I’m going to miss Tom Gillespie. Now I’m going to resist getting sentimental, ‘cause sentimental wasn’t Tom’s style. I want to wax substantial, ‘cause that WAS Tom’s style.
The Presbyterian Fellowship recently released “Draft Theology Proposals” prepared by a “Theology Task Force” in which I participated together with two friends and colleagues. My participation in the task force has led a number of people to infer that I am affiliated with the Fellowship and that I support the formation of a “New Reformed Body.”
The Covenant Network (CN) long has pursued the daunting agenda both “to work for the removal of ordination barriers to the full participation of LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered] Presbyterians, and to support the mission and unity of the denomination.”
No college is right for everyone. But anyone planning to go to college can, with a little research, find schools that are a good match for his or her interests, abilities and personality.
I’ll never forget the day Dr. Tom Gillespie, then president of Princeton Theological Seminary, restored my academic pursuit and pastoral training such..
“One shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” ‘Tis a truism for the ages. But does that dictum actually say, “every” word? If so, then how might the humble teaching elder possibly serve one’s spiritually hungry table guests every word of the Lord?
It’s no secret that in the Presbyterian world money is scarce at every level, from the denomination to the individual church. Folks hear of congregations without pastors, buildings locked and sold, yet another round of layoffs.
When the Outlook’s full-time associate editor Martha Skelton retired last January, we hired Mike Jennings to a half-time position, tasking him to take over most, but not all, of her duties.
In the 25th chapter of Matthew, we hear of the master who left his holdings to three servants in varying numbers of talents, an ancient denomination of money. One received five talents, one received two and one got a single talent.
During most of my pastoral ministry — since 1973, in fact — I have consistently used one outstanding resource to prepare worship bulletins, calls to worship and prayers and liturgies to be used for weekly services, funerals, weddings. It has also been of great help in my own spiritual growth.
It wasn’t easy surviving the 1960s. Not only did the nation heave after the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK. Not only did we convulse over our struggle to integrate.
Sometimes in the Christian life it’s crucial (a word, aptly enough, rooted in the cross) to take a few steps back and ask again the foundational question of our faith:
