Swimming at the deep end of the pool
For the past few weeks I’ve been teaching an adult Sunday school class in a local congregation.
Latest Posts
The sacrament of study
Recently a rare event occurred in Judaism, a holiday that comes around only once in 28 years, Birchat HaChammah, the blessing of the sun, which, as Samuel Freedman of The New York Times said in his weekly religion column, is observed when “the sun moves into the same place in the sky at the same time and on the same day of the week as it did when God made it.”
Plain talk about Sunday School
At the risk of offending everyone, I’d like to talk plainly about Sunday School.
Film in review: “Star Trek”
“Star Trek” is the kind of prequel that you wish the last “Star Wars” could have been.
San Francisco Seminary announces budget cuts
San Francisco Theological Seminary — hard-hit by the economy — has announced $1.6 million in budget cuts, including a 22-percent reduction in staff and faculty positions.
Appeal filed in Lisa Larges ordination decision
Three ministers from San Francisco Presbytery are appealing a ruling from the Synod of the Pacific Permanent Judicial Commission in a case involving Lisa Larges, a lesbian who has fought for years to be ordained as minister by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Faith and Reason for Hope in “The Culture of Disbelief
This morning as I was on my treadmill doing an imitation of a hamster in pursuit of lower cholesterol scores, I listened..
Film in review: “The Soloist”
Based on a true story, “The Soloist” is about Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.), a Los Angeles columnist, encountering a homeless man with a violin, and being unexpectedly moved by the technique, and the passion, of the musician.
Commentary: A Christian’s lament over the Pew torture poll
(ABP) -- Dear Jesus, Everyone seems to be talking about the poll put out last week by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Jerusalem bishop urges Pope Benedict XVI to reject ‘occupation and violence’
(ENI) -- Although the Vatican is emphasizing that Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the Holy Land in May is a pilgrimage, Jerusalem Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan said the political aspect of the visit cannot be ignored.
Film in review: 17 Again
C’mon, admit it, the thought has occurred to you that you’d like to be 17 years old again. Maybe this time you’d try out for the track team, just to see what would happen.
H1N1 (Swine) flu resources available
LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has several links about N1H1 (swine) flu on its Web page.
South African bishop urges president-elect Zuma to eradicate poverty’
CAPE TOWN — (ENI) A senior South African Roman Catholic cleric has called on the newly-elected African National Congress government, led by Jacob Zuma, to go all out in its efforts to eradicate poverty, and HIV-AIDS.
Sri Lanka religious leaders urge “peaceful coexistence” to end war
BANGALORE — (ENI) As the bloody 26-year-long civil war in Sri Lanka reaches a climax, religious leaders in the deeply divided island nation are calling for "peaceful co-existence."
Christian communicators: Press freedom “matter of life and death”
(ENI) — Freedom of the press is "a matter of life and death", says the World Association for Christian Communication in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3.
East German ‘revolution’ remembered in church campaign
(ENI) — Christians in eastern Germany have launched a campaign to mark the 20th anniversary of the peaceful revolution that overthrew communism, with a light sculpture shone onto the walls of the regional parliament building in Erfurt.
Pastor and farmer tell UN of torture in Philippines
MANILA (ENI) — A Protestant pastor and a farmer have given testimony before the United Nations in Geneva that they have faced torture in the Philippines, giving lie to the government's claims about its human rights record.
A Mother’s Day Litany
A litany focusing on God as mother and expressing gratitude for all the earthly mothers we encounter.
Study probes reasons for U.S. Catholics, Protestants lapsing
(ENI-RNS) — You might think former parishioners have left the pews because of sex scandals? Or because they no longer believe in God?
Japanese Christian group opposes new immigration law as unfair
(ENI) — A Christian-backed civil society group in Japan has joined human rights groups in opposing attempts to revise residential and immigration control laws, saying they will discriminate against foreigners.
UPDATED: Fidelity-Chastity ordination standard remains in place in PC(USA)
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has once again voted to uphold a requirement that those being ordained practice fidelity in marriage or chastity if they’re single — the third time the denomination has voted to retain the “fidelity and chastity” standard since it came into effect in 1997.
Church politics
“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.
GAC outlines new budget cuts; 14 additional jobs eliminated
LOUISVILLE – The latest round of budget cuts for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) means that 14 more employees from the denomination’s national staff have lost their jobs.
Council considers Ghost Ranch future, Washington Office review
LOUISVILLE – While budget concerns and impending layoffs are on the front burner for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) right now, the General Assembly Council also has other concerns bubbling on the stove.
Calvin and the politics of “the Holy Life”
In this year of Calvin celebrations, it is worth remembering that the Institutes are a confession of faith, not primarily philosophical theology or academic scholarship.
Page 729 of 883