The veil of the temple was rent in twain … . That gospel verse captured my imagination while worshiping in Elim Bible Institute’s Maundy Thursday chapel service in 1974. As it crossed my mind, the whole biblical narrative flashed before my eyes.
As faith communities venture into a new era, they face rethinking "membership."
Much of pop culture both astonishes and appalls me. But perhaps nothing does that more than the run-amok habit of celebrities to reveal their bad decisions, transgressions, and destructive impulses to the whole world. And worse than just revealing, they revel.
Recently, I sat in a pastor’s office and asked this question: “Why is it important to have a Presbyterian Church in this community?”
Gambling is a pervasive part of our culture in every state of the union.
A guest commentary by Kazimierz Bern
Gay marriage will not undermine families or the institution of marriage.
“How can two walk together unless they be agreed?” Amos’ question (3:3-KJV) seems rhetorical, the answer self-evident. But his question begs another: to what degree must the two agree?
The Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage hammered out its final report over the weekend of January 23 -24. I attended those meetings as an observer.
Four times in the last five chapters of the Book of Judges we read that there was no king in Israel, and that all the people did what was right in their own eyes.
We all have worn, unhelpful tapes winding through our thoughts, and church leaders do as well. One tape they need to stop playing is we-all-need-to-be-together-in-one-place.
LOUISVILLE — The General Assembly Mission Council has approved two theological papers for consideration by the General Assembly — one called “Christians and Jews: People of God,” and a second with the title “Toward an Understanding of Christian-Muslim Relations”
In a Newsweek issue focusing on the outpouring of post-earthquake support for Haiti, Editor Jon Meacham resisted the pull toward collective self-congratulation.
If life did allow for do-overs and mainline congregations could start over, they probably wouldn’t build the facilities they have inherited.
It has taken little more than one generation for American Protestantism to lose control of Sunday morning.
This edition of the Outlook was heading to the printer when news broke of a devastating 7.0 earthquake hitting Haiti, already the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
Switzerland votes to disallow the construction of minarets (see p. 16).
Presbyterians are known for emphasizing life-long learning. Though Vacation Bible School can be an opportunity to provide adult learning, most churches do not take advantage of that opportunity.
“Oh look,” the mom announces as she picks up the flyer off the kitchen counter.
Sometimes Vacation Bible School can look and feel like barely controlled chaos. But the Spirit of God is hovering over those swirling children and dazzled teachers, creating a community of faith our Savior must thoroughly enjoy dancing around in. So it is undeniably fun, but what are they learning?
Some weeks ago, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, preached at a Kansas City area church. So I went to the early service and, at the Communion rail, received the body and blood of Christ.
By doing much of its work off-site and online, the Multichannel Church challenges a longheld assumption, namely, the necessity of being together on Sunday.
The time has come to turn the page from a black-and-blue magazine serving a black-and-blue church to become a high-def, full color, twenty-teens magazine informing and empowering a high-def, full color, twenty-teens church.
Friends, Presbyterians, people of God – I come to bury Frozen Chosen, not praise him.
“How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.” Psalm 133:1
How tragic it would be if the denomination-wide revival of enthusiasm around being the missional church were relegated to being all talk, no action!
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