The Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church in America both hold their annual synods this week. Both will be discussing same-sex marriage. Will we recognize and be able to admit we are not of the same mind? Will we be able to have the much-needed pragmatic conversations about how both sides of this issue can... Continue Reading

The church’s Book of Discipline states that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching” and that “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” are not permitted to be ordained. The Baltimore-Washington Area Reconciling United Methodists said the move to not approve a candidate who was recommended by the ministry board was a rare one.   A married lesbian who had... Continue Reading

And so we forget to fear the right thing. We fear the shrinking of the church, so we do everything we can to make it more palatable. We fear ostracization by our society, so we try to be as cool as possible. We fear the direction our country is heading, so we throw previous convictions... Continue Reading

Knowledgeable: Formal qualifications like MDiv or even a Bible College degree are not required. But he should have a good knowledge of the Bible and of doctrine. If it’s a confessional church, he should be able to commit to the confession.   I was recently asked about the kind of qualifications a church should be... Continue Reading

Yes, knowledge apart from grace simply puffs up, but this does not make knowledge disposable. Edwards says that the people of God will love the things of God. They will search out his ways, following the trails of doctrine in the Scriptures straight to the throne. In our day, it is common to see emotion/experience... Continue Reading

Under Mr Middleton’s proposal, the church would establish its own independent register of ecclesiastical marriages, which would have nothing to do with the state. The ecclesiastical marriages would have no legal standing but be recognised by the church itself. It would be up to individual couples whether to also to go through a registry process... Continue Reading

“Confessional orthodoxy, because its foundation is the Word of God, can be used to remind the struggling believer of what he truly believes, even as that same one is being intensely reminded of the devastating effects of sin that afflicts the Lord’s people.”   Whether formally acknowledged or not, confessional orthodoxy is a matter of ... Continue Reading

“At its peak in 1974, UMW claimed 1.36 million members. This means the women’s mission group has lost 64 percent of its total membership since that time. It gets worse. The UMW has lost 114,742 members in just the last five years.”   An evangelical shift is unfolding in the United Methodist Church (UMC). Recent... Continue Reading

“Earlier this month, the Pew Research Center published some data on what American Christians value in everyday life. The data is fascinating, and I’d encourage you to read the summary here or the full report here.”   That Instagrammed photo of your girlfriend with her Bible and coffee the other morning was probably staged…so kinda... Continue Reading

Disagreement on sexuality and marriage have caused a deep divide between conservatives and liberals in the 12.3 million-member United Methodist Church. Pro-gay rights supporters want approval for clergy to live an openly homosexual lifestyle and for clergy to officiate same-sex marriages. As of now, the church condones sexual relations only within the covenant of monogamous,... Continue Reading