“The church isn’t just an invention of Christians who were trying to fulfill certain needs—fellowship, teaching, and so on. It’s much more than that. In fact, the Bible seems to hold the local church out as a unique organization, one unlike any parachurch organization, any other ministry, or any other institution in the world.”   Here’s... Continue Reading

At the presbytery meeting, there was still some opposition to the motion for dismissal under the terms of the agreement, but it passed by a majority voice vote. The opposition fell into one of two categories. The first category was that the PCUSA was big enough to include all theological persuasions and to dismiss a... Continue Reading

The Christian definition of justice (even as it pertains to marriage) will be communally discerned in the large arc of history. Our discernment will take place cross-culturally. It will be soaked in prayer and empowered by the Spirit. This definition of justice will arise from attending to what the Spirit is saying today, but we... Continue Reading

…there are other reasons. They aren’t theological or missional, but they will sting and hurt. I have found the way to navigate through these kinds of reasons. Yes, there are times I have to preach to myself about not having my self worth tied into people leaving, but what has also helped has been learning... Continue Reading

“First Presbyterian, at 1820 15th St. in Boulder, is moving toward the finish line in its bid for dismissal from the mainstream Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to join the Goleta, Calif.-based ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, a network of more than 230 congregations founded in 2012.”   First Presbyterian Church of Boulder is the... Continue Reading

The motion asks that representatives of the Episcopal Church not be permitted to represent the Communion in interfaith and ecumenical bodies or dialogue commissions, nor serve on the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council, nor vote at meetings of the Anglican Consultative Council — whose next meeting is this summer in Lusaka. Unlike the... Continue Reading

“If a missionary isn’t willing to slow things down just because he wants some quick, shoddy results and cool Facebook pictures, the dude needs to reevaluate why he’s even going overseas. Truthfully, between you and me, it would’ve been better if he hadn’t gone at all.”   I’ve rubbed my boney shoulders with lots of... Continue Reading

According to one progressive pastor,  “…there’s a far deeper, more organic challenge for our denomination. Many of its leaders at both the local and national level are no longer in synch with any semblance of orthodox Christian creeds and doctrine.”    I recently came across a remarkable piece of revisionist church history: In 1930, when PC... Continue Reading

“The background to the churches’ determination to make their worship boredom-free zones is a era of rampant materialism which the western world has never experienced before. For example, at parties today each child who comes expects to go home with a party bag full of goodies.”   An elder preceded the minister into the pulpit... Continue Reading

“Our basic human need as sinners trumps all other needs that are unique to age and stage of life. That means that the gospel is more important than any targeted ministry. It also means that, though we should work hard to communicate the gospel in understandable, age-appropriate ways, there is only one message that people... Continue Reading