Going on retreat, a practice modeled by Jesus himself (Mark 6:45–46), has long been a cornerstone of Christian faith formation. A retreat provides an intentional time apart to experience a new awareness of the presence of God. It encourages an unhurried pace conducive to rest and relaxation, which allows one to return to daily life renewed for the high call of discipleship. Retreats are great for youth, families, and adult groups, as well as for organizations and sessions.
A good retreat is well organized. This retreat planner guide from Menucha Conference Center near Portland, Oregon can be adapted for use …
by H. Michael Brewer
Men of the Church in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) provides 13 bible studies to aid congregations in this area of ministry. Each study is inspired by a book of the Bible and includes seven sessions for open discussion.
At the invitation of the six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), thirty leaders from across the PC(USA) gathered in Dallas, Texas, on February 9-11, 2011, for a conversation about leadership for the church in the 21st century. Here are the fruits of their conversation.
This Final Report of the Independent Abuse Review Panel (IARP) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) summarizes fact-finding inquiries conducted since 2004 into reports of past physical and sexual abuse on Presbyterian mission fields.
The Final Report, then, mirrors the past 7 years in all of these ways. The pages that follow form a whole that is complex, and nuanced, with interlocking components. It requires a careful reading of the whole in order to appreciate the full context of the parts.
-Past, Present and Future
-What happened then and what to do now
-Who is responsible for what
The Final Report …
A feature story profiling the unique experience of each of four first call seekers. Committees on Preparation for Ministry and others will find this piece useful in initiating conversations on the church’s responsibilities and opportunities in responding to the challenges of first call seekers.
This is a U.S. Christian response to the outpouring of hope that has challenged dictatorships in the Middle East, Africa, and several Asian countries. Along with hope, there has also been rage at injustice, sometimes misdirected, and desire for better material life. Each country has its own particularities, and our partners within these countries differ by age and institutional perspective, with younger Arab Christians often expressing more optimism. Overall this movement has changed assumptions about Arab and Muslim religion and politics, and called into question foreign policies that have too often enabled authoritarian leaders or accommodated oligarchies. The church’s traditional …
A sermon by the Rev. Dr. Patricia Ramsden
Freedom of conscience, as we use it in the life of the church, is the right to disagree with a position of a council or councils of the church. It is derived directly from this principle that ‘God alone is Lord of the conscience’ and that our consciences are thus bound to nothing other than Scripture. Freedom of conscience is extended only to individuals and not to councils of the church and G-2.0105 of the Book of Order delineates specific limits on the freedom of conscience for those who serve in ordered ministries.
Frequently asked questions about “The Trinity: God’s Love Overflowing” by the Office of Theology and Worship – Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).