Stephen Um is the Korean-born pastor of the Citylife Church in Boston, a 10-year-old Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation that meets in a hotel and attracts 800 weekly attendees. He ministers to Boston’s youthful and professional elite: 35 percent of his half-white, half-Asian congregation has at least one postgraduate degree.   But his ministry... Continue Reading

Mr. Mom more prevalent; Amish fastest growing U.S. religios group; Number of Christians in U.K. down; Southern Baptists See Membership Decline for Fifth Straight Year Mr. Mom More Prevalent. More fathers are becoming their children’s primary caregiver. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 32 percent of fathers who have a wife in the workforce took... Continue Reading

These developments indicate a national departure from righteousness. If our country continues on its present course we will further provoke the Lord and multiply the judgments which the Almighty is already visiting upon us. It is therefore time for those who would be faithful to the Lord to give a clear lead and to speak... Continue Reading

A New York Times article on this event more interestingly quoted NAE President Leith Anderson saying NAE has no official stance on gun control but might now “take a harder look.” He cited King Herod’s slaughter of the innocents.   The National Cathedral is making gun control its new big focus and is hosting an... Continue Reading

Blogs that monitor Sovereign Grace have posted a transcript of a November talk by Covenant Life pastor Joshua Harris in which he said denominational leaders viewed challenges as signs of disloyalty, made major decisions without consulting churches and had a pattern of “minimizing the seriousness of the issues of the past” rather than repenting and... Continue Reading

In many churches, the pastor’s salary is a quiet issue. There is a sense of discomfort from both the pastor and the members when the topic is broached. Such discomfort is unfortunate, however, because a number of churches will not seek every year to make certain the pastor is paid fairly.   A couple of... Continue Reading

So bishop positions are bought, and the price is rather steep to keep the less serious out of the ranks. Perhaps that’s where there was so much emphasis laid on “success” in the early parts of the interview. A pastor of 15 people can’t be a bishop because the worldly resources of “success” won’t allow... Continue Reading

For the four years 2008-2011, the denomination closed or dissolved churches at a rate of 75-80 per year. It is expected that number will accelerate. If the experience of Presbyterians is like that of other former mainline denominations, one might expect upwards of 2500 PCUSA churches to be closed in the next decade due to... Continue Reading

Reformed Christians: Continuing personality issues, but overall the hardcore Reformed will still look and act a lot like they do today, because (almost uniquely among Protestants) Reformed folks know and value their tradition. The edgy/emergey segment will contribute a few cultural differences.   I was asked this in an online forum, and my answer got... Continue Reading

“Many folks have asked if this is Katrina-like. In many ways it is far worse since the population density is far greater, and the weather and temperatures are terrible. People are really hurting up here: keep praying for resources to sustain recovery operations that allow us to reach others in their time of need” —... Continue Reading