“Hasty, who has said he was neutral on the issue, resigned as senior pastor of First Presbyterian in Columbus, Ga., in May. At the time, he wrote an email to members of First Presbyterian saying: “My heart, like all of yours, is broken in the wake of the fractured vote for gracious dismissal and the... Continue Reading

But returning to the thought experiment, my question is not really about the specific individual here except to the extent that based on his history we know that he has been confirmed in a predecessor denomination and he self-identifies as a Presbyterian. But we also know that he is outspoken and has views not in... Continue Reading

“Surfacey” interactions/artificial relationships.  …. people might feel more connected, but they can really be more distant, at least from who they really are. In contrast, true Christian fellowship requires that we engage with people as we really are, so that we can honestly face our sin and grow together in Christ.   One of my... Continue Reading

Many don’t want the church to be like a sceney bar or a stylish boutique. They want the church to be the church: an institution that embraces awkward people, confronts sin, transforms lives, subverts the sovereignty of self, serves others and provides meaning more substantial than the ephemera of fickle fads.   Do people want... Continue Reading

“The church needs to present a case for biblical sexuality that is appealing and that engages the best of modern thought. The virtues of chastity and lifelong marriage are enriching, but after fifty years, the church has still not devised a compelling response to the sexual revolution.”   The Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v.... Continue Reading

Therefore, let us take a minute before we judge and condemn. Let us listen well to our brothers. Let us evaluate our conclusions and see if we are rushing to judgment. Let us make sure we are not being legalists and condemning someone when they have not broken God’s Law. Let us not be weary of creativity.... Continue Reading

“If we don’t make evangelism a priority, we will slowly but surely revert to the easier position of adopting a silent strategy of relying on transfer growth. That in itself is a massive issue – albeit hardly a new one. But when this mindset creeps into church planting networks, it is even more toxic.”  ... Continue Reading

“The top ten list of presbyteries with the most “departing” congregations include: Charlotte was ranked first, losing 17 congregations, Mid-South was second with 16 congregations gone, Cascades and Central Washington tied for third place, each have 14 congregations depart.”   Charlotte Presbytery has had the most congregations to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) while Sacramento... Continue Reading

“After the Assembly convened, seventeen total Teaching and Ruling Elders left the OPC and announced their intention to form a new denomination, the Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC). They subsequently established Faith Theological Seminary — a seminary that corrected what the BPC men had seen wrong with Westminster Seminary.”   Read Part 1 Read Part 2... Continue Reading

“Many individuals are leaving the church because it has failed to fulfill their spiritual needs. Nicholas Hahn, editor of RealClearReligion, believes that numbers decline when the church ceases to be the church. Today this happens when churches become over involved in politics and when churches attempt to be hip and relevant.”   Nearly every study... Continue Reading