Experts in health and human rights from around the world gathered in Geneva Jan. 16-18 to ponder a question: How can churches create “safe spaces” where people can learn and discuss sensitive issues without fear of judgment?
Pastor Jerry Cannon still marvels at what happened at C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church in 2011. A year ago, in January, Cannon attended a gathering for pastors of large congregations sponsored by the Office of Evangelism and Church Growth. While there Cannon “got a hold of” the office’s brand new resource called Engage, which emphasizes the importance of connecting evangelism with disciple making. “I was asked if our leaders would form a focus group for Engage,” says Cannon. “I saw it as a way for us to go deeper, but I had no idea of its ripple effect on lives, of how God would use it to show us this is why you’re doing what you’re doing.”
Editors Note: Melissa Cadena had never participated in church until she experienced the love of God through a local Presbyterian congregation. In late September of 2011 she was baptized into new life in Jesus Christ in the Guadalupe River, joining the fellowship of believers at Community Fellowship Presbyterian Church, a new church development in New Braunfels, Texas. When we saw these amazing pictures of the baptism of Melissa and her daughter, Nicole, we wanted to hear what this experience means to Melissa six months on. Below are her reflections on the significance of what happened to her and Nicole in that river.
We always hear that there are no stupid questions. But as a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, the Rev. Pam Driesell was surprised to hear about a professor who was hard on people who asked questions.
The dignity of work and workers is a common value among the faith traditions. It is also now the focus of a policy handbook titled Convergences: Decent Work and Social Justice in Religious Traditions, a collaborative effort of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
After causing a bit of turbulence with some passengers, Alaska Airlines will no longer serve prayer cards with in-flight meals, the company announced Jan. 25.
Methodist clergy in Fiji are frustrated that the removal of a repressive law requiring permits for religious meetings has been replaced by a more permanent decree by the country’s interim military regime.
When talking about polity (church government), the Rev. David Dobler likes to quote Albert Einstein: “Everything should be as simple as possible, and no simpler.” The Evangelical Covenant Order (ECO) ― the new Reformed denomination launched last week by the Fellowship of Presbyterians ― seemed to follow that maxim when it unveiled the constitution for the new body of dissidents from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
With 2.18 billion adherents, Christianity has become a truly global religion over the past century as rapid growth in developing nations offset declines in Christianity’s traditional strongholds, according to a report released on Dec. 19.
Christians and churches in Sudan are facing increased restrictions and hostility, since the secession of the southern part of the country six months ago, according to some church leaders.