Drawing on its longstanding partnerships that span the globe, Presbyterian World Mission is honored to help U.S. Presbyterians build relationships with churches and other organizations around the world. When global partners share stories of their ministry projects, U.S. Presbyterians often want to participate in these endeavors in a variety of ways, including financial contributions. World Mission is glad to process these contributions through a system that has a history of reliability and integrity. In 2011, the Presbyterian Mission Agency prepared cost comparisons using industry standard categories, so that donors could ompare the efficiency of Presbyterian Mission operations with other charitable …
The November 2012 questionnaire addresses the issues of violence and war from a Christian perspective. This summary highlights findings from a survey of Presbyterian members, ruling elders, and teaching elders. The questionnaire also asked for respondents' familiarity with various Presbyterian Peacemaking initiatives.
By Stanley R. Hall
Are there essential elements of worship in the Reformed tradition? If so, they are not likely to be found in abstract propositions, but they may be discerned through careful attention to the presence of God in the practice of worshiping communities.
By Barbara Pitkin
Are Children Human? brings together historical theological, and pastoral issues in order to help the church explore the quality of its relationship with its children. Are Children Human? may seem to have an obvious answer, but the way we answer will affect the ways we shape church life. "Let the little children come to me," said Jesus, "do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs" (Mark 10:14). Who are these children? Barbara Pitkin helps to answer the question with grace and faithfulness.
By George Hunsinger
George Hunsinger asserts that the polarity of "progressive politics and traditional faith" is not true to the gospel and not true to the church's own tradition. More directly, Hunsinger demonstrates that the Presbyterian Church's new "Study Catechism" embodies theology and social witness together in fidelity to the gospel.
Social Witness in Generous Orthodoxy — Theology and Worship Occasional Paper No. 14 — is a significant contribution to the church's ongoing discussion of its faith and mission. It is also a demonstration of the capacity of the church's new catechisms to shape the conversation and to form the …
By Joseph D. Small
Since the reformation, "Word and Sacrament" have been identifying marks of the church. What happens to the church when sacraments are marginalized and word is relativized? This essay, originally presented as an address to an international reformed consultation, calls for a church in which Word and Sacrament are present in fullness.
By Edward Farley
The Office of Theology and Worship is pleased to present the opening essay in Practicing Gospel, Theology in the Life of the Congregation, as Theology and Worship Occasional Paper No. 17. The essay stands by itself as a valuable contribution to the self-understanding of the church and its ministers. Pastors and seminarians will benefit from its analysis and its suggestive description of "a theology of ministry and ministry as theology." The essay also serves as an introduction to the whole collection, and may inspire some to read further, exploring such issues as "Preaching the Bible and …
By Charles Wiley, Kevin Park and Darrell L. Guder
Who or what is the church? By what stars shall we navigate as we seek to be the church here and now? The three essays gathered in "Bearing the Marks of the Church" use Nicene marks of the church - one, holy, catholic, apostolic - as navigation points as we seek to be the church now and into the future.