I vividly recall the excitement I felt when first applying to ministry positions upon graduating from seminary. I decided that (besides Wyoming)..
Sometimes, the day-to-day complexities of working in mission around the world can be all-consuming: there’s always a crisis, pain or joy, places..
Earlier this year, my pastor, Paul Rock, preached a sermon in a series about racism called “America’s original sin.” Soon after that,..
In response to the divisiveness surrounding the 2016 elections, poet and author David Whyte posted on his blog that it was time..
SEATTLE – What does it mean to be church? For some, it’s gathering in pews in a sanctified space on Sunday mornings...
Sitting beside my daughter, a senior in high school, in a darkened theatre in Charleston, South Carolina, I heard the author of..
On a recent silent retreat at a Sisters of Charity convent, I walked the beautiful labyrinth etched on the lawn. I appreciate..
Two ice cream trucks came to our community when I was a child. The first sold Eskimo Pies, Bomb Pops and Orange..
Guest commentary by Laura Viau “So… how many churches have you served?” I can understand why I get this question. If I’d..
The following is an oral history of a successful pastoral transition at Hampton Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. You’ll hear from a..
I have found myself complaining far too often lately, so I am pausing to notice the bright spots in ministry. It is..
Guest commentary by Nicole Farley In 2017 the Presbytery of Milwaukee received a grant, which made possible new ways of attending to..
Guest commentary by Jihyun Oh Transitional ministry can happen at any time. It can happen in a 10-year pastoral call when key..
Jana Blazek joined the Presbyterian Outlook staff in 2011 and continues to bring passion, commitment and excellence to everything she does. And..
It has become clear to us at the Board of Pensions that a one-size-fits-all benefits plan may have had a certain appeal..
Another mass shooting. This time in a municipal office building in Virginia Beach. The news reported that this was the most..
After the rushing wind and the fiery tongues, after the amazement of the crowds and the preaching of Peter, I read that..
Guest commentary by Susan Krummel When I was first trained as an interim minister in the 1990s, there was a clear path..
We are living in a time of constant transition in the church. I see this at the denominational level and the local..
I can feel the mood of the room shift without even looking into the eyes of those gathered there. If I did..
The tension in the congregation is high after the pastor announces a change in call. Questions abound: Can’t we just elect a..
Recently, a retired pastor explained to me how he secured his first call. There was a catalog of open positions published and..
We pastor-types do not look for a job, we seek a call. Churches do not hire a minister, they extend a call...
I prefer “transition” to “change,” for a transition implies intention. Change is our only constant. But “transition” means to go or cross..
Guest commentary by Sarah Craven As we stood in the midst of a genocide memorial where over 50,000 people were buried and..
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