The Presbyterian Outlook

News and Articles from the The Presbyterian Outlook

Register Login Donate Subscribe

Top Search/Contact Area

  • Be A Fan

  • Follow Us

  • Photos

  • Pin It!

    • Home
      • About us
      • Advertise with the Outlook
      • Submissions
    • Presbyterian Hub
      • Editorials
      • Outlook Features
      • Digital Issues
      • Editor’s viewpoints
      • What’s right?
      • About People
      • Calendar Check
    • News +
      Current Affairs
      • Outlook Reporting
      • Presbyterian News Service
      • Religion News Service
      • News from other sources
    • Ministry + Theology
      • InSights Opinions
      • Benedictory
      • Guest commentary
    • Faith + Culture
      • Book Reviews
      • Those with ears to hear (music reviews)
      • He/She Said
      • Movie Reviews
    • Ministry Resources
      • Outlook Standard Lessons
      • Outlook Horizons Studies
      • Looking into the lectionary
      • Bulletin Inserts
      • Webinars
      • Hymns
    • Outpost Blog
    • Classifieds
      • Classified advertising
    • Outpost Blog 1 day ago

      The mirror of love: Listening to 1 Corinthians 13

      The mirror of love: Listening to 1 Corinthians 13

      by Andrew Taylor-Troutman
    • Outlook Features 2 days ago

      Shalom Farms & UPSem: Cultivating food for life

      Shalom Farms & UPSem: Cultivating food for life

      by The Presbyterian Outlook
    • Outlook Features 3 days ago

      The core of stewardship is love

      The core of stewardship is love

      by The Presbyterian Outlook
    • Outpost Blog 3 days ago

      Letters to the church I love

      Letters to the church I love

      by The Presbyterian Outlook

    Sort By

    Date▶ Comments▶

    Most Recent Posts

    Brian Blount, president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, serves scholars across North America

    February 22, 2019

    Of Valentine’s Day, Holy Communion, gun control and potlucks: Prayer, Scripture, service and the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship

    February 22, 2019

    7th Sunday after Epiphany — February 24, 2019

    February 22, 2019

    Latest in Outlook Features:

    Shalom Farms & UPSem: Cultivating food for life

    February 20, 2019

    The core of stewardship is love

    February 19, 2019

    The dinner party

    February 8, 2019

    The Latest In: Opinions

    Of Valentine’s Day, Holy Communion, gun control and potlucks: Prayer, Scripture, service and the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship

    February 22, 2019

    The mirror of love: Listening to 1 Corinthians 13

    February 21, 2019

    Letters to the church I love

    February 19, 2019

    • Commentary 3 hours ago

      Of Valentine’s Day, Holy Communion, gun control and potlucks: Prayer, Scripture, service and the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship

      Of Valentine’s Day, Holy Communion, gun control and potlucks: Prayer, Scripture, service and the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship

      February 22, 2019
      by The Presbyterian Outlook
      Guest commentary by Brett Webb-Mitchell Spread before us on a table in Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church’s fellowship hall were 50 white paper lunch bags, embellished with displays of red, pink and sparkling hearts. Our group, Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, met on a Sunday afternoon before Valentine’s Day for a combined time of worship and a service project. Into each bag we placed a decorated pencil, a large bright eraser, chocolate candy, a small bouncing ball and other odds and ends that young students would enjoy. After we stuffed each bag… continue reading...
    • Looking into the lectionary 4 hours ago

      7th Sunday after Epiphany — February 24, 2019

      7th Sunday after Epiphany — February 24, 2019

      February 22, 2019
      by Jill Duffield
      Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Luke 6:27-38 Ordinary 7C; Proper 2 The Genesis text for this week offers an image of what Jesus instructs in Luke. Jill Duffield’s lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlook’s email list every Monday. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Pray for those who persecute us. Turn the other cheek. Be merciful. Do not judge. Do to others as we would have done to us. The list is as familiar as it is difficult. And yet, some people manage to embody these demanding, seemingly impossible instructions.… continue reading...
    • Book Reviews 1 day ago

