Whither the PCA at 40: Anyone for a Janus Birthday in December?
This week a young denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, will celebrate its 40th birthday
It is no accident that the PCA’s formative meeting was on December 7, 1973, the anniversary of the founding of the Southern Presbyterian denomination in 1861. This letter is as clear a herald as we have of the basic values of the birth of the PCA, often summarized as “True to the Scriptures, the Reformed... Continue Reading
Why Do Pastors Get a Housing Allowance?
It would be unreasonable to tax parsonages as income, and it would be showing favoritism to limit the housing allowance to only parsonages
I think the housing allowance exemption for pastors is a good idea and should be maintained (but obviously I have a dog in this fight). The less the government regulates the inner workings of churches the better. If it is allowed to stand, the ruling that invalidated the housing allowance exemption for pastors will have... Continue Reading
Brookdale Chooses Path of Disaffiliation to Join EPC
Missouri church seeks to leave PC (USA) for EPC
The issues that brought about Brookdale’s decision to leave the denomination revolved around the PCUSA’s reluctance to proclaim the Bible as the Word of God and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A Missouri congregation has disaffiliated from the Presbyterian Church (USA), though it is unclear whether there could be legal repercussions from the... Continue Reading
Very Sick Churches
What are some of the indicators that a church is very sick?
Significant numerical decline over the past ten to twenty years….Prolonged times of apathy….The church is not known in the community. Ask a clerk at a store in the community. You may be surprised how few even know the church exists….New members are rare. The exodus clearly exceeds the inflow…..Revolving door of pastors. Frustration and conflict... Continue Reading
PCUSA Presbytery Finds Teaching Elder Not Guilty of Violating Ordination Vows Following His Same-Gender Wedding
Presbyterian Church USA minister found not guilty by his Presbytery of violating his ordination vows for marrying his same-gender partner
“…Bill and I were wed a third time. This time it was a legal marriage, recognized by the state of Connecticut and officiated by two faithful Christian ministers. And it was Presbyterian. The liturgy was Presbyterian. The witnesses were Presbyterian. The two grooms were Presbyterian (Bill became a new member and deacon of our church... Continue Reading
Court Strikes Clergy Tax-Free Housing Allowances
Family Research Council called the judgment "supreme arrogance."
However, Anthony Bradley, associate professor of theology at The King’s College in New York City and a research fellow at the Acton Institute, said he is “highly in favor of” striking this down in the 1954 legislation. “I know lots of guys pulling six figures as pastors who benefit hugely from this, then, there are... Continue Reading
Church Trial Shines Spotlight on Denomination’s Ambivalence
The United Methodist Church’s ambivalence over homosexuality was front and center at the recent trial
Meanwhile, challenges to gay policies have become increasingly public and vehement in recent months. Tuesday night, United Methodist clergy said they will officiate at same-sex weddings on Schaefer’s behalf. Schaefer, pastor of Zion United Methodist Church of Iona in Lebanon, Pa., was found guilty on two charges for presiding at his son’s 2007 wedding to another... Continue Reading
The Denominational Imperative
Understanding the phenomenon of the development of atheist mega-churches
Every community of value, religious or otherwise, becomes a denomination in America. Atheists, as they want public recognition, begin to exhibit the characteristics of a religious denomination: They form national organizations, they hold conferences, they establish local branches (“churches”, in common parlance) which hold Sunday morning services—and they want to have atheist chaplains in universities and... Continue Reading
OPC Northwest Presbytery Sends Overture to the 81st General Assembly on Doctrine of Republication
Report: there is doctrinal confusion over the doctrine of Republication
The majority of writers in the Reformed tradition teach that the same moral law given to Adam was “republished” or “re-proclaimed” by Moses at Mt. Sinai. The moral law of God is unchanging and always demands perfect obedience. Since the fall, no man is able to perfectly obey God’s moral law and, as the Augustinian-Reformed... Continue Reading
Three Ways the Church Can Take Better Care of Their Pastors
When a pastor loses his job, for whatever reason, the church often does a terrible job in taking care of the man and his family
Please realize that being a pastor is the only job in America where if a man’s marriage falls apart, he not only loses his family, but his career as well. I know some elders and deacons would say: “Yes, but he deserves to starve.” Really? What about mercy and grace? What about his family? They... Continue Reading
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