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?
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
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.
Church fractions, not factions
Since early grade school we have been taught that multiple fractions can be related to one another by determining the lowest common denominator.
Historicity: Does it matter? Part 3
Editor’s note: Last fall the Outlook published a three-part series of op-ed essays by Erwin C. Barron that elevated the role of experience in Biblical interpretation.
The Invitation
by John Dannemiller and Irving Stubbs. Credo House, 2009. Pb., 138 pp. $12.99.
Jesus in a Jewish context
Over the years, I’ve heard anti-Jewish trash-talk from Protestant pulpits. Sometimes I recognized it for what it was — such as when I heard a preacher say Jews missed the boat 2,000 years ago and are beyond God’s grace. Sometimes I didn’t.
Stumbling over Metrics
In a recent Church Wellness Project, the Metrics team grasped the concept of measuring outcomes and saw the importance of doing so.
U.S. Episcopalians reject bishop who embraced Zen Buddhism
(ENI/RNS) — A U.S. Episcopal (Anglican) priest who has practiced Zen meditation and espoused unconventional ideas about Christianity has lost his bid to become a bishop in Michigan, the church has announced.
Rev. Ike, early proponent of ‘prosperity gospel’, dies at age 74
(ENI) — At his most pointed and funny, the Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, best known as Rev. Ike, could turn a Biblical phrase on its head.
Christians outraged after Bible defaced at Scottish art exhibit
(ENI)--Organizers of an exhibition in Glasgow that encouraged society's marginalized to write comments in the margins of a Bible have now placed the sacred book behind a transparent screen to prevent offensive messages being written on it.
New Wilmington conference encourages missionary service
NEW WILMINGTON, PA — (PNS) In an amphitheater by a placid lake on the Westminster College campus, nearly 2,000 people were at prayer last week -- as others have been every summer since 1906 -- about how God might call them to preach the Christian gospel to people of another culture.
Newspaper apologizes to Canada’s PM over communion flap
TORONTO (ENI) — A Canadian newspaper has issued an unusual, front-page apology to the country's prime minister, Stephen Harper, just weeks after it reported he was in hot water after taking — and pocketing — a communion wafer at a Roman Catholic funeral.
Grace in the streets: Atlanta church joins with other groups to combat child prostitution
Sometimes we are shocked when we get a good dose of reality, when we see what is really happening around us and realize it’s not what we thought it was at all.
Williams suggests secondary role for U.S. Episcopal Church
(ENI/RNS) — The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has suggested that the U.S. Episcopal (Anglican) Church may have to accept a secondary role in the worldwide Anglican Communion after voting to allow gay bishops and blessings for same-sex unions.
National Presbyterian College Scholarship helps former foster child pursue her vocation
reprinted with permission from One in the Spirit
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church calls new pastor
After a more than three hour congregational meeting on a sunny and warm Southern California Sunday, Rev. Richard Kannwischer was called to be the next pastor-head-of-staff of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California.
Cannon named as church specialist in the PC(USA) Office of African American Congregational Support
Jerry Lytle Cannon, pastor at C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C., will take on additional responsibilities and join the General Assembly Mission Council office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as church specialist in the Office of African American Congregational Support. Cannon will be deployed staff working from his office in Charlotte, as well as from the GAMC.
H1N1 virus puts brake on religious activities for Christians, Muslims
(ENI) — Fears about the spread of the H1N1 virus, once known as swine flu, are curtailing religious activities of both Christians and Muslims as they worship and express their faith, especially in Britain.
Top-giving presbyteries announced by PC(USA)
(PNS) The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has released this week lists of top-giving presbyteries.
Church of England warns Swedish church on same-sex marriage
(ENI) — Leaders of the (Anglican) Church of England have warned the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden that agreeing to expand the concept of marriage to include same-sex couples risks creating "immediate and negative" consequences for ecumenical relations.