“The temptation to treat worship as something casual is great. As part of our weekly activity, it lends itself to being treated as common and routine. We easily go through the motions, sing the songs mindlessly, and get our worship attendance card punched. May it never be. We are on holy ground. As we attend... Continue Reading

Restoration teams—equipped with manuals to instruct the church on how to reinstate its fallen pastor—wait like tow truck drivers on the side of the highway, anticipating the next leadership “accident.” Grace Community Church, where I pastor, has received inquiries wondering if it has written guidelines or a workbook to help in restoring fallen pastors to... Continue Reading

From the shroud of Turin, to the crying Mary statues, to the Holy steps, all with great power to dispense forgiveness of sins, but none of them can do what four doors in the city of Rome can do every 25 years. If you walk through them in this year of 2016 you are promised... Continue Reading

“All 15 people who signed the open letter are members of the national church’s New York Conference, a region that encompasses New York City, Long Island and part of Connecticut. Methodist leaders in that jurisdiction have previously rebelled against the church’s policy by announcing they would not consider sexual orientation when evaluating candidates for clergy.”  ... Continue Reading

So here is the bottom-line: for the Christian and the Christian pastor, the way down is the way up. Like our Master himself, any exaltation from God will come through humility and service (Phil 2.3-12). Remember John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”   In recent years there have been many public... Continue Reading

I wish Hybels hadn’t tried so hard to ride the fence as closely as he can. What does he mean when he says “gay Christian?” Specifically, when dealing with such a topic it’s helpful for our church leaders to clearly define their terms. What does an “open embrace” look like? What does “inclusive” mean and... Continue Reading

The SJC’s decision in Hedman vs. Pacific Northwest Presbytery is a precedent setting case. It is a denial of the rights of due process and the denial of the rights of protest in any and every case where the right procedures have been followed by the lower court. The SJC essentially has taken the position... Continue Reading

“We went to Canterbury out of a desire for unity,” the GAFCON primates wrote in a statement issued after the meeting. “In our hearts we desire to see the tear in the fabric of the communion mended. The sanctions passed at that meeting were the mildest possible rebuke to only the worst of the offenders,... Continue Reading

“High visibility can also set pastors on a correction-course with humility that evangelical Christians call getting right with Jesus. The Rev. Darrin Patrick, 45, of Webster Groves, is one of the latest on such a path. Elders at The Journey, a popular megachurch he founded with his wife in 2002, fired him a few weeks... Continue Reading

“Today, I let these pastors and church staff persons speak for themselves. I made minor modifications to a few so the story does not inadvertently reveal the church members. I don’t want the pastor to get fired. No comments on my part are necessary.”   “Pastor, I have a rat in my house. Please come... Continue Reading