“We don’t have a name problem, we have a Jesus problem. The reason people are running from churches in general is because Christians are not acting like Christ,” he said. Davidson says 85 percent of Southern Baptist churches are stagnant in their membership, or declining. “That’s a heavy statistic.” For the Rev. Jerry Henry, pastor... Continue Reading

PCUSA officers take one vow regarding the Bible: “Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you.” Note the last four words of the vow: “God’s Word to you.” This... Continue Reading

Unlike some other efforts surrounding the theological drift, Simonds says his motives in drafting the petition is to encourage members to remain with the PCUSA and work for change, rather than departing for another denomination. A group of Presbyterians who plan to remain in the Presbyterian Church (USA) but who are concerned about the increasing... Continue Reading

“These proposals are intended to entrust presbyteries with the flexibility and responsibility of working together to discern and create mid council structures and relationships that will enable their missional congregations to thrive and adapt,” the report states. The trial period will expire in 2021 unless extended by the GA. Sweeping structural changes may come to... Continue Reading

Federal judge allows New York City churches two more Sundays to worship in public schools. A federal judge cleared the way Thursday for churches to continue meeting for worship services at New York City public schools for the next 10 days. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska, on a request for a temporary... Continue Reading

Crossroads hopes to meet in an abandoned movie theater at a cost of $6,500 more per month than they were paying at the school. But they’re sort of in a bind because the schools have kicked them out and they don’t yet have the city’s approval to meet in the space they plan to rent.... Continue Reading

Presbyterians are inseparable from Charlotte’s history. The city’s first churches all came under the denomination, and many of the city’s key political and business leaders remain Presbyterians. The Presbytery covers seven counties. With 40,000 church members, it is the country’s third largest presbytery. A top administrator who helped direct regional operations for some 130 Charlotte-area... Continue Reading

The new brief filed by ADF in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York argues that while the DOE’s policy was analyzed under the free speech clause of the First Amendment, it did not consider the free exercise jurisprudence as supported by the case Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v.... Continue Reading

Ken Sande, president of Peacemaker Ministries, an organization that consults on Christian conflict resolution issues, compares church discipline to how a bar association operates. The bar polices itself, watching over members and holding them accountable. Church discipline can help intercept true predators before they do more harm and sends a message about the consequences of... Continue Reading

“Giving up your building for Lent will be a powerful message to send to PCUSA,” McClellan said. “In addition, church members may want to resolve to not enter any PCUSA affiliated church until that church has requested dismissal or is in the process of doing so.” A group of Presbyterians wants to take a message... Continue Reading