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Pastors, are you energized by the mention of Stewardship?

Many pastors look at stewardship  as being repetitious and, frankly, less then exciting. Unfortunately, many pastors become extremely uncomfortable regarding the subject of money and giving. They view what seems like endless urgent appeals as a chore and not as an opportunity for their members to grow in their faith. Yet we know that pursuing mission requires financial support. A familiar quote says, “Ever since its invention by the Phoenicians 3,000 years ago, there has been a wonderful way of saying ‘thank you,’ it is called money.”

Elephants dancing on a multi-tiered stage

For the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to move into God’s future, it must let go of its carefully stacked layers of church bureaucracy. For years now, the stacked layers have been in danger of crumbling/imploding on each other, weighed down as they are by years of history and unrealizable expectations—not to mention the dancing elephants.

Missional and faithful? PGF Conference ponders the future of the PC(USA)

“It is not about getting the world into the church, it is about getting the church into the world,” said Rob Weingartner to the closing session of the third annual PGF Inside Out Conference that concluded Saturday (August 16.) Throughout the three-day conference in Long Beach, California, that sentiment was intertwined with a question explored in the Friday night session, “Can We Be Faithful in the PC(USA)?”

Global Fellowship begins with kick in the pants

The Presbyterian Global Fellowship’s third annual conference, “Inside Out,” began in Long Beach, California on Thursday evening.  While a praise band filled the room with U2’s “Beautiful Day,” close to 1000 conference attendees from 34 states and 4 continents filed into the event’s opening session.

After half an hour of praise and worship music led by the Bel Air Praise Band, PGF Executive Director Kelly Kannwisher welcomed the attendees to the conference. 

PC(USA) and RCA send letter to churches in Georgia and Russia

LOUISVILLE — As the conflict in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia continues, Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has joined with Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary of the Reformed Church in America (RCA), in sending a letter of concern and solidarity to church partners in Georgia and Russia.

PDA supporting relief efforts in Georgia helping refugees and those displaced by fighting

LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is supporting humanitarian relief efforts to help refugees and those displaced by fighting in the embattled former Soviet republic of Georgia.

Pittsburgh minister Janet Edwards headed back to court over same-sex wedding ceremony

LOUISVILLE — Janet Edwards, a Presbyterian minister in Pittsburgh, is headed back to church court later this year for conducting a marriage ceremony for two women even though charges against her for performing the nuptials were dismissed in 2006.

Expanded Form of Government Task Force holds first post-GA meeting August 21-22

LOUISVILLE — (PNS) The Form of Government Task Force (FOGTF), expanded in size and loaded with comments from this year’s General Assembly, is scheduled to meet for the first time since the 218th General Assembly adjourned in June to begin revising the original task force’s report.

Sue Mooney wins health ministry award

LOUISVILLE — Sue Mooney, parish nurse for Overbrook Church in Columbus, Ohio, has been named recipient of the 2008 Elise Stutzer Award in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s health ministries.

Fraud charges against Stanley W. Anderson

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil fraud charges against Stanley W. Anderson, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) elder from Colorado who made a dramatic pledge of $150 million to the denomination at the 2006 General Assembly.

Church groups back Russian, Georgian Orthodox peace appeals

NEW YORK — The patriarchs of the Russian and Georgian Orthodox churches have issued calls for peace as military conflict between Russia and Georgia over the pro-Russian separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia escalated into the first war between countries with Orthodox Christian majorities in modern history.

World Reformed grouping and Disciples body seek closer ties

GENEVA — Two global bodies grouping Protestant Christians — the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council (DECC) — say they are looking to establish a closer relationship.

Church “launches” shower trailer for disaster relief work

Members of St. Andrews Church in Kilmarnock, Va., took off for the Gulf Coast on August 12 for a trip of more than 1,000 miles to deliver a shower trailer to Olive Tree Volunteer Village, a hurricane relief camp supported by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) near New Orleans, La.

Presbyterian World Mission seeks candidates for international service

LOUISVILLE – (PNS) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission leaders are asking the church to help them identify qualified candidates for international mission service.

“Smoking Jesus” picture continues to embarrass media in Asia

BANGALORE, INDIA — Pictures on the Internet depicting Jesus smoking a cigarette and holding what appears to be a can of beer have caused repeated trouble for media in Asia in recent months.

Peacemaking Conference: Sowing mustard seeds

Mustard seeds are small and easily overlooked, but inside is the potential for growth and fruitful productivity. Jesus called them a picture of the Kingdom of God. “Sowing Mustard Seeds: Working for God’s Justice — Confronting Poverty” was the theme of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference July 15-19 in Orange, Calif.

Pew survey finds Americans serious, but not dogmatic, about religious faith

Americans consider themselves to be religious, but not dogmatic, meaning that most believe there can be more than one path to eternal life and more than one way to interpret even the teachings of their own faith tradition.

Iraqi Christians find refuge but future of church in doubt

TELSKUF, northern Iraq — The Ghassan family had only 24 hours to leave Mosul, a city in Iraq about 400 kilometers northwest of Baghdad. They were able to take only what they could hastily gather together.

Some things are bigger than GA

I write today having had just under two weeks now to reflect on the experience of being a commissioner to the 218th General Assembly in San Jose. Fresh from the stricture of a 60-second time limit at the microphone, I am not going to waste words, but jump into what is of greatest import to me as I reflect on the whole of that experience.

How it is that the new AI of G-6.0108 does not allow ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians?

The initial reactions to the Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0108 approved by the General Assembly in San Jose were dramatic.

Reflections on ordination standards after San Jose

The 218th General Assembly, meeting this past June in San Jose, issued two Authoritative Interpretations (“AIs”) and proposed an amendment to the Constitution that have important effects on the church’s ordination standards and our life together.