Reader Responses
| Results 1 - 30 of 683 | Page 1 of 23 |
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Article : Vision of a generation
Reader Response : Seminarian Nick Ison laments the absence of service work in the curriculum at Princeton Seminary (and in other seminaries as well). He sees this as a problem caused by a lack of “unified vision” on the part of students and faculty, and notes that “most colleges and now even high schools require some service work.” But in his disenchantment over this supposed missing part of seminary, it seems Nick has missed all of the mission organizat... ...Read Full Response
Response By : jana blazek - Dubuque , IA - April 10, 2013
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Article : Editor’s Outlook: NEXTChurch in PJs
Reader Response : Really looking forward to the NEXTChurch blog. So glad that the Outlook is helping fill this need in the movement. Very fitting. Also wanted to say that as a full-on Myers Briggs EXtrovert, who's age-induced wisdom is helping me learn the value of "gray" in an increasingly black & white world, I believe that the polar differences we find among each other are part the mystery of God's creation. They are part of who God created us to be, and on... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Julie Lehman - Asheville , NC - April 5, 2013
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Article : Editor’s Outlook: NEXTChurch in PJs
Reader Response : As an ESTJ working in a P world one aspect of J's is their greater adaptability to ambiguity and "messiness" of life as opposed to the structure and order J's tend to appreciate. As I am sure we J's tend more to react more to the relative chaos and dysfunction of the PCUSA than P's who at times embrace the chaos. Though if the Next folks tend to taylor themselves to the Gen Y crowd (born 1983-2000) the defining feature of this generation is a... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - April 4, 2013
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Reader Response : In the great divorce of liberal and pietist streams of american protestantism since 1933, the fault lines are indeed political and ideological. But at the center is a matter of Christology or Christological. In essence WWJD. The whole cloth the naked, feed the hungry can be read by both sides in totally different ways. Was feeding the hungry, cloth the naked a matter of simple human compassion, a no-brainer, a biblical imperative, a politi... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - April 1, 2013
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Reader Response : Since the 1960s the liberal/progressive protestant establishment has confused ideology/politics with mission/evangelism and public witness. Thinking the former a cheep substitute for the latter. I am sure the church in question is wealthy enough with progressive minded folks from the research triangle to make their own informed decisions on how and where to spend their money. Its not my money. But make no mistake whatever message they chos... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 31, 2013
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Article : Belhar redux
Reader Response : Glad to see another effort to bring Belhar into the life of the church - it's a confession needed as we look into the 21st Century. Things are changing dramatically all around the world - from a Global South Pope to the remarkable transformation of evangelical youth who are adopting a keen sense of biblical justice. Those who wrote the Confession wrote with their boots on the ground, so to speak. Nothing theoretical, but life and faith hammered o... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Tom Eggebeen - Los Angeles , CA - March 28, 2013
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Article : Are we teaching children violence?
Reader Response : I can imagine Rev. Johnson and Mr. Jefferson sitting by the fire at Monticello each with their exato-knives cutting out passages of the Bible that offended them. In Rev. Johnson's version it is not Mary who appears at the empty tomb but a rainbow and unicorn, and Jesus blessing the babies, little birdies and rabbits. His theological presuppositions represent so well the decent of the PCUSA into Unitarian nothingness and not worthy of further c... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 23, 2013
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Article : Whither synods?
