Labels: descriptive or discriminatory?

I belong to an e-mail discussion group created by people who care about the work of theologian Jürgen Moltmann.

A world mission glimpse from Tegucigalpa, Honduras

We were gathering in the chapel of the Heifer Project retreat center just north of Tegucigalpa. The Honduran pastors mingled around and started discussing the construction of the small building in which we were meeting. Pastor Fernando started pointing out to me, partially in Spanish and partially with elaborate hand gestures, the differences in the type of bricks used in the wall. Not having an eye or any experience in such things, I had not noticed the difference. But when Fernando pointed it out, the differences were quite obvious.

A providential moment

My future is to do God’s will. For a long time I had felt out of touch with God. I felt that I am not of any use to Him. I have been very sick with migraine headaches and in great pain a good portion of that time. The only thing I could do was lie around the house and read all the theology and history books I could get my hands on.

Congregational New Year

In addition to the New Year’s resolutions being thrust upon us by challenging times, let’s make some resolutions for our congregations.

Getting reconnected

it's good to get reconnected with the outlook!  i have subscribed from time to time over the last few years, but it..

Uppsala: Why should religions engage on climate, environment?

(ENI) — Why should the environmental movement be involved with religions? That is a question Martin Palmer, secretary general of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, often gets asked, and he sought to answer it in this historic Swedish university city north of Stockholm.

New Year’s Commentary: Even amid the darkness, our spirit is unquenchable

In the midst of life, we are in death. Three Royal Marines, young men with everything to live for, were approached by a 13-year-old boy who was pushing a wheelbarrow. Seconds later, they were all reduced to flying body parts. One moment they were vibrantly alive, the next moment their lives were over. The human wreckage from the blast included the devastation visited upon their loved ones.

Memorial service Jan. 10, for Pete Hammond

Pete Hammond, retired senior staff member and vice-president-at large of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship was found dead Dec, 29 at his Madison, Wis., home.

Pope, World Council of Churches call for halt to Gaza campaign

(ENI) Pope Benedict XVI and Samuel Kobia, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches have condemned violence in Gaza, calling for its immediate cessation following an intense bombing campaign by Israel there.

O Jesus, you were born to be

O Jesus, you were born to be

God’s gift to save humanity;

Reading Calvin in ‘09

James C. Goodloe IV, executive director of the Foundation for Reformed Theology in Richmond, Va., has a suggestion for reading in the New Year  — John Calvin.

How my mind was changed

I rejoiced when the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was given the authoritative interpretation that precluded homosexual participation in the ministry of the church in 1978. I thought the issue was settled once and for all. I continued my smugness for more than twenty years when the denomination repeatedly confirmed that interpretation. I was simply so certain that I never read any of the literature being produced about the issue.

Reworking the call process

The pastor of the church we attend is leaving. She was with our church for five years. This is becoming the average tenure for pastors. The Session asked members to stay after church to talk about the future. 

The right questions, the right answers

There are at least two great theological questions. First, “What is the truth about God?” and second, “How shall we live as a result?” The Apostle Paul typically opened his letters with declarations regarding theology and then taught the church how to live as a result of those truths, both as individuals and as the body of Christ. 

Pink elephants to plunder pews at presbytery meetings

Many within congregations of today’s Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will have heard of John Calvin’s metaphor for Holy Scripture as “spectacles.” Often in passing reference, the basic premise is that the words of the Bible allow us to see clearly the world around us as God intended. Words like sola scriptura are added to cement the notion that Christian truth is found in God’s Word, as read in the Holy Bible. 

Transformation or re-generation?

Much has been written, printed, and promoted in recent years on just how to effectively address the continuing drop in membership across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — a dilemma that has progressively gripped the denomination for several years now. Page upon page are cluttered with flowing verbiage on just how congregations can, through spiritual renewal and transformation, become sufficiently infused with a spiritual fire and buzz-word theology to stem this dwindling membership crisis and stabilize these staid, established congregations from further erosion.

Beyond the labels

A friend and colleague in ministry with whom I share a number of theological and cultural differences recently commented that I was most surely a “liberal” and that we would never agree on certain things that he held of deep value as a “conservative.”

Legend lost: William C. Placher dies

William C. Placher, the LaFollette Distinguished Professor in the Humanities at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., passed away unexpectedly Nov. 30 in Minnesota at age 60. At the time of his death, Placher was on leave from Wabash and was serving a one-year appointment as the Kilian McDonnell Writer-In-Residence at the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.

Six months into it: An interview with Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons

Outlook Editor Jack Haberer recently interviewed Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons about his thoughts looking back at the year 2008 and ahead to 2009. Parsons was elected to the stated clerk position at the 2008 General Assembly in San Jose.

Religion shaped 2008 in big, dramatic ways

(RNS) Barack Obama may have chosen Joe Biden, and John McCain may have turned to Sarah Palin, but in the end the most sought-after running mate in the 2008 campaign never appeared on a single ballot.

NCC’s Christmas Eve special previewing on YouTube

 A 10-minute preview of “Voices of Christmas from the National Council of Churches,” the CBS Christmas Eve special celebrating the 100th anniversary of the NCC, can be found on YouTube.