Encouraging, challenging and equipping congregations to thrive spiritually and be apostles for reconciliation
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 […]
Choose Insanity In 2017 Howard County Maryland mailed out bumper stickers that read “Choose Civility,” as a response to behaviors emerging across the country. The other day, I saw one that read “Choose Insanity!” After I nearly wrecked my car laughing, I thought about the deep social and theological significance of these words and would […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
From the General Presbyter “But I, brothers and sisters, I could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it.” 1 Corinthians 3: 1-2a Guidance on Regathering for the Summer There is so […]
From the General Presbyter “Russia is escalating!” “Another mass shooting!” “Members of Congress embrace Q-Anon.” “Another Black man shot by police!” “Asian hate crimes on the rise.” “When are we going to open our church?” “I don’t want the vaccine.” “Glaciers melting at a rapid rate.” ”New variants arrive in the US.” ”Supreme Court sides […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
