They relied on research from the business services firm Towers Watson. It found about 15 percent were so-called vital congregations, with strong preaching and lay leadership, and a mixture of contemporary and traditional worship. Better pastors. Healthier churches. Less bureaucracy. United Methodists hope that combination will help turn around decades of declining membership and attendance,... Continue Reading

SJC finds that Sessions and Presbyteries may interpret and apply the Constitution as they see best, and those decisions are subject only to Review and Control or judicial process. They are NOT subject to abstract statements, such as Position Papers or motions. The same decision included the following statements by the SJC: Any other procedure... Continue Reading

The article about PCUSA General Assembly per capita write-offs posted yesterday generated a bevy of questions from readers. Here are the answers to a few of them. Q: What is “per capita”? A: The words “per capita” appear twice in the Form of Government Book of Order (G-9.0308 and 9.0404d). In neither place it is... Continue Reading

Warning to Baptists: fighting words to follow, including “creeds,” “confessions,” and “individual vs. congregational authority.” The subject of long-standing debates in Baptist circles is gaining renewed attention as the North Carolina chapter of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) revises its foundational statement. CBF is a national alliance of 1,900 moderate Baptist congregations that broke from... Continue Reading

According to the budget report released at the recent meeting of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (very similar to the PCA Administrative Committee), the uncollectible GA per capita for 2009 stands at $936,203. After an additional $20,000 is received from three presbyteries who are committed to settling accounts with the GA,... Continue Reading

“…the Record of the Case in this matter establishes that no written information was presented to Presbytery concerning the work of the Shepherding Committee. Thus there is no record of the facts leading Presbytery to conclude that the investigation had been satisfactorily completed.” In a highly unusual situation, the PCA Standing Judicial Commission (SJC) has... Continue Reading

In an interview in this week’s Church of Ireland Gazette with Canon Ian Ellis, Editor, Bishop N. T. ‘Tom’ Wright speaks openly about theological and Church matters, including the current issues of women bishops in the Church of England, the Ordinariate and the Anglican Covenant. Speaking to the Gazette editor in an interview while visiting... Continue Reading

The vote of Presbyteries on the BCO 14 amendments is now at 13-6 against adopting the amendments. On October 22, Eastern Canada Presbytery voted in favor of adoption: On BCO 14-1: Yes 11; No 1; Abstain 0. On BCO 14-2: Yes 10; No 1; and Abstain 1. On November 2, Mississippi Valley Presbytery voted against... Continue Reading

Congregations that recognize and train volunteers, Roozen said, are more than twice as likely to rate themselves as spiritually vital. The study, described as “a public profile of the organizational backbone of religion in America — congregations — at the beginning of a new millennium,” will be replicated in 2010. Large congregations are more likely... Continue Reading

Recently a newly-retired minister reminded me that I was not just called to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament, but also I was to be a faithful presbyter of the church, serving in all her functions faithfully as she needs it This letter is a late submission for the requests (of The Layman) for... Continue Reading