The blessing-curse of a reputation is that we tend to live up to it.
“We Methodists aren’t like you Presbyterians. We don’t know the first thing about church politics,” said Maxie Dunham, then president of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky.
At the risk of sounding unstylish and out of step, I’m sinfully proud to be a Presbyterian.
Amid the blur that is his first 100 days, one declaration of President Barack Obama ought to be troubling to all Christians.
Two things I know about worship.
Do you think Jesus enjoyed his triumphal entry? Did he enjoy the adulation in those crowded streets in the way a young preacher enjoys affirmations in the post-worship narthex?
Congratulations go to Wabash Presbytery. It has graciously dismissed three churches to the Midwest Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
So, after three years of talking about the new Form of Government Task Force project, the Outlook has finally succumbed to the temptation to put fog on the cover. Our self-restraint grew faint. Ah, well...
March 9, 2009 - So now I better understand the frequent complaint of Parker Williamson arising from times when he has been..
Christian educators don’t gather at their annual APCE conference (see p. 6) to hear statistical analyses of denominational growth trends.
It’s amazing, isn’t it, how much our lives have been shaped by conversations — from those first listening-only conversations with doting parents to the pastor’s final visit at our bedside; from the teacher showing us how to draw to the police officer asking if we know how fast we were driving; from comparing Christmas gifts with neighbor kids to the domestic disagreement between spouses; from the class discussion to the flirty introductions with the eHarmony date; from the lengthy love letters to the telegraphed text messages. Conversations define our lives.
Now he’s gone and done it. Clark Cowden, the executive presbyter of San Diego Presbytery has questioned the structure of our General Assemblies. He has said that the whole week of deliberation and decision-making is broken (p. 11).
Here’s the situation. Available houses on the market have outgrown the number of homebuyers, producing an excess inventory of 1.5 million unsold homes.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is shrinking in membership, because we have fewer members in nurseries than in nursing homes. We’re dying faster than we’re birthing. Our demographics are working against us.
If the chief end of man [and woman] is to glorify God, then the central purpose of worship must be the same. While pursuing that purpose, would it be inappropriate for worshipers to enjoy God as well? Reformed worship proclaims God’s greatness. It also teaches participants to order their beliefs and behaviors in godly ways. It calls believers to gather in community and to scatter into mission. But enjoy God? Not in First Presbyterian Church!
Hey You –
Close to real skin color David —
What slingshot will you use to fight our ailments?
Some convergences of timing — no matter how amazing — reflect little more than a coincidence. That an African-American would be inaugurated as the president of the United States just 23 days before the 200th birthday of the president who proclaimed emancipation for African-Americans is just such a coincidence.
During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama affirmed directly that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior. Will his profession be demonstrated in the legislation he promotes and in the leadership he exerts?
So how was your 2008? On many fronts it looked bleak: the collapse of the financial markets, an often ugly political race that turned incendiary on religious issues, continuing conflicts among the world’s religions — including stepped up persecution of Christians in some mostly Muslim and Hindu countries.
‘Tis a sign of the season: Brunswick, Ohio, cancelled its holiday lights display due to a lack of money. Snowflakes normally hung from the downtown light poles stayed in storage for possible use next year.
'Tis the season for looking back
His initial words seemed so harsh, but the others’ response was stunningly gracious. Now, together, they have become conversation partners, and an avenue toward peace may result.
Day-after reflections of an election may sound dated when you read them a couple weeks later. That being said, now that you’ve heard numerous pundits’ two cents’ worth, the mail delivers a mainline Presbyterian editor’s two cents’ worth. That is to say, I write as one who aims to obey God’s will as revealed in the inspired words of holy Scripture, as one who has a passion both to evangelize the world and to promote justice, as one who promotes the ministry of reconciliation and connectionalism, and as one who above all aims to glorify God. All this is motivated by living in the hope, the audacious hope, of the resurrection.
Beware the dangers lurking in the pages of the magazine you are holding. This “Just the Stats” issue can mess with your head.
Mark Twain once said “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who believe there are two kinds of people, and those who do not.” This week we begin a three-part series of articles by Edwin Barron on two kinds of churches. They reflect great research and offer lots of insights.
© Copyright 2026 The Presbyterian Outlook. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement. Website by Web Publisher PRO
