The first overture asked that the Songbook Committee be directed to “significantly modify and restrict its approach to the implementation of a new songbook and consider ways by which there may be the least amount of unrest and concern preceding and subsequent to the implementation of a new song book.” When Classis Western Canada of... Continue Reading

“We can no longer assume that just because a church is Southern Baptist it therefore genuinely understands the gospel and knows how it works to save sinners.” I recently interviewed Dr. Tom Ascol. I’ve known Tom for several years and have learned much from his ministry. I’ve always found him to be kind, gracious, wise,... Continue Reading

“The issue of climate change can be confusing in the media. We labored to present a clear, well-supported document that can help Christian leaders and laypersons understand the science, but even more importantly to understand the way disruptions in the environment affect the poor.” The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) released a document at a... Continue Reading

“Many church planters sense that if New York City senses spiritual renewal, the ripple effects can impact the world,” Mr. Bird said. “Many regret the way recent decades of church planting have over-focused on growing suburbs and under-focused on the spiritual needs of larger cities.” “I was blown away by the need for churches,” said... Continue Reading

Evergreen Presbyterian (PCA) Church’s Dolly Parton Parkway in Sevierville, Tennessee location could be heading for the auction block soon, but Pastor Brad Bradford said Thursday the ministry would continue whether it’s there or in another place. The church moved to the new location in 2005, taking the space near the Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Airport after... Continue Reading

By 1889 the Annual Report of the convention reported that “Christmas envelopes” were distributed in the churches. The Foreign Mission Board in the Annual Report of 1890 acknowledged that it had published “Christmas literature.” In 1897 the convention thanked the WMU “for the sum of all these Christmas offerings.” Baptists of the South and the... Continue Reading

The lawyer representing Covenant Presbyterian Church, said her clients have the right to change their affiliation and would defend themselves against the lawsuit. The Hempfield-based Presbytery of Redstone, which oversees more than 15,000 practicing Presbyterians in Western Pennsylvania, is suing a Ligonier church for allegedly ignoring internal procedures for withdrawing from the presbytery. In a... Continue Reading

Some of the biggest orthodox gains over the period appear to be in the Reformed Episcopal Church, which added 49 parishes, and in the (ACNA) Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy, wherein 38 parishes not previously noted as orthodox identified themselves more clearly as such by their decision to follow the dioceses’ orthodox leadership out... Continue Reading

“As a result of historic missionary activity and indigenous Christian movements by Africans, there has been this change from about one in 10 (sub-Saharan Africans) identifying with Christianity in 1910 to about six in 10 doing so today,” With 2.18 billion adherents, Christianity has become a truly global religion over the past century as rapid... Continue Reading

“Do’s and Don’ts of Church Reform”: Things to avoid in “leading change” include: “Don’t try to change everything in the first year. Or five years,” “Don’t pursue major changes until you’ve cleaned up the church’s membership rolls (so that membership reflects actual attendance and participation)” and “Don’t change something that costs a lot of pastoral... Continue Reading