College Issue
What does the future hold for the high school students in your family, your church, your neighborhood? You can help them choose a college or university that will nurture their souls and ennoble their activities while informing their minds.
Presbyterian leaders assessing damage from Gustav
LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders were still working Tuesday (Sept. 2) to assess Presbyterian-related damage from Hurricane Gustav, which roared from the Gulf of Mexico into southern Louisiana on Monday as a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph.
World fascinated by Amish ‘forgiveness’ as U.S. membership numbers double
(ENI)--Nearly two years after five Amish girls were killed in a grisly Pennsylvania school shooting, Anabaptist experts at nearby Elizabethtown College field a constant stream of questions from around the world about the religious group.
Volunteers work on flooded Iowa homes as winter approaches
The floods in Iowa didn’t come in one dramatic, before-and-after moment. The rain kept coming, the water kept rising, and downriver, the trouble passed on from town to town to town.
Presbyparity
Sister elder, brother deacon, do you get it? Do you understand how radical it is for you to have been ordained to your position of leadership?
Women of Faith Award winner Theodora Jackson dies
(PNS) Theodora Grace Jackson, 84, a recipient of this year’s Women of Faith Award at the recent 218th General Assembly, died July 27 in Brewster, N.Y. A memorial service was held July 30 at First Church of Katonah, N.Y.
Dangerous Elders
Why have such a conference?
I anticipated that question might be on the minds of many of those who gathered for the first-ever National Elders Conference in Nashville, Tenn., in August 2007.
The Presbyterian Elder
The position of elder is the oldest active office still being used in the Christian church today. Although the apostleship no doubt precedes it in prestige, power, and antiquity, it did not remain a permanent office since it was limited to those who had a direct commission from the risen Jesus himself and had unique gifts from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1–26; 1 Cor. 12:1–11, 29).
The Presbyterian deacon
For those who love people and want to follow in the ministry of Jesus Christ, there is no better office to assume than that of deacon in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Burning out or bearing fruit
Years ago members of a church I was serving talked about people who had once been very active in the congregation but whom I had never met. I asked someone who these people were.
Benefactors or beneficiaries?
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people. … ” The gifts he gave that were some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the full measure of the full stature in Jesus Christ (Eph. 4: 7-8, 11-13.)
New networks for leaders
The call to leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is a call to diverse forms of service. Ruling Elders are also charged to nurture the faith and life of the congregation while encouraging members in worship, service, mission, and care.
Exercise your ministry!
“I really don’t feel qualified. I think a minister should lead the committee — someone who has studied the Bible.”
Elders living, teaching the Bible
The Book of Order makes it clear: Elders “should cultivate their ability to teach the Bible. … ”
What elders should know about preaching
Preaching forms the theological mind and heart of a congregation. A congregation nurtured by preaching that plumbs the murky depths of truth, preaching that provides a realistic and relevant engagement with the Scriptures, will show signs of spiritual depth and maturity.
Biblical ethics: Who believes that stuff anymore?
While our Presbyterian General Assembly met in San Jose, a presidential candidate out on the stump asked during a speech, “Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy?
Get ready to measure
Measuring results might seem dull ministry compared to membership development, leadership development, spiritual development, and other hands-on ministries of the healthy church.
Embrace the frog
For as long as I have been a pastor (almost 20 years), I have heard my evangelical brothers and sisters use as a paradigm for dealing with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the parable of the frog in water brought to a gradual boil.
Indian schools shut down to protest attacks on Christians
Bangalore, India — (ENI) Churches in India are to close about 30,000 of their educational institutions across the country tomorrow (August 29) to protest against continuing attacks by mobs of Hindus in the country's eastern state of Orissa and which Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told bishops, is a "national shame".
Peacemaking Colloquium on gun violence and Gospel values September 15-17
The 2008 Peacemaking Colloquium at Stony Point Center with the theme of “Gun Violence and Gospel Values,” is planned September 15-17 at Stony Point Center, 35 miles north of New York City.
Films in review: Summer Shorts
“The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning” — Actually a prequel, where Ariel is a young mermaid princess, growing up with her sisters and a very happy Mom and Dad.
New mission appointees begin service
(PNS) Twelve new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission appointees recently completed orientation and have begun their international assignments.
Lakes and Prairies PJC upholds restoration of openly gay minister
Synod of Lakes and Prairies Communications Director
EAGAN, MINN. — (PNS) The Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies on Aug. 12 dismissed a remedial case filed against the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area that sought to nullify the presbytery’s Jan. 26 action to restore Paul Capetz, an openly gay man, to the exercise of ordained ministry.
Evangelical interviews McCain, Obama on religion and morals
(ENI)--Barack Obama articulated his Christian faith thus dispelling rumors he is a Muslim. John McCain demonstrated an ability to electrify evangelical Christians. And Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren proved Americans can discuss religion and politics without the bitterness, rancor and polarization that characterized the 2004 U.S. election.
An open letter to my centrist-ecclesiast friends
As editor of a magazine that speaks to the whole church, I feel compelled to speak to friends of various convictions — while allowing all others to overhear the conversation. Two weeks ago I began with the group that has most nurtured my faith: conservative-evangelicals. Last week, I wrote to those who have broadened my vision: liberal-progressives. This week, I address those who have grounded my churchmanship, centrist-ecclesiasts.