WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana — The Rev. Johan Daza’s “Here’s My Heart” story tugged at Triennium heartstrings Friday. Daza, the coordinator for cross-culture immigrant ministries for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Friday’s preacher during Triennium worship, told the story of his nephew Mateo, who desperately needed a heart transplant. Last year Daza and his family returned to Daza’s native Colombia to celebrate Mateo’s sister’s quinceañera. His nephew “knew someone had to die in order for him to live,” Daza said. “How do you pray to God for a new heart when you know someone has to die in order for you to have a better life?” During the night following his sister’s celebration, Mateo was sleeping at Daza’s childhood home when the boy’s mother called. “Wake him up!” she said. “There’s a match.” Mateo “was so happy the night of his transplant that his courage brought peace to the rest of the family,” Daza said. “Weeks later I learned that Mateo had asked God to have all … [Read more...]
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Outlook Reporting 2 days ago
A Corporation board considers issues of authority in the denomination
The board of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation finished its two-day meeting July 19 by working systematically through its business — nothing flashy on the surface, but with the details giving testimony to the ongoing efforts to sort through relations at the top levels of the denomination. The reconfigured A Corporation board – an 11-member board which now has representation from five of the six PC(USA) agencies – has been making some changes that affect its relationship to the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board. Among them: The board voted to… continue reading... -
Commentary 3 days ago
Aladdin: For such a time as this
Guest commentary by Liz Rasley The new live-action movie “Aladdin” isn’t a new story at all. It’s an old story (even older than the 1990s, if one can imagine back that far) and is based on the tale“The Arabian Nights”from the 18th century. The 2019 “Aladdin” is re-told again by Disney and fitted for the times, including an updated storyline and the addition of several compelling characters. Disney and director Guy Ritchie also revamped a bit of story to add in several scenes and characters that complete “Aladdin” with a… continue reading... -
Looking into the lectionary 3 days ago
6th Sunday after Pentecost — July 21, 2019
Amos 8:1-12; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Ordinary 16C; Proper 11 Two phrases stand out in this story of Mary and Martha: “many things” and “one thing.” Jill Duffield’s lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlook’s email list every Monday. Many of us know the story well. Martha is distracted by her many tasks. She is, after all, hosting a dinner in her home. We know that entails preparing food, tending to guests, making sure drinks are offered and refilled and perhaps tidying up quickly while no one is looking. Her… continue reading...
Parties in Stamford case had tried to expedite process in order to get a ruling on the merits of the case January 1, 1995 Uncategorized87 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 January 1, 1998 Book Reviews58 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' January 1, 1998 Book Reviews68 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.
Moving Forward Implementation Commission takes action on financial sustainability June 18, 2019 Outlook Reporting1 comment In August, the Moving Forward Implementation Commission wants to make a progress report of sorts to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at Big Tent.
And the work the commission is doing – including at a June 17-18 meeting in Texas – shows how leaders involved at the national levels of the denomination are trying to sort through complex issues that are hard to squish into a headline, but are the types of things that rise up over and over as concerns in the PC(USA).
For example: How well is the PC(USA) doing with issues of inclusion and diversity – and who’s responsible for assessing that?
How well is the...
U.S. Supreme Court denies petition to hear Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) case June 3, 2019 Outlook Reporting1 comment The United States Supreme Court has denied a petition for a stay in a defamation case involving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which means the case – brought by Eric Hoey, formerly the PC(USA)’s director of evangelism and church growth – will proceed in state court in Kentucky.
The PC(USA) had petitioned to the nation’s highest court for a stay of a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling because it’s trying to prevent Hoey’s attorney from proceeding with discovery in the case, which potentially could requ...
Court of Appeals upholds dismissal of defamation lawsuit following the 1001 New Worshipping Communities investigation August 1, 2017 Outlook Reporting1 comment A Kentucky Court of Appeals panel has upheld a state court ruling dismissing the defamation lawsuit that Roger Dermody brought against the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
In a July 28 decision, a three-judge appeals court ruled that the lower court was correct to apply the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, saying that not to do so would involve “excessive government entanglement into an ecclesiastical controversy.”
The three-judge panel upheld a 2015 summary judgment by Jefferson Circuit Judge Judith McDonald-Bu...