Reader Response : "The synod of Alaska-NW does not want to do anything having to do with synods". Much like a church pastor saying he likes the work, as long as he does not have to deal with church or church people. Again my question is not why people with- hold per capita, but why some still pay it. The synod of SC seems to be in hospice mode. So just let the patient pass in peace. The reason there is no article dealing with importance of synods or th... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 21, 2013
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Reader Response : If you drill down in the data of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) you will find America has an excess of Veterinarians, Lawyers, and Architects. People per capita have less dogs and cats, much of the basic legal stuff done by lawyers have moved off-shore to India, and computer programs have replaced the traditional work done by builders. The common thread is that these changes are structural and permeant. Those jobs are not coming back. ... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 19, 2013
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Reader Response : The train has already left the station. As the work of over 3 years was dismissed in Pittsburgh in 5 minutes, those who had hoped for non-geographic associations based on shared values, mission, affinity have moved along from the dying structure that is the PCUSA. As the article points out, no one cares, there is no life, no spirit, no energy. Just let the matrix die a natural death. As I am fond of saying a number of times over a number of is... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 18, 2013
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Reader Response : As I have been stating for some time, the metrics of the state of the plan and its members speak for themselves. While there is no ideal option given the demographic box the plan is, there are actions that tend to exacerbate an already fractured sense of trust for all concerned. Again there nothing in the options so far the BOP has on the table that says the medical funding crises will not return with even greater pain and dislocation when ... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 14, 2013
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Reader Response : Jim: The model you speak of is best described as a mutual aid society. The closest modern example of such is a Credit . Where the actual members own the institution and elect their own board of directors. There are no stockholders or profit model as exists with Blue Cross/Highmark. The closest example in church based health care exists in how the Mormons do their health care where each member is assessed a fee based upon income, assets and t... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 11, 2013
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Reader Response : In spite of the heat of the moment and emotions involved that does excuse one in making either personal comments or statements on the faith, character or morality of those involved in the BOP decision. I assume these are good people who seek to do what is best for their clients. But they are captives of the system they find themselves in, whether they created it or not. What is open for public comments are of course the methodology, process an... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 11, 2013
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Reader Response : If there is one deficit the BOP has about itself, other than the crises in healthcare, it is a lack of transparency and openness in how it comes to its business practices and decisions. Much like the papal conclave of this week, a bunch of folks go into a room and then announce change X or policy Y. As the recent blow up on healthcare points out, the lack of light, transparency or even oversight by the stake-holds in the process fosters an en... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 10, 2013
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Reader Response : The comments in the article are among the most painful things I’ve read. Though I have a few trusted friends who are part of the Board of Directors, with comments such as those by Elder Hamm, it is hard not to feel that our livelihoods are being managed by people who don’t make the same connection regarding life in the Body of Christ as I do. Elder Hamm’s statement: “We had no idea it would be our blood” strikes me as the worst kind of ... ...Read Full Response
Response By : The Presbyterian Outlook - March 9, 2013
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Reader Response : The BOP/PCUSA try as it does, still finds itself in a demographic/member cohort box. The relative age, health, and status of its members will not change over time to bend the cost curve. In fact those metrics only get worse from a insurance/actuarial perspective going forward. Too many oldens, not enough young'ins. As long as the BOP remains in that box its options are limited and few. And quite frankly health care costs and risk as a pass-t... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 9, 2013
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Reader Response : Much like their more local cousins, the NCC, the WCC is an organization searching for meaning and purpose. Designed by purpose with a Eurocentric/western mindset it stands helpless by the move of global Christianity south and east. The center of the faith now, today is more San Paulo or Lagos, then Geneva or New York. Today, 70% of all non-RC/Orthodox Christians, globally, are either holiness/pentecostal, unaffiliated or Morman. Movements and... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 8, 2013
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Article : BREAKING NEWS: NEXTChurch at the Improv
Reader Response : There are many successful non-mainline paradigms and business models that have arisen in the last 30 or so year. Willow Creek, the Rock Church, The Gathering, others more less operate from the same methodology. Decentralized corporate structures, many communities rent, rather than own property, flexibility in worship designs. And thankfully each community is autonomous in both leadership procurement (clergy) and free in mission and benevolen... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 7, 2013
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Reader Response : Generational theory, though not perfect, does help to explain allot. Generational characteristics are thought to repeat in a pattern, usually in 150 year or so cycles. The missionary generation, those born 1880-1900, give or take, formed the core of the the Protestant/Presbyterian high water mark 1920-1955. These where those optimists, doers, goers, risk-takers that saw their cause to repair the damage done by that cohort prior that fought th... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 7, 2013
