Author Andrew Root reminds Pastor Aaron Neff that his job matters in the secular age. Pastoral ministry is grounded in a radical affirmation of personhood, and this meets an important need.
Julie Raffety, who pastors a smaller church, marvels at how the Spirit is doing a new thing at their church through technology.
Rev. Rebecca Gresham-Kesner’s questions brought her to the PC(USA), and the space allowed for her continued questions is why she stays.
Matthew Skolnik reflects how, as a church, we need to harness the power of naming our struggles honestly and openly. What would happen if we named the death of Christendom?
Using the seminary's digital archives, CTS alum Rev. Andrew Whaley examines 50+ years of graduating classes. He discovers there's been a drastic drop in class size over the past 10 years. What does this mean for the future of the school, he asks?
Co-Moderator of the Moving Forward Implementation Special Committee Marco Grimaldo defines the difference between a commission, committee and task force, and explains why he thinks there should be a commission to unite the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Quincy Worthington, pastor at Highland Park Presbyterian Church north of Chicago, shares an honest reflection after the 2022 mass shooting at the Highland Park July 4 parade. Is there hope for life when we feel like shards of glass?
"In this summer books issue, we’ve curated book reviews and recommendations that we hope meet the needs of your soul. Picking a book from these pages might still be like going on a date. But we hope it’s more like a match set up by a good friend. Happy reading!"
PC(USA) pastor Aaron Neff chooses to be Presbyterian because he believes in Scripture and, above all else, love. While no denomination is perfect, he has faith in this one, despite any mistakes we make.
The Outlook staff shares some of their summer reads.
“When I look at your mountains, at what your fingers have made — The rocks that the sea moves about from place to place — What are human beings that you have given this to us? What are human beings that we can play on this holy ground?”
Erin Raffety offers some theological reflection and action steps for congregations desiring to foster inclusion and accessibility.
It's the messy, holy work of community.
A reflection on 2 King 5:1–14.
"We hope to let every church know that you do not need to be exceptional; you don’t need a big budget or limitless volunteers. You just need to listen to people with disabilities."
In the middle of the 225th General Assembly, how should we respond to COVID-19 in a way that prioritizes affirmation of being a Matthew 25 denomination?
"Our disabled bodies do not make us heroes, nor are we tragedies, but we hold within us the truth of the human experience: pain and joy dwell together. We are Good Friday and Easter, tomb and resurrection."
"[O]ne of my favorite Bible stories is about the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20). We perceive it as scary — but in truth, Jesus models how I want to be treated as someone with bipolar disorder."
Some easy tips and tech fixes for Outlook's new website.
A poem by Kathryn Lester-Bacon.
“True accessibility means meeting people with disabilities where we are — not trying to change us, but making room so that we can be wholly ourselves as God created us to be,” writes Hunter Steinitz.
A poem by Scott Barton for the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Who have we unintentionally excluded? What barriers keep the full body of Christ from gathering and participating? Whose voices are we talking over? Whose gifts and leadership remain untapped?
May those of us who need a nudge have the strength, courage, and clarity to embrace the holy discomfort to step into the spotlight, speak up at the table when we have the least privilege and stand out as our true selves when God calls us.
Jenny McDevitt reflects that hope finds a way; that creation hasn’t given up on us yet, despite overwhelming rationale for doing so; that, while it may be too late to fix everything, we can still fix some things.
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