LOUISVILLE — Five years in the making, the 2018 Book of Common Worship (BCW) for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be in the hands of customers in the coming weeks.There are three new sections in the BCW — on creation and ecology, justice and reconciliation, and interreligious events. Included in these sections are services for: Blessings of the Animals Resources for prayer and worship after a violent event Guidelines for gathering neighbors of other faith or no faith for times of celebrations, or when there is conflict or crisis In 2013, the Book of Common Worship editorial team — which included representatives from the PC(USA) office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) and the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) — began working on this edition of the BCW which was first published in 1906. Co-editors David Gambrell, associate for Theology and Worship and Kimberly Long, former associate professor of worship at Columbia … [Read more...]

(OGA) Nine Presbyterians who became Certified Christian Educators in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 2017 are the first group of certified educators who can now manage their certification-related information online rather than through paper forms. At the beginning of 2018, a new and completely electronic data system was rolled out for educators who are working their way toward certification, those who are appointed by their presbytery to serve as an educator certification advisor, and those who have completed the educator certification process. The new system eliminates the need for paper forms to record such certification requirements as work/volunteer experience, educational coursework, and examinations. Within this new system, educators create an account that allows them to access their records from any computer or mobile device at any time. Updates to contact information and submission of requirements can be made by the user. While certification requirements are … [Read more...]

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (I Corinthians 12:27)  (OGA) In many ways the church looks pretty much like most organizations. However, in one crucial respect we are essentially different: the church is the body of Christ. The church exists because Jesus died and rose from death for us. The 14th century writer Julian of Norwich captures something of this amazing relationship in talking about Jesus as our spiritual mother, giving birth to us on the cross. This is a bond of intimacy, obedience, and love. Through his death and resurrection we are collectively a new creation: the body of Christ. In this way, the church is unique among organizations. It is important to remember these truths because the church’s identity as Christ’s body is not always easy to see. Sin and human failings cloud the divine nature of the church. The mundane details of church life and leadership can numb us to the wonder and beauty of being the body of Christ in this world. … [Read more...]