Calling Christians and churches to continue, if not expand, their support for the Boy Scouts of America should it lift the ban
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After the General Assembly 219th in 2010 lifted the ban on the ordination of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals, the leadership at my past church thought it might be a good idea to host a couple of evening classes to
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Address at the Presbyterian Voices for Justice (formerly Voices of Sophia) Breakfast 220th General Assembly, PCUSA July 3, 2012 Pittsburgh, PA This article was originally published on the Presbyterian Voices for Justice (PV4J) website. I’m overwhelmed by the honor of speaking to you this morning, in the company of the
MoreSplit Votes and Shared Ethos at the General Assembly The following sermon was preached by Andrew William Smith, ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church in Cookeville, TN, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Southfield, MI, on Sunday, June 22, 2014, the day after the General Assembly and the day of a
MoreA Sermon Reflecting on the 221st General Assembly Sermon preached Sunday, June 22, 2014 at Ogelthorpe Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA Sermon Text: Matthew 10:24-39 My friends, I bring you greetings from the 221st meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Presbyterians from across the country gathered
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This article was originally featured in Believe Out Loud. This past week, I have sat at the Table. Not just any table, but the Table of Christ, around which I have gathered since I was a child. This week, however, the Table looked different than I have ever imagined. It
MoreThe Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will soon make headlines, one way or another. The decisions we make at our 221st General Assembly will be reported across national media outlets through words loosely connected to what we actually experience together as a denominational family. (Prayers for you, reporters!) Amongst other decisions—some of
MoreMarriage in the PC(USA) That’s my daughter there, with the rainbow face paint and the “Love who you are” sign. We were downtown in Richmond, VA, standing with same-sex couples who have asked Virginia to recognize their marriages. Ours is one of the states that currently ban same-sex marriage. Last
MoreAs a Christian theologian, I support marriage equality because I take the Bible seriously. More importantly, I take the God of the Bible seriously. The God I worship has a divine passion for justice that compels me to respect all neighbors and defend their human rights, including the freedom to
MoreA look at the cultural and religious experiences that have shaped young adults and their desires for the church Article shared from Presbyterians Today Illustrations by Abby King-Kaiser Right now, in many congregations across America, a similar conversation is taking place—after worship over coffee, among pastors and staff, during women
MoreWhen I was in seminary, a guest speaker came to one of my classes to talk about vocation. He said, “In one sentence, write down what kind of ministry you want to do.” I stared blankly at my paper. I want to do more than a sentence worth of ministry,
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In 2010, I decided to embark on a major life transition. I left my comfortable, full-time job, gave up my car, and moved. Why, you might be wondering? What adventure could I have possibly signed up for? Where would I be going? Someplace exotic and exciting, right? Well, sort of.
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