By Jeff Gissing Marriage redefinition continues to be a critical issue before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which will vote on it later this week. Ironically, no one has framed the issue quite as poignantly as same-sex marriage supporter Mark Achtemeier: “This is an unprecedented spiritual disaster that is taking place beneath…
By Timothy Tennent Many of us are watching with sadness the emerging, seemingly inevitable, separation (however amicable) between the so-called progressives and the so-called conservatives in the United Methodist Church. By any read of the situation, the UMC of the 21st century stands in grave peril. It would be too simplistic to say that it…
By Chris Thompson When considering a local church home, it may be wise to first consider whether your target church may be looking at breaking away from its national or local affiliation. Considerable breakaway activity is being seen in the church community across the U.S. Often when churches break away, it can be over theological…
By Stephen Magagnini On a recent Sunday, members of Fremont Presbyterian Church gathered in the courtyard under the blossoming crab apple tree for coffee and conversation before going their separate spiritual ways. Divided by their differences – the congregation falls into camps of so-called progressives and traditionalists – the members nonetheless share sacred spaces at…