Exactly how Presbyterians would rank the top news of 2011 in the denomination, and how they would characterize what happened, will depend on their perspective. Here’s an effort to recap some of the biggest developments of the year. Feel free to make your own list.
Here I will confess, if that’s the appropriate word, I myself am a lapsed Presbyterian. It’s the diction that did it, finally, the worn-thin, shabby, church-poor words, so overused they connote to me a poverty of spirit, not the richness of it.
— E.L. Doctorow, The Waterworks
No college is right for everyone. But
anyone planning to go to college can,
with a little research, find schools
that are a good match for his or her
interests, abilities and personality.
I’ll never forget the day Dr. Tom Gillespie, then president of Princeton Theological Seminary, restored my academic pursuit and pastoral training such..
Preachers love analogies, so here’s one.
It’s no secret that in the Presbyterian world money is scarce at every level, from the denomination to the individual church. Folks hear of congregations without pastors, buildings locked and sold, yet another round of layoffs.
In the 25th chapter of Matthew, we hear of the master who left his holdings to three servants in varying numbers of talents, an ancient denomination of money. One received five talents, one received two and one got a single talent.
Ever gone to a presbytery meeting and wondered before you got out of the car who you might encounter? Here is a cheat sheet that will help prepare you to identify who is attending by checking the kinds of cars in the parking lot.
You’ve mastered Greek parsing, decoded Hebrew, passed your ordination exams and now are dreaming in the confusing acronymic language that is seeking a first call: With the approval of my CPM, I’m self-referring my PIF to the PNC after reading their CIF on the CLC … .
Augsburg Fortress (augsburgfortress.org)
ReNew and the Parable of the Sower (age specific material)
Printed on recycled paper and soy-based ink, this green VBS program brings together the Bible and environmental stewardship. Besides being a flexible program that encourages hope, opportunity, and service, ReNew is based on one story: Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9). Children explore the parable in-depth, rather than trying to learn multiple non-consecutive stories over a short period.
BALTIMORE – What is the future in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) of presbyteries and synods?
Why can’t American Christians be more like Koreans? Why can’t they honor and learn from their older adult family members the way the Koreans do?
Editor's note: This is a response to the post-General Assembly Outlook article, " Assembly approves removal of fidelity, chastity; presbyteries to vote..
MINNEAPOLIS —The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has directed a special committee to engage in a retranslation of the Heidelberg Catechism. And it voted to ask the presbyteries to add the Belhar Confession from South Africa to the PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions.
(ENI) Vatican critic Hans Küng has warned against “condemning the church and its priests wholesale” for the current spate of sex abuse allegations.
TPO: In your opinion, what is the most significant matter to come before this General Assembly, and how do you propose that the Assembly respond to it?
LOUISVILLE — The General Assembly Mission Council has approved two theological papers for consideration by the General Assembly — one called “Christians and Jews: People of God,” and a second with the title “Toward an Understanding of Christian-Muslim Relations”
“Oh look,” the mom announces as she picks up the flyer off the kitchen counter.
Sometimes Vacation Bible School can look and feel like barely controlled chaos. But the Spirit of God is hovering over those swirling children and dazzled teachers, creating a community of faith our Savior must thoroughly enjoy dancing around in. So it is undeniably fun, but what are they learning?
The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission — the highest court in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — has declined in two new rulings involving controversial cases to take on some of the central questions involving departures of conscience from the denomination’s ordination standards.
Editor’s Note: I recently participated with 19 other western Christian journalists in a seven-day tour of Jordan under the sponsorship of the Royal Jordanian Tourism Board.
Meet His Royal Highness Prince El-Hassan bin Talal as Jack Habererinterviews him in the Royal Palace of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. ..
Background Within a day or two of moving into the editor’s office of the Presbyterian Outlook in January, 2006, I realized what overwhelming..
The interview was going well as I shared my vision for all that I could offer as the program director for the main unit of the Greensboro Salvation Army Boys’ and Girls’ Club.
On Tuesday morning, I got the call that Kennedy had been born and everyone was doing well. At eleven I gathered with family and friends to celebrate Clara Mae’s life as we grieved her passing.
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