      Miracles: God’s Presence and Power in Creation

      Miracles: God’s Presence and Power in Creation

      February 21, 2019
      by Ronald P. Byars
      Luke Timothy Johnson WJK Press, 392 pages True story: A young pastor wrote an article for the church newsletter one Easter making the point that the resurrection was the keystone of the Christian gospel. Two families declared that that was too much for them to swallow, and they hit the road. Anyone who has been on a pastoral staff knows there are others with similar sympathies who keep it to themselves. Such knowledge tempts those who preach to turn the volume down when it comes to the bolder affirmations of… continue reading...
    • Parties in Stamford case had tried to expedite process in order to get a ruling on the merits of the case by The Presbyterian Outlook January 1, 1995 Uncategorized69 views The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission -- in sidestepping the question of exactly how deeply a session should be required to probe into the private life of a gay elder who has acknowledged being in a committed, life-long relationship but has declined to say whether he is sexually active -- has put the question off but has not put it to rest.
    • Ministering with the Earth by The Presbyterian Outlook January 1, 1998 Book Reviews62 views By Mary Elizabeth MooreChalice. 1998. 226 pp. Pb. $19.99. ISBN 0-8272-2323-4   Ministering with the Earth is a quiltwork, both the on-the-ground activity and Moore's book about so ministering. Moore, professor of theology and Christian education at Claremont School of Theology, is fond of the metaphor, suitably pastoral and feminist.
    • Remembered Voice: Reclaiming the Legacy of 'Neo-Orthodoxy' by The Presbyterian Outlook January 1, 1998 Book Reviews58 views By Douglas John HallWJKP. 1998. 145 pp. Pb. $18. ISBN 0-664-25772-0  It was in this order. I first read Tillich's Dynamics of Faith. Riveting. Next came The Courage to Be. Gripping. Then I went back and read the first volume of the Systematic Theology. Things began to make sense. Next came Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality. Positive.
    • Rethinking evangelism by Bill Tammeus January 30, 2019 Faith Matters1 comment Because many people now think evangelism means fundamentalists shouting on street corners, lots of mainline Protestant churches have backed away not only from the word but, sadly, from any meaningful practice of it. Charlene Han Powell, executive pastor at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York, says she’s finally come to terms with the word and now wants to resurrect it in a way that mainliners can accept — not grudgingly, but enthusiastically. Powell spoke about this recently to my home congregation in Kansas ...
    • Moving Forward Implementation Commission gets moving by Leslie Scanlon December 17, 2018 Outlook Reporting1 comment The Moving Forward Implementation Commission held its first meeting by conference call Dec. 17 – a time of introductions and presenting preliminary thoughts about what the commission is expected to do. The 2018 General Assembly created the 12-person commission when it adopted the recommendations of the Way Forward Commission, giving the new commission the authority to take “any and all administrative actions as necessary” to implement the W...
    • All approved: Assembly approves recommendations from Way Forward, All Agency Review and report from Vision 2020 by Leslie Scanlon June 21, 2018 Outlook Reporting1 comment ST. LOUIS – With relatively little discussion and no drama, the General Assembly approved the recommendations of the Way Forward Commission and All Agency Review Committee. While some commissioners struggled to understand the complexity of the proposals, those who have wrangled with these issues for months – and there’s been no shortage of drama there – have said they involve issues of power, control, accountability and trust. The changes the assembly approved June 21 by a vote of 474-47 will mean governance of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation – a secular corporation the church uses to ha...

    Brian Blount, president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, serves scholars across North America

    February 22, 2019 by Presbyterian News Service Leave a Comment

    (PNS) The Rev. Dr. Brian Blount, the president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, has been a major influencer of theological education in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and beyond. In addition to leading Union’s two campuses in Richmond, Va. and Charlotte, N.C., Blount served until the end of last year as president of the Society of Biblical Literature  and continues as president of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), an accrediting commission for more than 270 graduate theological schools in the United States and Canada. “One of the great gifts of being president at Union is that I get to pastor an academic community with all kinds of broader church connections,” he said. Blount is also vice-chair of the Committee on Theological Education (COTE), which is helping build connections between the General Assembly and PC(USA) seminaries. By asking questions of how each party can support the other’s work, he has been able to share with seminaries items of utmost … [Read more...]

