Fear and Passion
I think we need to accept that what we do—if we’re going to do something new—might look very strange to other people. It might even look strange to people within our home tribe.
I think we need to accept that what we do—if we’re going to do something new—might look very strange to other people. It might even look strange to people within our home tribe.
What does it look like for a church to be on the edge of new possibilities? Well, a church on the edge of new possibilities can look like a church being present at the border of its comfort zone.
To a lot of elders, being on the edge means ensuring the survival of the congregations. It means keeping the church building open in the face of declining attendance, significantly aging congregations and financial pressures. It doesn’t directly mean, in their minds, finding new ways to engage God’s mission in the world. So I think first of all, that is the challenge.
When we talk about renewal we find ourselves talking about finding more people for our teams and more people for our pews and more money for our budget. And we start to become discouraged that that’s what renewal has become in our lives.
As congregations, are we praying? Are we being transparent with each other? Are we letting down the walls to make ourselves vulnerable, to allow us to really share our faith? As leaders of the church, are you challenging your congregations to grow in faith?
Lay-administered communion officially becomes church law; Urging prayer for Nigeria and Syria; LMA asked to focus on congregations
The General Assembly agreed to lift a ban preventing a gay United Church minister from preaching as a guest in Presbyterian churches.
A recommendation from the International Affairs committee created prolonged debate as the General Assembly wrestled with how to articulate its stance on Christian Zionism and Israel-Palestine.
Assembly not interested in changing commissioner ratio; Ecumenical and Shared Ministries Handbook should include more denominations; Fund to assist ministers in “urgent” need of donations; International affairs committee looks into mining; Commissioners debate climate change; National Museum seeks $50 from churches
The Assembly after much discussion yesterday decided we will try a new format for meeting next year. The Assembly will meet between Friday and Monday instead of the traditional Sunday to Thursday dates.
Can I just say this has been a very enlightening week. There are so many things that go on during General Assembly. Until you actually […]
To start with, the idea of spending five and a half hours in sederunts on my birthday was not my first choice for how to […]
This year is my first time being part of the general assembly. I am what is called a YAR, or young adult representative. Being in […]
As Rev. Dr. Paul McLean stood at the front of the hall holding a copy of the Bible he helped to translate, he was met with a standing ovation.
I think of an example of one bird with two wings, one is mission one is education. This is important, I think, for one bird to have two wings. If mission and education are together moving, they can fly!
First time here at The Presbyterian General Assembly 2012 being a YAR (young adult representative) . Its been such an amazing experience so far and […]
I think it’s amazing that we can have such a diverse representation of our church in one place to discuss important issues. I arrived with […]
When I was first asked to be one of the YARs at the General Assembly, I wasn’t sure what I was suppose to expect and […]
How many of you know about the Norman M. Paterson Fund Fund for Ministerial Assistance?
Tuesday morning my brother in Christ, the Rev. Dr. Paul McLean was recognized for his team’s work in translating the Bible into Hakka. For those […]