News
A statement from our president, Tom Taylor
Dear friends in Christ, I am writing because it is not appropriate to be silent after the deeply disturbing incidents occurring in recent weeks. These include the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, who was killed by a police officer...
José Irizarry discusses new roles for church leaders in a pandemic
The Rev. Dr. José Irizarry has plenty of roles and titles, including Vice President of Education for the Board of Pensions. In recent weeks, he told the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty Wednesday during a Facebook Live event, the pandemic has...
Finding the divinity in moments of pandemic dullness
A recent New York Times story tells of a Catholic priest in Queens who decided not to let the coronavirus-mandated closure of his church keep him from worshipping with, and ministering to, his parish. “He decided that if people can’t...
A design on ministry
Asked what’s made her come alive during the pandemic and the Rev. Emily McGinley doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the creative opportunities that are part of this moment in ministry,” said the executive pastor at Urban Village Church, an inclusive community with...
Acquiring pastoral skills at age 13
The Rev. Dr. Trace Haythorn, now the CEO and executive director of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, learned his first pastoral care skills at the tender age of 13 after his friend died of leukemia. “I started asking questions...
Jarvie Program hires new chaplain
Rev. Shelley S. Gardner joined the Jarvie program as a full-time chaplain on May 1. She previously served in this role as a consultant since summer 2019. [caption id="attachment_9427" align="alignleft" width="225"] Rev. Shelley Gardner[/caption] Well acquainted with the Jarvie catchment...
Leadership in a pandemic: time for the church to shine
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Bullock believes that moments like this - when a worldwide pandemic is spreading and some people are losing their jobs, their hope and possibly their lives - are designed for the church. [caption id="attachment_9382" align="alignleft" width="133"] Rev....
Building community one cup of coffee at a time
When members of the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley wondered how to transform an underused space in their building, they knew they wanted a missional space to encourage community. Bridget Satchwell, former director of the church’s mission ministry and a...
Spirituality in a pandemic: Teaching Zoom while changing focus
When the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann and Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri became co-moderators of the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), they never imagined they’d be teaching others to use Zoom. They were elected to, "embody a spirit of...
Scripture in a time of pandemic: Where to find hope
Editor’s note: Join Lee Hinson-Hasty on Facebook on Wednesday, April 22, for a conversation with Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Cindy Kohlmann, co-moderators of the 223rd General Assembly. You can watch last week’s conversation with Rev. Dr. Brian Blount here. When asked...