    Presbyterian News Service

    Of Valentine’s Day, Holy Communion, gun control and potlucks: Prayer, Scripture, service and the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship

    February 22, 2019 by The Presbyterian Outlook Leave a Comment

    Guest commentary by Brett Webb-Mitchell Spread before us on a table in Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church’s fellowship hall were 50 white paper lunch bags, embellished with displays of red, pink and sparkling hearts. Our group, Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, met on a Sunday afternoon before Valentine’s Day for a combined time of worship and a service project. Into each bag we placed a decorated pencil, a large bright eraser, chocolate candy, a small bouncing ball and other odds and ends that young students would enjoy. After we stuffed each bag with fun materials, on red paper hearts pasted on white doilies we hand-wrote “Happy Valentine’s Day!” and placed one card into each bag. The festive bags went to students at Markham Elementary in Portland, Oregon, a school with children from many different races, ethnicities and nationalities. This was our way of letting the children know that they are loved. Weeks later, we heard from one of the school volunteers that the … [Read more...]

    Commentary

    7th Sunday after Epiphany — February 24, 2019

    February 22, 2019 by Jill Duffield Leave a Comment

    Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Luke 6:27-38 Ordinary 7C; Proper 2 The Genesis text for this week offers an image of what Jesus instructs in Luke. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Pray for those who persecute us. Turn the other cheek. Be merciful. Do not judge. Do to others as we would have done to us. The list is as familiar as it is difficult. And yet, some people manage to embody these demanding, seemingly impossible instructions. Joseph does. Joseph asks first about his father, but his brothers remain so stunned they cannot speak. Joseph tells the very ones who threw him in a pit and left him for dead, “Come closer to me.” Surely, they imagine this proximity will bring retribution, but instead Joseph tells them, “Don’t be distressed or angry with yourselves.” He attributes their sinister behavior to divine providence, as life preserving in the midst of death. He assures the brothers who betrayed him that he will save them, their families, their flocks. He kisses them, weeps … [Read more...]

    Looking into the lectionary

    Pope demands ‘concrete’ response to abuse crisis at Vatican summit

    February 21, 2019 by Religion News Service Leave a Comment

    VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis on Thursday (Feb. 21) opened a highly anticipated four-day meeting on his church’s ongoing sex abuse crisis by calling on the assembled bishops and other Catholic leaders to “hear the cry of the little ones who plead for justice” and be “concrete.” “The holy People of God look to us, and expect from us not simple and predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken. We need to be concrete,” Francis said. But as the day wore on and the nearly 200 clerics debated ways to respond to the crisis, it became less clear which “concrete” responses can be agreed upon by a global church rattled by multiple scandals, or whether they will satisfy abuse victims. Francis opened the conference the featured episcopal presidents of the more than 150 nations by distributing 21 “reflection points” for consideration by church leaders. The recommendations included preparing a handbook for local churches to follow in abuse cases, … [Read more...]

    Religion News Service

    Church of England’s synod takes on Brexit divisions as zero hour approaches

    February 21, 2019 by Religion News Service Leave a Comment

    LONDON (RNS) — The Church of England’s most senior leaders are expected to rebuke Britain’s political leaders over their handling of Brexit at the church’s General Synod this week. In a special motion at synod, just weeks before the Brexit deadline, the archbishops of Canterbury and York will urge politicians to do more to heal divisions in society. The motion, put forward by Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, and John Sentamu, archbishop of York, says that “social divisions feel more entrenched and intractable than for many years.” It also refers to “the divisions within the major political parties which are stifling the emergence of a hopeful and viable visions for the common good in our communities.” Although the motion does not explicitly mention Brexit, it says that “the nation’s leaders must work together for the common good at this time of division” and that the Christian commitment “to putting the voices of the poor and marginalized at the heart of the nation’s … [Read more...]

