Responding to the deepening economic crisis of our times, the 219th General Assembly (2010) recognized a preliminary statement of concern, Living Through Economic Crisis: The Church’s Witness in Troubled Times (Minutes, 2010, Part I, pp. 733ff of electronic copy; pp.323–24 of the print copy), and proceeded to authorize further study of the problem with recommendations for faithful action by the church. Specifically, the General Assembly asked for a study that “assesses the long-term implications of our current economic trends and practices, including their impact on the church itself, and provides appropriate recommendations for consideration by members, congregations, presbyteries, and local, …
The 220th GA (2012) adopted this resolution in response to economic crisis and the underlying distorted value system that has taken hold, spreading reckless consumerism, deep insecurity and extreme inequalities across America. Understanding communion as our base, it calls for a new covenant to seek a sustainable stewardship society shaped for the common good, with recommendations to help employment, families, neighbors and the church itself.
There are many features of a liturgical service book (and the 2018 Book of Common Worship in particular) that, although they are often overlooked, can help to shape vibrant, active, and creative intergenerational worship. Here are a few of them.
Across the PC(USA), new and varied forms of church are being raised up by leaders seeking to ignite discipleship and transformation. These new worshiping communities have the potential to help the PC(USA) shift from an inward-focused, membership-maintenance model of church to a more outward-focused, creative, and disciple-making model.
"Worshiping the Triune God" is a 2010 document of the World Communion of Reformed Churches that seeks to identify central things and primary principles for worship. The document is composed as a series of beatitudes or wisdom sayings, with succinct and evocative statements on worship from an international and ecumencially Reformed perspective. This would be a good resource for sessions and worship committees to study and discuss. Related sites: Presbyterian Worship, Resources and Publications.
From a 2016 GA 222 Referral: Item 11-24. Churchwide Conversation on Race, Ethnicity, Racism and Ethnocentricity Report: Recommendation 1a. Direct the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency to Create a Study Guide Telling the History of Presbyterian Participation in and Resistance to Patterns of Racism and Structural Inequality in the U.S., Which Includes an Order of Worship for a Service of Repentance and Remembrance—From the Presbyterian Mission Agency (Minutes, 2016, Part I, pp. 46, 57, 299–302 of the print copy, 787–801 of the electronic copy).
Many UKirk collegiate ministries are also worshipping communities and whether that takes place weekly or monthly, the way you shape your worship life also shapes the way the community is bound together. This resource is designed to provide some reflections on worshipping as a campus ministry and to offer some ideas for how to create worship themes that fit a semester calendar.
This curriculum is meant to introduce participants – whether in a group or individually – to the topic of advocacy. Young people will spend some time thinking about what advocacy means, how it can take shape in their own lives, how it fits into a life of faith and ways in which they can get involved in advocacy in the world around them. We pray that you will grow as your discern how to respond to God’s call to walk alongside the world’s people and restore the Shalom God intends for all people and creation.
At the beginning of 2012, the Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, PC(USA) Director for Public Witness identified two significant challenges for the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness. The first aimed to show what this ministry does. That is, the OPW seeks to serve the whole church, not just a self-selected affinity group. The second was how to balance the richness of our past with the promise of our future. Nelson wrote, “It is clear to me that outreach to, and service with, young adults is essential to meeting both challenges.” This report was produced in 2015.
This document includes: