If ever I were totally convinced and totally unconvinced, it’s right here and right now: on the matter of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) speaking out regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We are the Church of Jesus Christ. When the powers of the world decide that they will conduct business as usual, and that business is contrary to the teachings of Christ and the will of God for humanity, then it is time for the church to end its complicity in this sinful behavior. If we do not, then we remain unrepentant.”
This summer, in addition to doing less of the main thing, I suggest you do more of smaller things.
The year is 1948. The place, the holy island of Iona. The Rev. Dr. George MacLeod is sitting with a young man, John, who has spent time in a borstal for young offenders. Sensing that the young man is troubled, MacLeod invites him to write down any burden he has on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope, before receiving the laying on of hands.
We’re winning. Christians in the Great State of Texas have taken the majority of seats on the state’s Board of Education, and they are re-writing the curriculum for social studies courses (final vote in May).
Two generations ago, the deal was pretty clear: church members went to Sunday worship.
My associate pastor wasn’t surprised, but I was.
LOUISVILLE — Yes, Virginia, there is a vital Presbyterian Church in Cuba.
I accepted the call to pastoral ministry with humbled thrill. But when reality set in, I found myself dreading the thought of having to officiate at funerals. For the past four years writing, editing, and publishing have separated me from regular congregational leadership duties, and I find myself missing most the pastoral practice of officiating at funerals.
On this particular Sunday we are celebrating the Lord’s Supper by intinction. The congregation has been served except for those in the nursery.
(ABP) The snow has stopped falling here in Washington. At least for the moment. After almost two weeks, we are still digging out from a few weeks ago when whoever is in charge of weather patterns mistakenly thought we were Alaska and dumped multiple feet of snow on our unsuspecting city.
Just before Christmas I received notice that a childhood friend had written a book. He had gone on to college to major in Religious Studies. He had been very serious, but the book was described as a satire, written to make people laugh. I was intrigued. I couldn’t wait to read it and got it right away.
The eastering I look for
Have you ever had one of those moments when you knew, you KNEW, God was present? I did recently.
Moving toward being a “multichannel church” is a journey of many steps, some of them slight variations, some of them radical departures.
More tea, vicar?
According to our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Form of Government, a General Assembly may issue an authoritative interpretation about the meaning of our Constitution. But an amendment to the Part II of the Constitution (the Book of Order) requires a subsequent affirmative vote by a majority of the presbyteries.
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.
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