While the United Nations prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary Saturday, October 24, a UN-related organization with close ties to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) also marks an anniversary. “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” commemorates its 65th year of helping raise funds for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
In thousands of congregations the brilliant colors of fall signal the season for annual budgets, stewardship sermons and pledge cards.
For many churches it’s the only time of year financial stewardship is given high visibility. In the best-case scenario, the members pledge enough to meet the church budget, and the congregation is on its way to another year of ministry. Except for budget reports, talk about money is mostly set aside until the following autumn.
Join Larissa Kwong Abazia, Vice Moderator of the 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in Twitter chats about the identity and purpose of the PC(USA). She’ll be @LarissaLKA using the hashtag #pcusaidentity on:
Monday, October 26, 6–7 p.m. (EDT)
Thursday, November 12, 9–10 p.m. (EST)
Both chats are part of a churchwide conversation the denomination is invited to engage in between now and the 222nd General Assembly (2016), June 18–25, in Portland, Oregon. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly is asking the whole church to dialogue in various ways, including …
Two Cincinnati Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations celebrated 225 years of ministry this past weekend. Founded Oct. 16, 1790, First Presbyterian Church began as a two-site church plant, meeting in the Fort Washington and Duck Creek areas, and ultimately became Covenant-First and Pleasant Ridge churches. The congregations marked the occasion with special worship services, community recognition, the commissioning of an anniversary anthem and dedication to continued ministry.
It was the winter that kept coming. The record-breaking snowfall that dumped more than 100 inches in Boston and northern New England within a 30-day period, is still fresh in the minds of residents. The snows have long melted, but the damage is still there. The snow, frigid temperatures and the following flooding, caused millions of dollars in damages to homes, businesses and churches throughout the northeast.
The rivers have crested and the floodwaters have washed out to sea, but the hard work of cleaning up is just beginning in South Carolina. The state was hit with a so-called 1,000 year flood, dumping record-setting rainfall totaling more than 20 inches in some locations. At least 17 people were killed; at the height of the flooding, more than 400 roads, 150 bridges and two major interstates (I-20 and I-95) were closed.
사역 장로에 대해 설문 조사를 해보면, 당신은 아마도 많은 자들이 비 영리 단체의 이사회에서 섬긴 적이 있다는 것을 발견할 것이다. 이 중요한 업무는 특정한 솜씨 및 사명에 대한 헌신이 필요하다. 이것 때문에, 우리는 미국 장로교의 사역 장로로 섬기는 것이 그것과 별로 다르지 않다고 생각할 수도 있다. 많은 사역 장로들은 그들의 리더십을 당회에서 섬기고, 재정을 관리하고, 교회를 운영하는 것과 관련하여 생각한다. 장로들은 그들의 역할이 기능적 (functional)이라는 분명한 인식을 가지고 있지만, 그들이 직제 사역으로 부르심을 받고 거기에 응답할 때에 그들에게 부여되는 정체성에 대해서는 덜 분명한 것 같다.
<한국어> Take a survey of ruling elders and you will probably find that many have served on nonprofit boards. This important work takes a certain skill-set and dedication to a mission. Because of this, one might think that serving as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is not much different. Many ruling elders view their leadership in terms of serving on the session, managing the financial business, and running the operations of the church. Elders have a clear sense that their role is functional; they are less clear about the identity they assume as they answer the call to serve in ordained office.
Being Reformed: New Members: Call to Discipleship reflects on the meaning of Christian discipleship as a member of the PC(USA). This new study, written by noted theologian Donald K. McKim, offers a unique perspective on different aspects of the ministry of church members.
In spite of steady gains against hunger and poverty, more than ten percent of the world’s population—about 795 million people—are undernourished and go to bed hungry. October 11-18 marks the 2015 Global Food Week of Action, which includes World Food Day October 16, International Day for Rural Women October 15 and International Day for Eradication of Poverty October 17.