Archives

40 Days And 40 Bytes

“Today we are awash in computerized Bible games, pastoral care software, and church management systems with members’ personal information and giving records,” observe authors Spiegel, Armstrong, and Bill, but “too often we blindly accept and use technology without asking the big questions. Questions like, is it appropriate to our mission and ministry?” 40 Days and […]

A Church Of The Word And Sacrament

Since the reformation, “Word and Sacrament” have been identifying marks of the church.  What happens to the church when sacraments are marginalized and word is relativized?  This essay, originally presented as an address to an international reformed consultation, calls for a church in which Word and Sacrament are present in fullness.

A Generous Orthodoxy

A confession and manifesto from a senior leader in the emerging church movement, A Generous Orthodoxy calls for a radical, Christ-centered orthodoxy of faith and practice in a missional, generous spirit. Brian McLaren argues for a post-liberal, post-conservative, post-protestant convergence, which will stimulate lively interest and global conversation among thoughtful Christians from all traditions. In a sweeping […]

Becoming A Blessed Church

Pastor and author N. Graham Standish describes how a church that is open to God’s purpose, presence, and power can claim God’s blessing. Standish shares the story of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, and its journey to become a spiritually deep congregation, one that is inwardly and outwardly healthy: spiritually, psychologically, physically, and relationally. […]

Choosing Church

Widely known theological educator and sociologist Carol Lytch presents this well-researched study of what attracts teenagers to the church and what keeps them there. The cogent research includes interviews of a number of teenagers and their parents from mainline Protestant, evangelical, and Roman Catholic congregations. Groundbreaking and fascinating, Choosing Church ulitmately serves as a highly […]

Definitive Guidance

Using the statements from the 1977, 1978, and 1979 General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., this ten-session study guide seeks to help Presbyterians understand the denomination’s position on homosexuality and the role that ‘definitive guidance’ plays in policy decisions about this issue. Included is […]

Designing Worship Together

Much more than a “how-to” for worship planners. Drawing on more than two decades of collaborative worship planning, as well as numerous conversations with other worship planners. Pastor Howard Vanderwell and musician Norma de Waal Malefyt lay out a thoughtful, field-tested process for planning, implementing, and evaluating life-enriching weekly worship. Well over a dozen field-tested […]

Gathered Before God

What is the central purpose of the church today? How can churches experience renewal through worship? In Gathered before God, Jane Rogers Vann answers these important questions by studying ten vibrant small, medium, and large churches. Her findings, she argues, show that worship is the most important thing churches do and is vital to the renewal […]

Iraq: Our Responsibility and the Future

This report will determine procedures and program for the ministry divisions and staff of the General Assembly and its Council. It is recommended for consideration and study by other governing bodies (sessions, presbyteries, and synods). This report is commended to the free Christian conscience of all congregations and the members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) […]