Episcopal Church Elects Michael Curry First Black Presiding Bishop
On Saturday, during a private meeting at St. Mark’s Cathedral in downtown Salt Lake City, bishops elected Bishop Michael Curry as the first African-American presiding bishop.
Curry, 62, spent 12 years as rector of St. James Church in Baltimore before his election as bishop of the N.C. Diocese. He and his wife, Sharon, have two grown daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth. He will succeed Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the faith’s first female presiding bishop, who completes her nine-year term Nov. 1. ... Continue Reading
The SCOTUS Decision on Marriage: Will It Change Our Ministry?
One church asks: Will anything change in our church’s ministry as a result of the Supreme Court decision on marriage? Answer: No.
Since this is such an important ruling from the Supreme Court, what should our church do differently? Nothing. We at EPC need no new strategy to minister in this cultural context. We will continue to be the people that God has already been shaping us to be: We will continue to be a church that preaches the... Continue Reading
An Appeal to Elders
When a pastor falls, there but for the grace of God goes every other Christian
“Whenever a pastor falls, one has to ask: Where were the elders? Sometimes, of course, the pastor can be good at hiding his faults; At other times, elders just turn a blind eye to peccadilloes, assuming that the pastor is a good chap and could not possibly be heading in a spiritually lethal direction.” ... Continue Reading
How To Protect Your Church Against Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Lawsuits
Since the Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage nationwide Christian churches, ministries, and schools will face serious legal challenges within very short order.
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) has teamed up with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) to produce an updated version of a resource designed to help ministries do just that—prepare. This resource is a 44-page booklet titled “Protecting Your Ministry from Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Lawsuits.” It’s a legal guide explaining how churches, Christian schools,... Continue Reading
Reflections from an AME Prayer Vigil
I mainly wish to express my profound gratitude to the loving Christians of Allen Temple AME church who so graciously and enthusiastically welcomed us
The glorious reminder that our sovereign God brings good out of evil and extends special grace in the presence of spiritual darkness. There was nothing good about the savage murders that took place in that Bible study and prayer meeting in Charleston. But how wonderful that our gracious Lord brings marvelous good even out of... Continue Reading
Anatomy of a Sick Church – 10 Symptoms to Watch
While there are many potential symptoms of a sick church, I have found ten to be consistently common.
Decline in frequency of attendance of church members. This symptom is the number one explanation for attendance decline in most churches. Members are not as committed as they once were. Their waning love for their church is reflected in their declining frequency in worship attendance. There are certain metrics and issues physicians check when... Continue Reading
How To Be a Progressive, Affirming, Accepting, Welcoming and BIBLICAL Church
We don't affirm people in their sin. We affirm them in their being made in the image of God
“Don’t get me wrong – I am sure that there are churches and professing Christians whose attitude and behaviour towards homosexuals is something they need to repent of, but I am getting tired of every Bible believing Christian being tarred with the same homophobic brush, when the evidence often suggests otherwise.” My church, St... Continue Reading
Dylann Roof And The Danger of Identity Idolatry
Dylann Roof — the Charleston gunman, the domestic terrorist — ultimately loved his ethnicity
“What hand did Satan play in Eden? He laid his regular ace: attacking identity. He tempted Eve to believe God was not who he said he is. Adam negated his identity as a male, as one who was to protect and lead; Eve wandered outside of Adam’s authority, foiling her womanhood.” Nine people are dead. Before we... Continue Reading
Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Marietta, Ga., Adopts Statement on Repentance on Race
Also included was a statement of solidarity concerning the recent Charleston tragedy
Although our church was organized in the 1980s, we must also specifically confess our own indifference and inaction towards helping our brothers and sisters in more recent times. We therefore commit ourselves to the task of truth and repentance over the next year for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Gospel. ... Continue Reading
Former Mars Hill Elder Apologizes
Sutton Turner admits to ‘sinful’ practices as he reaches out to the people he hurt
Turner said he wrote these articles—three so far—“to help other leaders like me. I pray that someone—even just one person—can be spared the consequences of his/her own mistakes by paying careful attention to mine beforehand. I also pray that my public confession of sin and admission of mistakes will further enhance opportunity for reconciliation and... Continue Reading
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 323
- 324
- 325
- 326
- 327
- …
- 554
- Next Page »