It is the liberal churches, those which embrace abortion and homosexual practice and which compromise biblical truth and biblical standards, which have experienced the steepest decline in membership. In all likelihood, they also have far lower commitment levels from their people…. Let’s not believe the lie that the way to win the world is by... Continue Reading

Since congregational singing is so very important, we should have the goal of teaching our church families songs that have rich biblical texts sung to good tunes. What we teach them should not be time-bound. We should build together with them a body of songs that express the Gospel in its fullness, songs that they... Continue Reading

Last week NBC news reported that the “top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church in America” voted to recognize same-sex marriage as Christian in their church constitution. The news report, which was quickly corrected, was confusing the Presbyterian Church of the USA—whose general assembly was meeting in Detroit, Michigan—for the Presbyterian Church in America—whose general assembly was meeting in Houston, Texas.... Continue Reading

Be a constant naysayer. Pastors can usually handle the occasional critic. But the truly painful relationships are with church members who are constantly negative. How do you know you’ve succeeded in this regard? The pastor runs the other way when he sees you.   If you really want to hurt your pastor, then this blogpost is... Continue Reading

“During the first day’s worship, the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Quincy, preached as homilist. He and then-Presiding Bishop Leonard Riches exchanged mutual forgiveness and reconciliation between the Diocese of Quincy and the Reformed Episcopal Church. They highlighted the mistreatment and ill-will that occurred between the Episcopal Church and the... Continue Reading

Presbytery of the Siouxlands erred because its Judicial Commission made serious procedural errors that undermined the legitimacy of the Judgments proposed. The disposition to be made of this Complaint is that the Presbytery of Siouxlands is instructed to undertake a new trial of TE Lawrence according to the instructions that follow.   The Standing Judicial... Continue Reading

“I made an exception to a rule that I assumed, probably wrongly, the president has the right to make if he feels that it is that important,” Paige Patterson told Southern Baptist delegates on Wednesday (June 11). “He was admitted as a special student in the Ph.D. program.”   BALTIMORE (RNS) The head of Southwestern... Continue Reading

An indigenous Reformed movement among African Americans will draw upon existing Reformed theological formulations, but it will not simply mimic them. Theology, not truth, will be adapted to the unique social and cultural milieu of Black communities. Since today’s questions and issues are different than the ones faced 500 years ago, we have “do”theology differently.... Continue Reading

“And we need to be clear, too, that while the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ is certainly for us, it is equally certainly not about us: a failure to recognize that distinction is a mistake we often make. The gospel is not about our finding fulfillment, but about our honoring God:... Continue Reading

“At the presbytery meeting, Friendship offered a counter proposal to the presbytery’s motion to dismiss the church without property in the form of a substitute motion with an offer of a payment of $191,000 over three years. The figure represented more than 10 percent of the total value of the church’s assets, per capita for... Continue Reading