Methodists in Crisis Over Gay Marriage, Church Law
Gay marriage supporters continue to advocate for a change in the Methodist Church's stance
Frustration over the lack of change fueled the new movement to openly defy church law, starting in 2011 in Minnesota and New York. Methodist ministers had already been quietly officiating at same-gender ceremonies in some communities for years. A few of the more publicly defiant clergy had faced formal complaints or had been tried by... Continue Reading
Pitfalls of Parachurch
Binding the conscience for the sake of the ministry is one of the pitfalls to parachurch organizations.
Adoption is a good, right and beautiful thing. It is one of the best ways for us to battle the evil of abortion. It is something gloriously used by God to bring children to Himself–who might otherwise never hear the Gospel–by placing them in Christian homes where they are taught the Scriptures and the Gospel.... Continue Reading
Vatican Blasts UN Panel Demanding it Change Its Position Against Abortion
The U. N. Convention on the Rights of the Child issues a statement directing the Roman Catholic Church to change its teachings on abortion and sexuality
The Church should no longer automatically excommunicate those who perform or assist in the performance of an abortion, the UN experts said ….Church teaching on marriage and sexuality should also change according to the observations, because it prevents adolescents from accessing contraception. In addition the experts said Church teaching on homosexuality contributes to “social stigmatization... Continue Reading
Menlo Park to Vote on Leaving PCUSA; Price Tag Set at $8.8 Million
Church leadership is encouraging the congregation to accept the terms of the agreement.
A team from Menlo Park and from the Presbytery of San Francisco had been negotiating together to “determine the amount our dismissal will be,” Ortberg told the congregation, and came to the “price tag” last week. With a price tag of more than $8.8 million, the congregation of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California will... Continue Reading
Anglican Church in North America Develops New Catechism
To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism released
Led by the Rev. Dr J.I. Packer, the Task Force has developed a unique and powerful resource for helping inquirers come to an understanding of the Christian faith, and for helping disciples deepen their relationship with God. Written in a “Question and Answer” format, this Catechism, in the words of Packer, “is designed as a... Continue Reading
Christians, Don’t Give Up on the Homosexuality Debate
Every generation has watershed cultural issues in which Christians cannot be silent; for our generation abortion and homosexuality are key watershed issues
Even as we exercise our voice, we need a generation of Christians who are willing to do even more; willing to be courageous enough to minister with compassion and truth to the homosexual community. We need brothers and sisters in Christ, who know the depths of grace and are deliberate in ministering to others by... Continue Reading
Calvin the Liturgist: How ‘Calvinist’ is Your Church’s Liturgy?
Calvin's approach to liturgy, described in The Form of Prayers, was biblically thoughtful and consistent with early church worship.
To achieve this tone of spirituality, said Calvin, simplicity is important. Liturgical practices that call attention to themselves obscure God, kill worship, and subvert the life of faith. One must understand Calvin’s long passages against images, relics, veneration of the saints, sacramental ism, and all human ceremonies as his conscientious effort to restore direct, simple... Continue Reading
Church Planting in a Trailer Park
An interview with a church planter who started a church in a low-income white community–a mobile home park–in Conway, Arkansas
What have you learned from ministering to low-income whites? I have learned that their struggles and sins are no different than any other ethnic group. Low-income whites want to have a better life for themselves and their children. Some of my closest friends within the community do not look like me, but the time spent... Continue Reading
Five More Churches Depart PCUSA From North Carolina
Five additional churches in North Carolina have been dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA)
The churches in Charlotte were released from the PCUSA – pending completion of the final steps in the dismissal process – during the Oct. 22, 2013, meeting of the presbytery. Two were dismissed to join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians with the other two seeking alignment with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). ... Continue Reading
The World’s Most Ancient Christian Communities Are Being Destroyed — And No One Cares
Christians in the Middle East have been the victims of pogroms and persecution. Where's the outrage in the West?
Western countries should make clear that our friendship, cooperation, aid, and help depends on: 1) Religious freedom, which includes the right to change or leave religions; 2) A secular law that treats all people the same. That was not the case in Mubarak’s Egypt, which the U.S. helped to prop up with $500 million a... Continue Reading
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