    Religion News Service

    PC(USA) leaders advocate for change for migrant families

    February 21, 2019 by Presbyterian News Service Leave a Comment

    “... You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. [God’s] using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what [God] is building. ...” Ephesians 2:19–22 (MSG) Christ calls the church to strive for an existence where there are no exiles and everyone has a space in God’s home. The president of the United States declared a state of emergency at our southern border. What he calls a national security crisis, a use of our laws, is vastly different from the reality of those living on the border and those waiting in Mexico to seek asylum and protection in the United States. Every nation has a right to protect its borders but that does not excuse us from our international obligation to those seeking safety. We as church are called to do better, to be better. With the reconciling peace of Christ, we can be guided in … [Read more...]

    Presbyterian News Service

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • …
    • 2581
    • Next Page »

    Current Issue

    • February 11, 2019
    • January 21, 2019
    • January 7, 2019
    • December 17, 2018
    • Subscribe
    • Give a Gift
    • Read Online
    • Most Commented
    • Most Popular
    • PC(USA), A Corporation: Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask Confused, confused, confused. So many say they are confused by the octopus-like discussions involving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) corporate structure. (Others...
    • Vision before structure: Presbyterian Mission Agency Board scrutinizes recommendations from other groups CINCINNATI – The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board is considering asking the 2018 General Assembly to take the next two years...
    • Presbyterian leaders clarify what’s at stake in debates over restructuring LOUISVILLE – While no blazing agreement was reached, participants in an April 8-9 conversation regarding the corporate structure of the...
    • Prayer for Pittsburgh Lord, we know your power, your promises and your presence, but on days like today when your chosen people are...
    • 2018 GA bulletin inserts What happened at the 223rd General Assembly? Post-GA bulletin inserts What will they hear? Who will tell them? Give your church members...
    • 2017 PC(USA) membership statistics released The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) continues to lose members — with a decline of 67,714 members and the loss of 147...

    Keep the Faith

    Sign Up for Updates and Breaking News in your inbox

    Facebook

    Tweets by presoutlook
    Follow Us

    News from Other Sources ▼

    Brian Blount, president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, serves scholars across North America

    Presbyterian News Service February 22, 2019

    (PNS) The Rev. Dr. Brian Blount, the president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, has been a major influencer of theological education in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and beyond. In addition to leading Union’s …

    Pope demands ‘concrete’ response to abuse crisis at Vatican summit

    Religion News Service February 21, 2019

    VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis on Thursday (Feb. 21) opened a highly anticipated four-day meeting on his church’s ongoing sex abuse crisis by calling on the assembled bishops and other Catholic leaders to “hear the …

    Church of England’s synod takes on Brexit divisions as zero hour approaches

    Religion News Service February 21, 2019

    LONDON (RNS) — The Church of England’s most senior leaders are expected to rebuke Britain’s political leaders over their handling of Brexit at the church’s General Synod this week. In a special motion at synod, just …

    PC(USA) leaders advocate for change for migrant families

    Presbyterian News Service February 21, 2019

    “... You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a …

    Presbyterian churches commemorate SDOP Sunday April 7

    Presbyterian News Service February 21, 2019

    (PNS) Each year, on a Sunday during Lent, Presbyterian churches across the denomination turn their attention to people and communities in need — and take a day to celebrate the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian …

    Ahead of St. Louis meeting, one United Methodist offers prayers along the way

    Religion News Service February 21, 2019

    (RNS) — For many United Methodists, the road to St. Louis is paved with anxiety. Will a special session beginning Saturday (Feb. 23) — considered the most consequential in the denomination’s history — find common …

    Outlook Offers & Happenings

    Hymns for Lent and Easter — Year C (2019)

    Hymns, Outlook Offers & Happenings Home Page

    New hymns for Lent, Holy Week and Easter by Presbyterian hymn-writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette …

    Lenten devotions — Year C (2019)

    Bulletin Inserts, Outlook Offers & Happenings Home Page

    Theologically sound, inspiring and affordable Lent devotions for your bulletins The 40-day Lenten …

    Healing the Wounds of Privilege (webinar)

    Outlook Offers & Happenings Home Page, Webinars

    90-minute Outlook webinar Recorded January 15, 2019 Presented by Amy Julia Becker On-demand video …

    Advent devotions – Year C (2018)

    Bulletin Inserts, Outlook Offers & Happenings Home Page

    Are you looking for theologically sound, inspiring and affordable Advent devotions for the …