Triennium preacher tells the inspiring story of his nephew’s heart transplant
A Corporation board considers issues of authority in the denomination
The board of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation finished its two-day meeting July 19 by working systematically through its business — nothing flashy on the surface, but with the details giving testimony to the ongoing efforts to sort through relations at the top levels of the denomination. The reconfigured A Corporation board – an 11-member board which now has representation from five of the six PC(USA) agencies – has been making some changes that affect its relationship to the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board. Among them: The board voted to approve a measure stating that the A Corporation board has authority to hire, oversee or pay for outside lawyers to act on behalf of the PC(USA) – stating that “no other person or entity” would have that power or authority without approval from the A Corporation board. The board voted to clarify which entities have authority to create policies on behalf of the A Corporation. That action states that policies of the … [Read more...]
Triennium preacher identifies an app for each of the seven deadly sins
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana — In 1998, the last time the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell took to the Triennium stage at the Elliott Hall of Music at Purdue University, he was wearing a homemade porcupine mask. “I had just graduated from seminary and I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I decided to join the circus,” said Thursday’s Presbyterian Youth Triennium preacher. He joined a group of former missionaries talking about their experiences as Young Adult Volunteers; the group performed a scene from their traveling show during Triennium. Gambrell was feeling like Thursday’s Triennium theme, prone to wander. “The thing I cannot forget about that day,” said Gambrell, associate for worship in the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Office of Theology and Worship, “is that feeling of being lost, not knowing who I was or whose I was or what I was called to be.” What makes us prone to wander, Gambrell asked, to turn our back on those we love and to hide from God, the … [Read more...]
Aladdin: For such a time as this
Guest commentary by Liz Rasley The new live-action movie “Aladdin” isn’t a new story at all. It’s an old story (even older than the 1990s, if one can imagine back that far) and is based on the tale“The Arabian Nights”from the 18th century. The 2019 “Aladdin” is re-told again by Disney and fitted for the times, including an updated storyline and the addition of several compelling characters. Disney and director Guy Ritchie also revamped a bit of story to add in several scenes and characters that complete “Aladdin” with a fresh spin for modern audiences. While bits and parts are updated, much of the story remains the same. Lovable street urchin Aladdin (Mena Massoud), is a sort of Peter Pan in the Arabian world and steals so he and his monkey (and other poor he meets along the way) can eat. In the midst of trying to secure food for himself, Aladdin runs into Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott), who is undercover as a commoner from the royal court. Princess Jasmine sneaks out of the … [Read more...]
6th Sunday after Pentecost — July 21, 2019
Amos 8:1-12; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Ordinary 16C; Proper 11 Two phrases stand out in this story of Mary and Martha: “many things” and “one thing.” Many of us know the story well. Martha is distracted by her many tasks. She is, after all, hosting a dinner in her home. We know that entails preparing food, tending to guests, making sure drinks are offered and refilled and perhaps tidying up quickly while no one is looking. Her sister, Mary, does not participate in the many tasks at hand. Instead she sits at Jesus’ feet — another way of saying she listened to his teaching, sought to soak in the wisdom his offered, took advantage of the proximity and knowledge of this remarkable person. Martha complains to Jesus about this arrangement. Jesus chides her and commends Mary. The moral of the story resounds through the ages: Focus on Jesus, ignore the rest. But is the story really that simple, clear-cut and obvious? Perhaps. The plain reading might well be just that … [Read more...]
A Corp board meets alongside Triennium to discuss finances, agency culture (and sneak in an energizer)
While some 4,000 Presbyterian teenagers are bringing the energy to Purdue University this week at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, the board of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation is meeting at Purdue as well — taking care of the business of the church. The A Corporation board chose this location intentionally — breaking during the first afternoon of its July 18-19 meeting to worship with the young people, set aside their financial discussions and get their energizers on. Because: Who doesn’t want to see adults in khakis trying to dance? There is, however, a more serious question of how the board of the A Corporation (the corporate entity for the Presbyterian Mission Agency and the Office of the General Assembly) can build connections across the church that will benefit the denomination. For example, the board is having conversations at this meeting with representatives of both the Moving Forward Implementation Commission and the Special Committee on Per-Capita … [Read more...]
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