What I Learned at Camp with 60 Teens
Think campfires, loud cheers, a no-cell-phone policy, crazy costume competitions, zip-lining, Jesus songs, nick names, canoeing, under-the-sun devotionals, flashlight Marco Polo in the dark, and […]
Ministry
5 Golden Chunks of Wisdom I Sifted in 2014 (from parenting, to losing a parent, to pastoring a church in a changing age)
It’s a rear-view mirror kind of week. The Christmas tree is about to go, and the New Year’s fireworks are on the verge. It makes […]
7 Things You My Not Know About The Pastor
At first, this was supposed to be funny—with things like how I have no willpower against ketchup chips or how my wife often discovers me […]
Why Is My Name on the Church Sign?
Church signs can be fun. We’ve all got the email forwards with some doozies. Friend and colleague Mark Wolfe gave an excellent sermon I heard […]
The Health of the Minister (A follow up to my talk to the General Assembly)
The health and well-being of leaders is hugely important to the vitality of congregations but it is very rarely talked about. (Pause) A few months ago […]
Stewards-by-Design
I’ve told you about the work on core values and objectives we did as the congregation I serve with spent some weeks focusing on listening. […]
20 Months of Running
Not consecutively. I’m not Forrest Gump. But it’s been 20 months since I laced up the shoes and hit the streets (again). When growing up, […]
Discernment: it’s for everybody!
This week, I have been participating as a counsellor at a discernment event for potential ministry candidates within my denomination. It truly is a privilege […]
Constancy and persistence in ministry (Reaching toward community #002)
In my first post in this series, I explored my own identity as a preacher’s kid – and the challenge this represented in terms of […]
If We Give Ourselves the Freedom
Rev. Gordon Haynes, a former associate secretary, sees an interesting future for the Presbyterian Church—if we give ourselves the freedom and nurture the creativity we’ll need to make new ministries happen.
Calvin’s Spirituality for Ordinary Life
As Presbyterians, we know John Calvin as a key influence on our doctrine and faith. How many of us can also say that we understand […]
Reading the Times?
If William Proudfoot had gotten his way, this year’s recruit of graduates from Knox and Presbyterian College would have been as proficient with crop rotations […]
A Ministry of Presence – ( Winner )
It is often absolute chaos. There is a din in the background; bowls of food are going out left and right to all the tables. […]
A Depth of Talent
We changed the process of the Rayner Award this year. In past years, I have chosen a theme on which the participants have to write. This year, we asked the participants to convert one of their academic essays into an article.
Sex, Prophets and Polity
How does the church find a balance between safeguarding the tradition and speaking with a prophetic voice? This was the question posed to me and […]
Did Paul Have an Illness?
Like me, you may be amazed how new concepts are continuously revealed to you as you pursue your relationship with God. This happened to me […]
A Persistent Little Tap
As I felt my life and ministry spiral out of control, the step to atheism was less of a precise intellectual calculation than an emotional preference.
Ministry and Ministers
As believers, we’re all called to ministry. We’re all called to enter into Christ’s work. So why go beyond that? Why have ministers? Why have elders?
Words of a Witness
Eugene Peterson’s memoir says a lot about the man who wrote The Message, but it says even more about what it means to be a pastor.
Taking Off the Robe
Retired ministers have a lot of wisdom and experience to offer the church. So why do they feel excluded at presbytery?