    More Stories▼

    • Outpost Blog 4 days ago

      A love letter to the church of welcome and justice

      A love letter to the church of welcome and justice

      by Joanna Hipp
      This month, we invited our bloggers to write a “love letter” to the church.  Here are their letters. Dear church, You aren’t perfect, but that is also why I love you. This is what gives me hope for the future: While we aren’t perfect, we are constantly changing, learning and growing. We are indeed Reformed and always reforming. We come from a history of exclusion, and now we are naming the sins and evils of the world and in our communities: racism, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and…
    • What's right? 4 days ago

      What’s right about Wizard’s Wardrobe in Albany, New York?

      What’s right about Wizard’s Wardrobe in Albany, New York?

      by The Presbyterian Outlook
      Seven years ago, after a year-long discernment process, a number of us started tutoring at a nearby public school. Within a year, First Presbyterian Church and Giffen Memorial Elementary School formed a partnership that extended past tutoring. We helped build playground equipment, repaired instruments and organized a special day that brought several authors and illustrators each spring to do small presentations and sign books that the children received for free. However, we always wanted to do more. About two years ago, we formed a not-for-profit, free, after-school tutoring program. The…
    • Outlook Reporting 5 days ago

      J. Herbert Nelson encourages 2020 Vision Team to dream “a vision that is commensurate with our faith”

      J. Herbert Nelson encourages 2020 Vision Team to dream “a vision that is commensurate with our faith”

      by Leslie Scanlon
      LOUISVILLE – J. Hebert Nelson, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), gave some advice Feb. 17 to the 2020 Vision Team. J. Herbert Nelson “Take off the brakes,” Nelson told the vision team, which is meeting in Louisville Feb. 16-18. “Say it again,” responded team member DèAnn Cunningham, a ruling elder from Charlotte. “Say it again, say it one more time.” Nelson did. “Take off the brakes,” he exhorted – advising the vision team to worry less about pleasing Presbyterians and more about casting a sense of possibility for…
    • Outlook Reporting 6 days ago

      2020 Vision Team hopes to lead Presbyterians in redemptive, transformative change

      2020 Vision Team hopes to lead Presbyterians in redemptive, transformative change

      by Leslie Scanlon
      LOUISVILLE – How can the 2020 Vision Team lead the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in living into the future – into a redemptive, transformative type of change? The 2020 Vision Team – which has some new members – posed for a group picture at its Louisville meeting. That’s at the heart of what the Vision Team is discussing during its Feb. 16-18 meeting in Louisville, in which the team is also considering potential revisions to its draft guiding statement (most likely smaller adjustments rather than wholesale changes), and how it could provide additional…

    View Stories From

    • Presbyterian Hub
      • Editorials
      • Outlook Features
      • Digital Issues
      • Calendar Check
      • About People
        • Anniversaries
        • Ordinations
        • Retired
        • Deaths
        • Transitions
      • Archives
    • Faith + Culture
      • Book Reviews
      • Movie Reviews
      • He/She Said
    • Ministry + Theology
      • InSights Opinions
        • For Church Leaders
        • Faith Matters
        • Multichannel Church Report
        • #amen
        • Commentary
        • Benedictory
      • Liturgical Year
        • Advent
        • Lent

    The Latest:

    Brian Blount, president of Union Presbyterian Seminary, serves scholars across North America

    February 22, 2019

    Of Valentine’s Day, Holy Communion, gun control and potlucks: Prayer, Scripture, service and the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship

    February 22, 2019

    7th Sunday after Epiphany — February 24, 2019

    February 22, 2019

  • Tweet With Us
  • Be A Facebook Fan
  • Our World in Photos
  • Pin With Us
  • CONTACT US:

    1 N. 5th St., Suite 500

    Richmond, VA 23219

    T: 800-446-6008F: 804-353-6369

    info@pres-outlook.org

    Or ▶ Fill Out Our Contact Form

    © Copyright 2019 The Presbyterian Outlook. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement. Website Design by Poka Yoke Design

    • About us
    • Presbyterian Hub
    • Ministry Resources
    • Classifieds
    • Advertise with the Outlook
    • Submissions
    7ads6x98y