoods” in their anti-gay statements.
International partnerships offer ways to give — and receive
LOUISVILLE — Examples of grassroots mission partnerships can be found all over the world — some carefully planned, some springing up spontaneously. From looking at what’s happening in Latin America, Africa, and Asia — from the people she’s met, and from what she’s seen on the ground level — Miriam Adeney has some advice for congregations about how to form mission partnerships.
Arizona tragedy prompts release of hymns from Carolyn Gillette
New York, NCC — In the wake of the tragic murders in Tucson Jan. 8 of six people and the wounding of 14 people, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, two hymn-prayers are being made available by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Presbyterian pastor and hymnist. The following two hymn texts are available for use by churches supporting the National Council of Churches and Church World Service.
Online is where the action is
Early results of Christmas retail sales contained important information for faith communities.
Building Cultures of Trust
by Martin E. Marty
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids. August 2010. 212 pages
reviewed by John C. Bush
The recent election has revealed deep rifts in the fabric of the nation.
Connecting Like Jesus: Practices for Healing, Teaching, and Preaching
by Mary Albert Darling and Tony Campolo
Jossey-Bass, June 2010, 240 pages
reviewed by Robert A. Harris
Connect like Jesus? I'd love to connect half as well as Tony Campolo!
PC(USA) member among those killed in Arizona shootings
LOUISVILLE – Phyllis Schneck, a member of Northminster Church in Tucson, Ariz., was among those killed in the shootings on January 8 that left six people dead and 14 injured.
Film in review:” Somewhere”
“Somewhere” goes nowhere. Supposedly, that’s part of the point, but just because you’re trying to show that the main character is bored doesn’t mean the viewers need to feel the same way to identify with the character.
Film in review: “Blue Valentine”
This movie seems, at first glance, to have a lot going against it. It depends almost exclusively on two actors who are neither the most famous nor the most critically acclaimed.
Film in review: “Country Strong”
Despite all the complaining people do about the seemingly exorbitant salaries of successful entertainers (including sports), the truth is, in our grand American democracy (here I’m waving the flag), it’s a strict meritocracy.
Can the words in God’s Word stretch or contort like Silly Putty?
Blogger Tom Hobson begins 2011 saying "No" to "anything goes" in interpreting what Scripture says. Check out his latest post on the..
Why I oppose Amendment 10-A
I find myself in the uncomfortable position of wanting to uphold an ordination standard that keeps others from holding the office I hold.
My 2010 short list of books
Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott. The third in the series of novels that began with Rosie and continued with Crooked Little Heart, I think this is Anne Lamott's most well-written and fully realized novel. She has a perfect ear for the moral and psychological nuances of a teenager coming to adulthood.
A letter to you from Editor Jack Haberer
Dear Pres-outlook.org Friend,
Like you, I love to access the information that's available for free on the Internet. Like you, I know it costs money for folks to report, edit and produce the news and commentary that informs me.
We at The Outlook love providing the news and analysis, the resources and commentaries that you find helpful and informative. But it is costing us to do the research, the writing, the editing, and the layout. Even though we're a non-profit organization, we pay just as much as any other media for IT services, for reporters' travel, for staff salaries and benefits, and the like.
A busy year ’tis been
As 2010 passes the baton to 2011, we take a few moments to look back, to wring our hands over the year’s disappointments, to lift holy hands in praise for the year’s triumphs.
One-size-fits-all doesn’t fit
One challenge in nurturing a “multichannel church” is to ban “one-size-fits-all” thinking.
The God Question: What Famous Thinkers From Plate to Dawkins Have Said About the Divine
by Andrew Pessin Oxford, England: Oneworld Publications, 2009.
reviewed by Stephanie Sorge Wing
Proclaiming the Great Ends of the Church: Mission and Ministry for Presbyterians
Edited by Joseph Small, Geneva Press, 2010
reviewed by Andy Walton