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- Presbyterians divided on same-sex marriage May 17, 2012Survey shows members, ruling elders oppose same-sex marriage, while teaching elders in favor May 17, 2012 General Assembly Mission Council Contact: Perry Chang Research Services Presbyterians are divided on whether same-sex marriage should be allowed. According to results from the February 2012 Presbyterian Panel survey more members and ruling elders are opp […]Research Services (General Assembly Mission Council)
- Cultivating leadership May 17, 2012Synods work to develop leadership in time of discontinuity May 17, 2012 Special to Presbyterian News Service Toya Richards LOUISVILLE Two synods in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are doing their best to address a burning question plaguing the denomination and greater church alike. “How are we to respond with the gospel in the 21st century when we have a ch […]Presbyterian News Service (General Assembly Mission Council)
- All in the family: a history of splits in the American Presbyterian Church May 17, 2012May 17, 2012 Special to Presbyterian News Service Frederick J. Heuser Presbyterian Historical Society PHILADELPHIA Mark Twain commented that “You never see Presbyterians ranting, shouting and tearing up the ground. You never heard of a Presbyterian going crazy on religion… You never see any of us Presbyterians getting in a sweat about religion and trying to […]Presbyterian News Service (General Assembly Mission Council)
- Evangelicals say it’s time for frank talk about sex May 17, 2012May 17, 2012 Religion News Service Adelle M. Banks WASHINGTON The statistics, some evangelicals say, can no longer be ignored. Eighty percent of young evangelicals have engaged in premarital sex, according to a new video from the National Association of Evangelicals, and almost a third of evangelicals’ unplanned pregnancies end in abortion. It’s time to spea […]Religion News Service
- Presbyterian Church of Mexico begins anniversary celebrations May 17, 2012May 17, 2012 Ecumenical News International ENInews Staff Events in honor of the 140th anniversary of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico begin May 18and will continue for the next several months. Exhibitions, lectures and roundtable discussions are planned, dealing with the history, theology and anthropology of the church, covering the time of the arr […]Ecumenical News International
SEVEN HABITS OF HEALTH-PROMOTING LEADERS
Published May 25, 2011SEVEN HABITS OF HEALTH-PROMOTING LEADERS
A Field Guide for the Mission Congregation
Rick Rouse and Craig Van Gelder
With comments by Bob Houser
1. Spiritual Grounding – tending to one’s faith and relationship with God helps one act responsibility as a missional leader. What does this say to sessions and session members that won’t take the time for worship, devotions and training at session meetings?
2. Manages Ones Own Anxiety. Healthy, Spirit-led leaders are self-aware and know their own anxiety triggers. We can’t let our own anxiety infect others. But what happens when we become so anxious that we try too hard to do too much and actually leave other out or drive them away?
3. Take positions and Stay Connected. Self-differentiation is the practice of standing up for what we believe in the face of disagreement but also without putting others down or demeaning them for taking a different position. It means we expect others to respect our point of view but at the same time respect the point of view of others.
ARE WE READY TO GIVE IT ALL UP
Published May 18, 2011We hear the stories of Jesus calling his disciples and they leave their nets to follow him. They give up everything to follow Jesus into an unknown future. We are reminded of the story of the rich young ruler that Jesus tells to give up all his wealth and then come follow him and it was more than he was ready to give. The Book of Order tells us that a faithful church is to be ready to risk its very existence to serve Christ’s Kingdom.
The question for us is “how much are we really ready to give up?” Are we willing to give up our salaries, homes, wants that we have come to call needs? Are we willing to give up what I think the church should be so it can be the church God wants it to be? Are we willing to give up being served by the church to become the servant church? Are we willing to give up doing it the way we have always done it so that God can breathe a wind of newness into the life of His church?
FIVE STRATEGIC BEHAVIORS
Published May 18, 2011Kelly Fryer suggests there are five strategic behaviors that can effect change and also enable a congregation to become the church God intends it to be. Those behaviors are: get focused, set people free, take action, expect surprises, and be hopeful.
Getting focused is about getting in touch with God’s will for your ministry. I often wonder how much time our church members spend discerning what their spiritual gifting is and being nurtured to use these gifts to build up God’s Kingdom. I also ponder how much time our sessions spend discerning what God’s calling is for the church as compared to doing business as usual.
LAOS the whole people of God
Published May 18, 2011Joe Small reminded the presbytery in 2010 that the distinction between clergy and laity is an inappropriate one. Laos means the whole people of God so clergy are also laity. We in the church have created a false distinction. In addition he reminded us that ordination set part of the laity apart for particular functions but it didn’t eliminate them from being the Laos or laity.
SEVEN TRANSFORMATIONAL KEYS
Published May 2, 2011SEVEN TRANSFORMATIONAL KEYS
A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation
Rick Rouse and Craig Van Gelder
1. Develop a Vision for God’s Mission
Congregations that have a clear vision for ministry are more likely to move forward together than those who seem to lack a common purpose.
My concern is that far too many of our congregations only have a vision for keeping the church doors open or survival. Doing things because we have always done them tends to lead to our not pulling together but each going in their own way. This is a place that “Invitation to the Journey” God’s Mission Needs a Church can have a powerful and positive impact.