In October, the public watched the debacle of poor police reaction to the “Occupy Oakland” protests.
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.”
Sometimes we make church too complicated. And in the process of impressing ourselves and others with our erudition, we lose focus.
It’s time to recover the word my mother taught me never to say: “Stupid.”
The term “theonomy” (divine law as the basis for civil law) is an intriguing concept. While theo-cracy (which is not the same..
Rev. John Stott died at 3:15 p.m. at his apartment near All Souls Church on the West End of London on July 27, 2011.
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:
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:
What is the ideal relationship between pastors and the elders, deacons, and trustees and other lay leaders of their congregations?
Leader: Ten years we were brought to our knees as a nation in shock,
fear, anger, grief. For perhaps the first time, we woke up to God’s truth that
we are as vulnerable as the rest of humanity.
It requires a certain amount of chutzpah — and certainly faith — for my congregation to begin a strategic planning process to figure out who and what it wants to be and do in three to five years.
Asked what the most important commandment is, Jesus replies that loving God is the most important commandment and that loving our neighbor is the second.
Once again, Presbyterians could have discussed how race operates among us and how it could operate. The most recent opportunity came through a solid, dynamic theological statement — the first from the Southern Hemisphere considered for inclusion in our Book of Confessions.
ALBION, N.Y. — As church ladies plant flowers, I’m standing in front of the First United Methodist Church thinking about that warm September day decades ago when I was married here.
I’ve been wondering about the church. Not my local congregation, or even Presbyterians as a whole (although the PCUSA does play a role in this discussion), but the whole ball of wax — the church, in all of its varied configurations.
On Tuesday, May 10, a vote in the presbytery of the Twin Cities area
tipped the balance in a 30-year debate about ordination standards in the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), presumably allowing gays and lesbians to
become pastors, elders and deacons in gay-affirming congregations.
Ask any Protestant how the Roman Catholic Church is structured, and you will hear, “The pope rules the cardinals, the cardinals rule the bishops, the bishops rule the priests, and the priests rule the congregations.” Too simple, but mostly true. In most cases.
c. 2011 USA Today (RNS) In its relatively short history, the United States has stood as the world's beacon of freedom, defender of democracy and pillar of principled power. An exceptional country, one blessed by the very hand of God. Right? Well, sort of.
Newark Star Ledger
Organizations and individuals from across the globe took to the streets a couple of weekends ago to protest the U.S. government’s treatment of Pfc. Bradley Manning (of WikiLeaks fame), who has been held in solitary confinement for more than nine months. As founder of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, I agree that solitary confinement is not the answer.
A personal reflection by Eddie Soto with response by Outlook Editor Jack HabererDear Christian friend,This morning I read the news that the..
As a big sports fan, I have been watching how the NCAA is working to maintain unity in the ever changing landscape of Division I athletics. It has made me wonder if the PCUSA should discuss something similar. Consider the following changes that will be made this coming fall in college sports:
The moderator’s March column
General Assembly Mission Council
Where is the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) headed?
I wish I knew.
What does a preacher or writer do when the well runs dry? For well over a month my
well has been dry as a bone. I have nothing to say.
I found the quote, "I don't want to fight the women's thing again," interesting to say the least.
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