To learn more about congregations that have been successful in increasing their size, we invited the fastest-growing PC(USA) churches to take part in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey in 2011. Learn how these growing churches and their worshipers differ from those in other PC(USA) churches. What strengths do they have?
Learn about the practice of fasting in the Bible and the Reformed tradition.
See related pages: Ash Wednesday, Season of Lent, Presbyterian Worship
Male issue: What kernels of wisdom guide men's lives? Questions: What makes a wise man? What is self-discipline? What wisdom guides men in the relationships of life?
Past GAC Appendices from February 2001 (approved).
The Presbyterian Panel consists of three nationally representative samples of groups affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): members, ruling elders serving on session, and teaching elders (ministers). This summary highlights findings from the February 2013 survey on World Mission and includes knowledge of World Mission priorities, personal and congregational participation in mission activities, and amount of mission funding.
This document includes the final action taken on item 05-12 by the 220th General Assembly.
At the 2012 General Assembly (GA), PC(USA) leaders encouraged Presbyterians to create 1,001 new worshiping communities (NWCs) between 2012 and 2022. Since then, across the PC(USA), 409 new and varied forms of church have been raised up by leaders seeking to ignite discipleship and transformation. Of these, 348 (85%) are currently active. These new worshiping communities have the potential to help the PC(USA) shift from an inward-focused, membership-maintenance model of church to a more outward-focused, creative, and disciple-making model. This report compares responses from two waves of the 1001 NWC Survey of Presbytery Leaders (2014 and 2016). The goals of …
The main objective of this study is to determine the level of success of the new worshiping communities – are they thriving, what is working for them, and what do they still need in order to better grow in their mission?
As members of Christ’s church, we differ profoundly; but can we see that those who disagree with us are seeking to love one another with God’s grace, advance the gospel in all its far-reaching inclusiveness, and promote greater faithfulness to the Triune God under the authority of Scripture and guided by the confessions? Though we reach very different conclusions, we can rejoice that our church is willing to wrestle together prayerfully with the question: How do we extend the grace of God to all, calling all persons to repentance, transformation, and discipleship—regardless of sexual orientation—so that all will experience God’s gracious intention for humanity?
The changing cultural context, the shifts that middle governing bodies are themselves already making, and a new domestic mission frontier all make this the right time, God's time for us to examine the role, function and form of presbyteries and synods.
—from the rationale of the charge to the General Assembly Commission on Middle Governing Bodies
The version of the report with Full Data Appendices is available by clicking here.