Religious but not spiritual? Meet the skeptics favoring ritual over the supernatural
Ten percent of Americans can be categorized as religious but not spiritual, according to a December 2023 study from Pew Research Center.
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In praise of Messy Church
Christ-centered, intentionally intergenerational, creative, hospitable and celebratory, this church isn’t easy, but it’s magnificent, writes Jenny McDevitt.
Demonstrable faith (February 11, 2024)
Naomi McQuiller thinks about "VeggieTales," King Nebuchadnezzar and the impact of a faithful act.
Order of worship — February 11, 2024
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation.
Transfiguration Sunday — February 11, 2024
What do we do when we encounter something that fills us with wonder – that bubbly, contradictory mix of expansiveness and finitude and interconnectednes? Rose Schrott Taylor reflects.
Across the miles: A tale in one photo
"The missing never ends, nor does that love that reached from my dad to me to my daughter and back," Mary Bird Lanzavecchia.
Purple church possibilities
Whether you desire a new building or a new interpretation of Scripture, progress cannot be made if leaders are conflict-averse, writes Teri McDowell Ott.
Politics and grief
Is your church mostly blue, largely red or solidly purple? Whatever the case, pastoral theologian Eileen Campbell-Reed wants you to prioritize and ritualize your congregation’s grief to help you find your way in this new era of ministry.
Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition
"This book may help congregations that are far, far away from the sale of their church property avoid this seemingly inevitable fate." — Beth Guzman
Navigating conflicts in congregations
Moving forward in the spirit of agape love can help allay dissonance and build the Beloved Community, Lesley Anne Earles and Debra J. Mumford write.
‘No one wants to rock the lifeboat’
Is the church stuck in a lifeboat? Presbytery leader Sue Krummel thinks we should be asking "Why?" instead of seeking appeasement.
Being a mustard-seed church
"Nothing is wrong with smallness if that smallness is chock-full of faithfulness," writes Whitney Wilkinson Arreche.
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Fred Rogers Institute offer fellowship in theology and ministry
A new fellowship honors the theological and educational areas of Fred Rogers’ legacy providing tools for parents, caregivers, congregations, and non-profit organizations.
Lil Nas X marks comeback in controversial fashion with ‘J Christ’
Famous musician Lil Nas X is making his “comeback” to music by paying homage to Jesus. The single, “J Christ,” and its music video are saturated with over-the-top, “scandalous” religious images, generating a controversy.
Board of Pensions president elected vice chair of Church Benefits Association Board of Directors
Spencer’s election reaffirms the Board of Pensions’ strategic partnership with other religious denominations to better serve leaders across faith communities.
Order of worship — February 4, 2024
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation.
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany — February 4, 2024
The pressures of our lives can leave us withered and exhausted. But when we remember our story, we will find the wind that helps us take flight, bringing us home, writes Teri McDowell Ott.
A helping hand — Weekly Christian ed lesson
In this lesson, children will explore one of the healing stories in the Gospel of Mark noticing how a helping hand can bring a measure of wellness to someone who is unwell.
Let the mystery be (February 4, 2024)
There is so much we will never know. Isaiah asks us to embrace the mystery and trust God anyway, writes Brendan McLean.
I was made for this
"It feels like resurrection." Small church member Beth Bradshaw reflects on the ups and downs of attending a church in a small town.
Discussion guide for January 2024 issue
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
Chicago pastors help the city grapple with flood of migrants
‘There’s already plenty of need present in this community,’ said one faith leader. The challenge is to make the situation work for both longtime residents and migrants arriving from the border.
Failures of Forgiveness: What We Get Wrong and How to Do Better
Myisha Cherry argues that it is more fruitful to view forgiveness as a journey, not a single decision, writes Paul Dornan.
The Book of Clarence
Film critic Joseph Holmes finds writer-director Jeymes Samuel's "The Book Of Clarence" to be a satisfying remix of familiar biblical movies like "The Life of Brian" and "Ben Hur."
The Gospel According to James Baldwin: What America’s Prophet Can Teach Us about Life, Love, and Identity
Greg Garrett agrees with Baldwin on the questions that lead from bad faith to one based on wisdom and truth: “Who is God, who am I, what is sacred community, how are we supposed to live, why exercise faith?”
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