(By John Lomperis, Juicy Ecumenism). This Sunday, June 4, the Northern Illinois Conference commissioned for deacon’s orders someone who was reportedly the “first openly non-binary trans person” for ministry in the United Methodist Church. And the full inclusion of such persons in ordination could potentially be mandated in every region of our denomination if the United…
(By Jeffrey Walton, Juicy Ecumenism). For those that didn’t think anything could subvert the solemnity of Ash Wednesday more than “Ashes to Go,” think again. Proclaiming “the need for progressive Christian witness has never been more urgent,” a New York-based LGBTQ advocacy group with roots in the Presbyterian Church (USA), has launched “Glitter+Ash”. Parity characterizes glitter…
By Joseph Rossell, Juicy Ecumenism. The Presbyterian Church (USA) wrapped up its biannual General Assembly last Saturday. Liberals largely got their way, passing numerous progressive resolutions. Delegates agreed to explore divestment from Israel, declared that a peaceful two-state Israel/Palestine solution was nearly “impossible,” affirmed Christian pacifism, and issued apologies to Native Americans and the community….
The 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has now convened. One of the more controversial items of business is known as “the apology overture” which seeks individual and institutional apologies be made to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ/Q) community because it says “there will be no chance for healing…
We see at the Cross the undeniable intersection of love and hate. It looked for awhile that hate had prevailed. But in the end, love rose, life conquered death and history was forever changed. Hate comes to steal and kill and destroy; love comes that we might have life, redeemed. When a lone gunman entered the…
By Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is at risk of leading one of its “most vulnerable populations into deception” if it votes to denounce gay conversion therapy at their General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, later this month, says one conversion therapy practitioner. Titled “On Therapies Purporting to Change Sexual Orientation or…
The Reconnect is a daily radio show hosted by Carmen LaBerge designed to help listeners reconnect the eternal with the everyday. The show airs live in Orlando on WTLN 94.9 FM and 950 AM and is accessible anywhere via the iHeartRadio app. Too often Christians are sidelined from conversations which leaves God without a spokespersons in…
Editor’s note: This article as originally posted Nov. 7, 2015. It is re-posted today as J. Herbert Nelson was announced as the selection committee’s candidate for Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Community organizer, social justice advocate, African American preacher and head of the Office of Public Witness of…
Craig Barnes has been a colleague in the renewal efforts within the Presbyterian Church (USA) for a generation. In 2013 when he was named President of my alma mater Princeton Theological Seminary, I was hopeful. However, in an article posted on The Christian Century, Barnes seems to be advocating for a preservation of the visible unity of the institutional church…
By Page Graham, the Rivard Report. Since its inception by the Puritans, what is now known as the Presbyterian Church (USA) has usually found itself to be a sacred house divided, and events in San Antonio only perpetuate that divide. In the 19th century, the Church was torn in two by the issue of slavery. In recent years,…