Looking back on 150 years of Presbyterianism in Brazil
Ashbel Green Simonton was the last of the many children in a very devout and close-knit Presbyterian family in Pennsylvania.
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
Bilingual Blessings
“No foreigners!” yelled the Dutchman.
Twitter: Building pride or building community?
The emergence of social networking tools is an opportunity for the church to remain relevant and in-touch with Gen Xers and Millennials, the future of the faith.
Portals, icons, thresholds, and the Internet
Portals. Preachers sometimes talk about portals during the Easter season, as Jesus’ passing through the grave causes us to ponder the threshold between life and death and life again.
A difficult question
I couldn’t make this up. A reader writes:
Confederate flag sparks boycott of S. Carolina by black U.S. church members
(ENI) — African American members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a U.S.-based Protestant denomination, are joining other church bodies in boycotting the state of South Carolina for displaying the Confederate flag on the state capitol grounds.
Film in review: “Aliens In The Attic”
This is one of those kid-oriented films where the adults are dorky, disinterested, or distracted, which leaves the important things up to the children.
Archbishop Tutu mends fences with South Africa President Zuma
(ENI)--Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who strongly opposed Jacob Zuma becoming president of South Africa, says he should be given a chance to prove himself in office.
Pakistan churches to hold day of protest on August 11
(ENI) — Pakistan churches have announced a day of protest on August 11 against the recent killing of Christians in central Punjab, and threats against their members in the Muslim-majority nation.
German church opens Web site to mark ‘peaceful revolution’
(ENI) —The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) is encouraging parishes to commemorate the "peaceful revolution" of 1989 that marked the end of communism in eastern Europe and prepared the way for the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Nigerian Christian body warns on death of Islamic “sect” leader
(ENI) — The Christian Association of Nigeria has criticized the killing of an Islamic leader whose followers set off riots in northern Nigeria that claimed hundreds of lives and caused extensive property damage.
U.S. Episcopalians propose more gay bishops, testing Anglicans
(ENI/RNS) — Two dioceses of the U.S. Episcopal (Anglican) Church have nominated gay and lesbian priests to become bishops, testing the denomination's place within the global Anglican Communion.
“Objectionable actions” prompt Beaver-Butler declaration
Beaver-Butler Presbytery, convinced that the 2008 General Assembly had committed a series of “objectionable actions,” has issued a “Theological Declaration”
Pakistan church schools closed in protest at attack on Christians
NEW DELHI (ENI) — Church schools and other Christian institutions in Karachi have closed in protest at the killing of Christians in Pakistan's central Punjab region in a mob attack.
Continue defense of religious liberty, Baptists urged at anniversary
Utrecht, Netherlands (ENI) — Four hundred years after the first Baptist congregation was established, the movement's followers have been challenged to continue championing religious liberty.
Russian archbishop’s censure of Stalin as “a monster” makes waves
MOSCOW (ENI) -— Comments by a senior official of the Russian Orthodox Church condemning Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, accusing him of genocide, shortly before a European security forum equated the crimes of Stalin and Hitler, have stirred heated debate in the Russian media and blogosphere.
World students see wall of silence after Iraq attacks on Christians
(ENI) — A series of attacks on Iraq's Christian community in July were deliberately coordinated, but the government is not paying sufficient attention to them and they have received scant media attention, says the World Student Christian Federation.
Comments sought on future of PC(USA) Washington Office
A study group considering the future of the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has reached some conclusions – including calling the office a “central and important instrument” through which Presbyterians reflect their faith on matters of public policy.
Stages of stewardship Development
It’s good to do good (proper grammar notwithstanding). It’s great to give. But why do folks do good? What motivates good folks to give?
Tentmaking: One foot in, one foot out
Some folks consider tentmaking and think, Part time. Not enough money. Not enough status.
Tentmaker: From computers to caregiving
When David Vellenga graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1971, he went straight into full-time pastoral work, following what is for many the standard path.
20 minutes with Steve Hayner
In the July 13 edition of the Outlook we announced that the Board of Directors at Columbia Theological Seminary had voted unanimously to elect Steve Hayner, the Peachtree Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth to serve as its ninth president, succeeding Laura Mendenhall. That announcement has generated many questions we have directed to Dr. Hayner to address.
Task force seeks to delineate news, public relations functions
What exactly does it mean for the Presbyterian News Service to have “editorial freedom?”
Loosening the purse strings
For the most part, Christians – despite all the teachings in the Bible about caring for the least among us – do not give generously.
Tobit’s tithing tops all!
Most Protestants don’t know a lot about the Apocrypha, but there are some good texts in it for some creative preaching.