The most important parts of Christian faith can be summarized by the cross and the resurrection, said the Rev. Michael Lindvall at the closing worship of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators’ annual event.
The cross and the resurrection declare two things, said Lindvall, who had been leading plenary sessions at the event, Jan. 27-30.
In the cross, God declares that there is no pain we will bear that God has not already borne. When we come to pain, we can know that God has passed through it for us.
In the resurrection of Jesus, we see that the …
The Rev. Gradye Parsons, General Assembly stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), issued a statement today decrying the Jan. 21 U.S. Supreme Court decision to lift virtually all restrictions on corporate contributions to election campaigns.
“I am concerned about the pressures this decision puts on individual candidates and office holders and on the integrity of the election system as a whole,” Parsons said, noting that the decision undoes decades of federal campaign finance legislation and “historic Presbyterian wisdom about the dangers of corruption by special interests.”
Parsons’ statement outlined recent General Assembly statements on campaign finance and electoral form, …
Church planting is the best way to renew established churches, says the Rev. Pete James, pastor of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Northern Virginia.
He shared this message with 50 pastors from large (600+ members) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations and 25 new church development coaches at a Jan. 25-29 gathering here sponsored by the Evangelism & Church Growth ministry area of the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC).
“We should call the whole church to come together around church planting as our primary mission,” said James. “It is the best evangelistic strategy for the 21st century.”
James has served at Vienna, …
Finding consensus on how to solve the seemingly intractable conflict in the Middle East is as difficult for Presbyterians as it is for the world’s leaders.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Special Committee to Prepare a Comprehensive Study Focused on Israel/Palestine came close as it concluded its fourth and final meeting here Jan. 30.
With several sections of its massive final report still to be completed and edited, the committee approved with just one dissenting vote a package of 30+ recommendations calling for an immediate end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank; endorsement of the emphases on hope, love, …
Jann Treadwell’s background might not be typical of church educators. She didn’t go to Sunday school or Vacation Bible School. She went to only one youth group meeting. And she didn’t major in education in college.
But those facets of Treadwell’s life have not diminished her impact and skill in educational ministry. In fact, she has become a force in Christian education, most recently exemplified by her being named Educator of the Year by the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators.
“To be presented as APCE’s Educator of the Year is mind-boggling given my history,” Treadwell said.
Treadwell’s …
“Where did the Bible come from?” “What is hell like?” “Who is God?” These are just some of the questions posed by young people that are included in new curriculum published by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as part of the renewed We Believe series.
The new youth curriculum, FAQ for younger youth, and Faith Questions for older youth, was introduced at a workshop at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) event here Jan. 27-30.
The developers of the curriculum, Beth Herrinton-Hodge and Michael Harper, asked youth from around the country for their questions about faith. The curriculum was …
First, the Rev. Tom Dillard, pastor of Hopewell Presbyterian Church here and police chaplain for nearby Jeffersontown, Ky., successfully persuaded the city council — which was considering making a donation to aid Haiti — to make the $4,000 check out to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
A few days later, at his church’s annual chili cook-off and pie auction, Dillard volunteered to take a chocolate cream pie in the face to raise funds for Haiti, resulting in another $325 check.
Now the 182-member Hopewell Church is collecting a special love offering for Haiti on — what else? — Valentine’s Day.
“I …
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy feverishly worked last weekend on a half-dozen reports it is preparing for the upcoming 219th General Assembly later this year in Minneapolis.
The committee — which develops policy statements, resolutions and other reports on topics that are referred to it by the General Assembly — is trying to finish work on papers on public education, HIV/AIDS, the theology of compensation in the church, gun violence, human rights and a study on the nature and value of human life.
The committee was unable to complete work on any of the papers …
First, the Rev. Tom Dillard, a Presbyterian minister and police chaplain for Jeffersontown, Ky., successfully persuaded the city council — which was considering making a donation to aid Haiti — to make the $4,000 check out to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
A few days later, at his church’s annual chili cook-off and pie auction, Dillard volunteered to take a chocolate cream pie in the face to raise funds for Haiti, resulting in another $325 check.
Now Dillard’s church, Hopewell Presbyterian in Louisville, Ky., is collecting a special love offering for Haiti on — what else? — Valentine’s Day.
“I just …
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) educators were abuzz with talk about the newly-renovated We Believe curriculum at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators annual event here last week.
The walkways and meeting rooms of APCE — which drew more than 1,000 church educators from around the country — were full of: “Have you seen the new We Believe?” “Head to the marketplace and check out the new curriculum.” “I’m so impressed with the new We Believe; I can’t wait to try it.”
Launched in the fall of 2009, this major revision of the denomination’s curriculum is based on the voiced …