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College Conference: John Lewis, Civil Rights leader, to college students: “Find your passion”

MONTREAT, N.C.—Rep. John Lewis, the Democratic congressman elected by the state of Georgia, felt his calling early in life. When he was 8 or 9 years old he began to preach in the chicken yard of his home in Troy, Ala.[caption id="attachment_20072" align="alignleft" width="225"]John Lewis, U.S. Congressman and veteran Civil Rights leader, spoke to students on Sunday, Jan. 4, during the annual College Conference at Montreat, OUTLOOK photo by Catherine Williams.[/caption]

Campolo kicks off collegians’ conference

MONTREAT, N.C.—After months of planning meetings, Facebook campaigns, video blog posts and eager anticipation, the 2009 College Conference at Montreat Conference Center kicked off Friday in a very animated, and nearly full, Anderson Auditorium. Conferees greeted friends new and old as they swarmed into the first keynote session of the four-day conference on “Outrageous Generosity.” Students swayed and clapped to the soulful strains of “Wade in the Water,” played by a talented and as-yet-unnamed band from Nashville.

U.S. Christian leaders urge Obama to tackle Mid-East peace issue

(ENI) — A coalition of U.S. Christian leaders is calling on president-elect Barack Obama to “make achievement of Israeli-Palestinian peace an immediate priority” during his first year in office.

Uppsala: Faiths sign Uppsala Manifesto to demand action on climate change

(ENI) — Global faith leaders at a meeting in Uppsala, Sweden, have signed a document calling for an extensive and rapid reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the wealthy parts of the world.

Russian Orthodox leader Alexy II dies at 79

NEW YORK — (RNS) Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II, who shepherded his church through the rubble of communism but was unable or unwilling to heal a longstanding breach with the Catholic Church, died Dec. 5. He was 79.

Presbyterian Writers Conference scheduled April 23-24

The Presbyterian Writers Guild and author Cecil Murphey are sponsoring a Presbyterian Writers Conference April 23-24, 2009, at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga.

Mission pastors wrestle new world complexities

It’s a point of pride for many. Presbyterians have been involved in mission work across the globe for generations.

Getting reconnected

it's good to get reconnected with the outlook!  i have subscribed from time to time over the last few years, but it..

Uppsala: Why should religions engage on climate, environment?

(ENI) — Why should the environmental movement be involved with religions? That is a question Martin Palmer, secretary general of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, often gets asked, and he sought to answer it in this historic Swedish university city north of Stockholm.

Recreation Express: Resource uses technology to serve the church

“Recreation Express” is a new software resource created by H. Lee Cross and Beth Bannerman Gunn, two experienced Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recreation leaders.

Reaching out to gay friends and family members

In the Dec. 2 edition of the Outlook we published the personal story of Ray Bagnuolo, an ordained, openly gay minister of Word and Sacrament.  Here we publish the personal story of a formerly lesbian church member and executive director of a ministry whose mission is “to equip and educate the church to minister the transforming grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are in conflict with their sexuality.”

(Not so) common courtesy in church hiring practices

Christian churches and organizations are obligated at all levels to observe the highest standards in their employment recruitment policies. When Presbyterian institutions take the low road in  methods to hire new employees, church officers should be gravely concerned.

Labels: descriptive or discriminatory?

I belong to an e-mail discussion group created by people who care about the work of theologian Jürgen Moltmann.

A world mission glimpse from Tegucigalpa, Honduras

We were gathering in the chapel of the Heifer Project retreat center just north of Tegucigalpa. The Honduran pastors mingled around and started discussing the construction of the small building in which we were meeting. Pastor Fernando started pointing out to me, partially in Spanish and partially with elaborate hand gestures, the differences in the type of bricks used in the wall. Not having an eye or any experience in such things, I had not noticed the difference. But when Fernando pointed it out, the differences were quite obvious.

A providential moment

My future is to do God’s will. For a long time I had felt out of touch with God. I felt that I am not of any use to Him. I have been very sick with migraine headaches and in great pain a good portion of that time. The only thing I could do was lie around the house and read all the theology and history books I could get my hands on.

Congregational New Year

In addition to the New Year’s resolutions being thrust upon us by challenging times, let’s make some resolutions for our congregations.

New Year’s Commentary: Even amid the darkness, our spirit is unquenchable

In the midst of life, we are in death. Three Royal Marines, young men with everything to live for, were approached by a 13-year-old boy who was pushing a wheelbarrow. Seconds later, they were all reduced to flying body parts. One moment they were vibrantly alive, the next moment their lives were over. The human wreckage from the blast included the devastation visited upon their loved ones.

Memorial service Jan. 10, for Pete Hammond

Pete Hammond, retired senior staff member and vice-president-at large of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship was found dead Dec, 29 at his Madison, Wis., home.

Pope, World Council of Churches call for halt to Gaza campaign

(ENI) Pope Benedict XVI and Samuel Kobia, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches have condemned violence in Gaza, calling for its immediate cessation following an intense bombing campaign by Israel there.

O Jesus, you were born to be

O Jesus, you were born to be

God’s gift to save humanity;