Second, know what your church believes. If you haven’t done so already, become informed regarding your church’s positions on key biblical teachings. Most churches have a statement of faith. Are you familiar with what your church’s statement declares?  Who taught the person who is teaching you? How do his or her positions differ from those of other... Continue Reading

I have several friends who live in these kind of towns and their Sunday morning options are bleak. There’s the church where you’re sure to hear a rousing sermon on how bad the liberals have messed everything up in America. There’s the church where the pastor shares a few tips picked up from a conference... Continue Reading

Presbytery naturally becomes a catalyst for ministry. We need to beg, borrow and steal good ideas from one another. Often from spending time together, ideas and initiatives proceed. Presbytery must not just be meetings; it must be a band of brothers. The famous quote that ‘The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of... Continue Reading

“If you’ve been called to ministry, it’s not because God needed you on his team. It’s because he delights in you and wanted you in his family. When we get our minds around this monumental truth, it allows us to quit trying to be impressive. God isn’t impressed with us, and we shouldn’t be either.”... Continue Reading

“Spiritual pride is a destructive force within the church.  This force is most devastating when it finds its way into the heart and actions of the spiritual leaders in a church.  The solution, of course, is humility.”   “If the Lord were to honor me any more, he would make me the janitor.” With those... Continue Reading

This means the pastor’s authority may look big or small depending on your church experience. Pastoral authority in Presbyterianism can look big because almost every formal decision resides with the Session (rather than the whole congregation). Apart from calling a pastor and voting on church officers, most congregational votes in Presbyterianism are only advisory. So,... Continue Reading

Under many circumstances we have freedom before God to move from one church to another. In some cases this is a necessary course of action while in others it is a sinful course of action. Most of the time, though it is discretionary, depending on the particulars, the circumstances, the heart. Before you make such... Continue Reading

Is Christ preached? Are people being saved? Then rejoice, though through gritted teeth.  You cannot stop free enterprise in religion, and you will only ruin your own reputation if you are a cynical despiser and a gossip.  Pay attention to your own vineyard, let God sort things out as to motives, he can do that... Continue Reading

I chose the words, “might help” carefully for these are not at all 10 rules that will keep your marriage and ministry from imploding.  But, these 10 things might create some needed conversation with you and your spouse to keep your marriage and ministry pressing on for a bit longer.   Marriage is hard enough,... Continue Reading

Vosper said that the United Church has a tradition of “pushing the envelope” and pulling down barriers — in accepting the ordination of women, embracing the LGBT community and performing same-sex marriage. She said her views about religion have evolved. After initially rejecting the idea of a supernatural god and the idea of god as... Continue Reading