Thanksgiving, equality and our history
Giving thanks is a fundamental practice in Christianity, including the Presbyterian Church. Ecumenical expressions of gratitude characterize American history. They include the..
More Stories from this Author
Expecting civil rights
In 1963 Union Presbytery, based primarily in eastern Tennessee, sent a delegation to its four black congregations in Alabama: Trinity, Miller’s Ferry,..
American racism: Call for a righteous reset
“DDT – Diagnosis determines the treatment.” – Joseph Barndt, Crossroads Ministry As a senior in seminary, I was required to write a narrative for my..
Advent devotions – Year B (2017)
Are you looking for theologically sound, inspiring and affordable Advent devotions for the congregation? This year, for the first time, the Presbyterian..
A Catholic among Presbyterians: Timothy Cardinal Dolan preaches on Reformation Sunday
Guest commentary by Timothy Palmer Curl It was a surprising choice — a Roman Catholic cardinal preaching to one of the nation’s..
Discarded things
Our group of five newly registered chaplaincy residents gathered for the first time with the obligatory “get acquainted” exercise. After selecting..
U.W. Clemon
“I never envisioned that I would be fighting in 2017 essentially the same battle that I thought I won in 1971. But..
The Sign and the Sacrifice: The Meaning of the Cross and Resurrection
Rowan Williams Westminster John Knox Press, 128 pages Reviewed by Juli Wilson-Black A story is told that during the funeral procession of..
Are you a Communist? – 70 years ago
70 years ago — November 24, 1947 Norman Corwin, a radio producer, who has been smeared frequently … is to be congratulated..
Echo in the Valley
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn Rounder, 2017 I first became aware of banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck in college, when a friend of..
Stated Clerk in Korea: Christians ‘not limited by the disappointments, defeats and difficulties of this earthly experience’
(OGA) Echoing the apostle Paul in a sermon to a large congregation here November 5, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Stated Clerk..
Holy Spokes: The Search for Urban Spirituality on Two Wheels
by Laura Everett Eerdmans, 201 pages Reviewed by Ken Evers-Hood I once heard Bob Dykstra at Princeton Theological Seminary discuss a lecture..
Created for a purpose: Teenager tells how family, church and service has shaped his faith
There was a time when physical pain threatened to drown out God’s voice in 18-year-old Phillip Storie’s life. But a life..
What’s right about St. Mark Presbyterian Church?
St. Mark Presbyterian Church — Newport Beach, California After the hate expressed at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that..
College models: Two approaches to religion and education
Guest commentary by Robert L. Montgomery Christians and churches founded many educational institutions over the years. These schools have responded in various..
Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church
Kara Powell, Jake Mulder and Brad Griffin Baker Books, 336 pages Reviewed by Emily Chudy “We want a pastor that can bring..
Confessions of a grown-up “church kid”
I am what my siblings and I have called a “PK and ¾,” which basically means I grew up a church kid...
Revisiting Presbyterian collegiate ministry
In my role as the national director of UKirk collegiate ministries, I often hear the question, “So how’s collegiate ministry these days?”..
What the PC(USA) measures matters
Guest commentary by Arthur Fullerton Attending the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s most recent mid council leader gathering in St. Louis earlier this month,..
The Dean’s Demise: Sexual Harassment in a Divinity School
Richard Fletcher Resource Publications, 202 pages Reviewed by Timothy Johnson “The Dean’s Demise” is a worthy first novel, written by a retired..
Open the aperture and read backwards: Primary (but often overlooked) sources of theology from the Reformations
Guest commentary by Timothy Slemmons Judging by so many observations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, one must exercise some determination..
Bridging gaps, growing together
When an older person walks into a library and asks you how to use a computer having never touched one before, where..
Ajshay James
“I love Houston. It’s still my city. It’s a beautiful cornucopia of hope, of diversity, and I’m praying it’s going to be..
60 years ago — October 7, 1957
Leaders of the Presbyterian Church, USA, and the United Presbyterian Church produced a joint statement in support of Christians taking a courageous..
Living covenantally and sustainably
As a geologist, I initially felt no need to connect science with faith; I neatly compartmentalized the two, thinking that science dealt..