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Reader Response : One of the more worse ministry and program tendency Boomers invented to cater to their views of the world has been the Balkanization of programming into various special focus groups and the general reduction of God into a much smaller god who fits easily into the consumption and consumerism of the age. As the older mainline church continues its slow motion death process one conclusion is that their god is not too big, but that God is too small ... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 6, 2013
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Reader Response : Generational theory as applied to the church states that the typical church should have 4, to 5 different generational cohorts. Builders/WW2 to Y. Each can be thought of as a tribe, with their own vested self-interest and tendencies. Outside of the multi-staff mega church with narrow-foucs specific programming for each tribe, most coexist in small to medium churches with a single pastor, if any, and generic programming. The oldest Boomer is n... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 6, 2013
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Article : Why I Voted Against 12-B
Reader Response : It's certainly true, as Tom points out, that our culture, including the public media, tends to view sin and grace almost solely as "individual and personal," i.e., as "Saturday-Night" sins--favorite and safe targets of popular, shrill preachers here in East Tennessee and elsewhere--and redemption from them in the same terms. But the profound truth that sin is far more than this is the very reason why I voted FOR 12-B. Our "struggle" is, indeed, ... ...Read Full Response
Response By : The Presbyterian Outlook - March 5, 2013
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Article : Inventor in the camp
Reader Response : Jack Haberer, Great article on Dale Brubaker. To bad the Good Lord didn't create a dozen like him. Sadly, afterwards He broke the mold. My wife Bev and I have known Dale for a long,long time. Bev, since 1948, me since 1950. Bev was a member of his youth group in Waltham. I met him (and Bev Small) during church camp at Lake Geneva. If Dale hadn't brought Bev there, I may never have known her. When Dale was Exec Presbyter, he appointed me to the St... ...Read Full Response
Response By : The Presbyterian Outlook - March 5, 2013
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Article : Guns and abortion: a seamless garment
Reader Response : Logic and reason would dictate that "life", reverence for, extends throughout the human experience, to include a certain perspective on abortion, infanticide, capital punishment, and the use of violence (war) as state-craft. The problem with abortion and the liberal protestant church has been the whole topic became an issue of social justice, female empowerment theologies, and the whole secular Row v. Wade constitutional issue, and away from a ... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 5, 2013
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Reader Response : Immerse it in all the perfumes of Arabia. Pound it till all coarse hairs are gone and it's pliable and soft. But the sow's ear of schism remains, even under the excuse/euphemism of "Mission." Virtually everywhere Presbyterians/Reformed have gone, a puzzled public, including unbelievers, has witnessed those who, believing they've lost their cherished, worldly, presbyterial clout, arrogantly break off and seek a totally illusive, "pure" church! ... ...Read Full Response
Response By : The Presbyterian Outlook - February 27, 2013
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Article : Being Christ’s gathered-sent community
Reader Response : Every great movement in the church, from Augustine, to the Reformation, to the Great Awakening, to the birth of the Pentecostal movement in LA, began with more or less three elements. The rediscovery of Romans 8, a refocus on Christology, and a rediscovery of the Holy Spirit. On the former, the Christology of the institutional PCUSA has been "squishy" at best, on the latter the Holy Spirit really left the corporate church a generation ago. Si... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 5, 2013
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Article : Insured prayers
Reader Response : The best indication of future behavior is past behavior. I see no indication in the history of the behavior of the BOP in regard to matters of corporate communications, business process, or thought or logic process that gives one hope for any change in how they will manage this issue. Is it a hard time time to be in the BOP management? Sure it is, no harder than any ministry setting. But there is basic right and wrong, good and bad, justice or... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 4, 2013
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Article : Why I Voted Against 12-B
Reader Response : I find it curious to say the least that that in the post-gay ordination age we seemed to have come full circle. In our efforts to totally remove any specific reference to personal behavior in matters of ordination we now sort of cross our fingers and sort of assume that the person in question, fesses up, if not the collective body, then to God about they may, could, possibly consider a sin in a subjective means, and in a vague way sort of us... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - March 4, 2013
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Reader Response : At first blush my reaction was the same offer should have been made to clergy covered by the Board of Pensions, then I remembered OGA employees have their own deal, nice work if you can find it. And the Board of Pensions busies itself with more pressing matters. Speaking of work. Whenever a company or organization calls in the "outside" consultants, to set the ship aright, and uses code language, "new vision", and it was never about money,... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - February 28, 2013
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Reader Response : Excellent counsel. What has helped me keep sane and emotionally healthy over the years is the practice of meeting with a spiritual advisor/mentor who has nothing to to do with the parish or community I serve. Clergy by and large, live professional lives of social and professional isolation and disconnect from others. We are drawn to the profession to be in the "people" business, but some at times have issues with that balance and keeping perso... ...Read Full Response
Response By : Peter Gregory - Chalfont , PA - February 27, 2013
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