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Reflections on Kenya & Uganda: Travel as Withdrawal

Leave a Comment / Kenya & Uganda, People, Personal, Theological Reflection, Uncategorized / By /

Yesterday, I made the observation that travel is a sort of incarnation. In our case, a seventeen-day adventure in Kenya and Uganda included a ministry of presence with impoverished children at risk, new small-business owners, school teachers and pastors. Just being there brought a message: “We see you. We know you are here. There are people praying for you. We support your work for the Kingdom of God in this place. God knows what you are doing here with so little, and he will provide for you.” Over the years, we have discovered our best vacation memories revolve around encounters […]

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Response to Ed Koster’s Recent Article

Leave a Comment / GAPJC Decisions, Parnell v. San Francisco, PCUSA, Uncategorized / By /

I’m not sure why Ed Koster is still responding to PCUSA remedial cases that were completed over a year ago, but since he mentions one case I spent about three years on, I will comment on the points he makes in his recent Outlook article. The PCUSA faces a problem of discontinuity that is messy in its consequences: Any particular presbytery ordains for the whole church, based solely on the local governing body’s discretion. This scenario works if the presbytery reflects the doctrine represented in our Confessions, which have been agreed to by the body as our means of interpreting

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The Women’s Question in Paul’s First Letter to Timothy

2 Comments / Teaching, Uncategorized, Women in Ministry / By /

In his first letter to protégé Timothy, the Apostle Paul addresses a pastoral problem with advice and counsel. The statements he makes about women and ministry (1 Tim 2:8-15) are problematic in our twenty-first century context, but here they are in my own translation from the Greek:  8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath or dispute. 9In the same way also, women to adorn themselves in respectable garb with modesty and discretion, not in elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, 10 but that which is proper for

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Steps Toward Developing a Marriage Curriculum—Part II

12 Comments / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), Marriage Definition, PCUSA, Teaching, Uncategorized / By /

To give you an idea of where I am headed in the next few posts, let me outline the general plan for how to develop a curriculum on any topic. The foundational work of such a plan is important, because it sets the direction for the whole project. It reveals the starting point for discussion, and offers the measure for success at the end. As you read through this outline, think about its application for a course on marriage in your church. 1. Set the overall learning goal for the course. This is the “big picture” statement of what one

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Who Reads My Blog? A WordPress Report

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The WordPress.com stats keepers prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 27,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 10 sold-out performances for that many people to see it. Click here to see the complete report.

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Forget Football and Politics! GA Is Around the Corner

Leave a Comment / 2012th General Assembly (Pittsburgh), Current Events, PCUSA, Uncategorized / By /

While the rest of American culture is fixated on football trophies and political primaries, Presbyterians are ramping up to the PCUSA’s early July eight-day General Assembly (GA). This year, the Assembly will be held in Pittsburgh, PA. I have a personal interest in preparations for GA, since my name has been entered in nomination as a commissioner from San Francisco Presbytery (TBD January 31). Whether I am elected or not, I will be attending the Assembly, because that is what I do every even-year summer. Business is starting to appear on PC-BIZ, and so far, seventeen overtures have been registered

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Priorities

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Friends, sermon writing must take priority today—which is going to be tricky even without getting up at 4 to write for you. Jacob has me wrestling with the Genesis 32 text . . . and because of travel to be with family for the holiday and an inconsistent internet connection, I’ve decided to take a week off from blogging and return to you Monday, November 28. In the meantime, consider the life-giving priorities the apostle Paul put before Christ-followers:  gratitude and glory to God, from Romans 1:21. Is this not the season to ponder anew the blessings God has heaped

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Back Tomorrow

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It was one of those days where “life happened.” Some serious pastoral care emergencies came up yesterday, putting me behind schedule; and a long evening meeting last night took my last writing period away. So I’ll pick up where I left off in a day.  Meanwhile, I continue to be encouraged/energized by your comments, including a verbal one that my posts are getting a little long!  So I’ll try to go back to my “between 600 and 800 words” rule . . . Blessings on your ministries. Stay faithful and true to our Lord, and serve with gladness, to God’s

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Back Tomorrow

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The post I was hoping to publish today turned out to be a bunny trail . . . it happens sometimes: you think you’ve got an idea and then it takes longer to develop or doesn’t end up being helpful. My Tuesday night/Wednesday morning teaching schedule limits the time I have to backtrack and try another angle. So, in honor of my dear readers and their precious time, no post today!

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The Quest for Doctrinal Purity

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In the current climate of the PCUSA, sadly, some conservative church members approach their pastors with the news that they are leaving for someplace where they can feel more at home theologically. They may not put it in quite those words, but they express dismay over the church’s apparent departure from biblical norms (referring to the outcomes of adoption of Amendment 10-A, the new Form of Government, and the August judicial commission ruling confirming changes in ordination standards). Their resolution of the personal, internal dissonance these actions cause is to search for a church home that is untainted by questionable

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