From the General Presbyter Going Back to the Way it Was I doubt any member of our Presbytery intends to return to “the way it was” once the pandemic is over. The time away from church, brought to you by COVID-19, has many evaluating and re-evaluating their call to ministry, their regular participation as congregation […]
September 28, 2021
From the General Presbyter Survey: What percentage of Session, Deacons, Trustees, Committee meeting time is spent a. Doing business as usual b. Innovating for tomorrow c. Future forecasting – what is emerging in church and society Next: How is this “working for you?” Next: Where do current members want time spent? What about potential new […]
August 10, 2021
From the General Presbyter It has been a joy visiting congregations again in person! Our congregations have done an excellent job with their online presence yet there is something wonderful about being together. This is where the brakes screech! I’m enjoying the last of the Olympics when I hear the mayor of Baltimore requiring masks […]
July 28, 2021
From the General Presbyter “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” Philippians 1:27 […]
April 7, 2021
From the General Presbyter I was driving behind a truck whose tag line was “growth through extraordinary customer service.” Oh, if it were only that simple. I believe many members of churches feel they are getting good “service” from the pastor, members, fellowship, music, education, etc. On the other hand, we don’t like to look […]
March 18, 2021
From the General Presbyter “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau I could really just stop there. I am sure you have heard about the shootings at the massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia. A man targeted three businesses and was on his way to Florida to […]
March 4, 2021
From the General Presbyter “Because in life, the question is not if you will have problems, but how you are going to deal with them. Stop failing backward and start failing forward!” John C. Maxwell Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success – April 1, 2007 I love this term – failing forward. Simply put, it […]
February 17, 2021
From the General Presbyter “Lest our feet, stray from the places, our God where we met Thee. Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world we forget Thee.” – Lift Every Voice and Sing, James Weldon Johnson Welcome to Lent. It could not come fast enough after these eleven months of trials and […]
October 22, 2020
From the General Presbyter My favorite marketing expert Seth Godin, in his Blog entitled “Dancing with Belief,” invites the reader to ask these five questions about any belief system we subscribe to: Is it working? Is it helpful? Is it true? Do you need it to be true? What would change your mind? I am […]
October 14, 2020
From the General Presbyter I love the Mid-Council Wednesday meetings – such good stuff comes from colleagues in the different Presbyteries. We’ve been through a tough few weeks in the life of the Presbytery as pastors are reporting conflict with congregations, vacant pulpits, illnesses and deaths. I wonder how being angry and disagreeable helps the […]
