Diversity
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Connected by Water
Originally posted in PLGRM Volume I Issue 2 Winter 2012 This picture shows everything that is wonderful about being a part of an Asian community. This is a picture of signature stamps, dojang (Korean), or chop (Chinese). If you are Asian, you most likely have a dojang or chop that has your name in Korean,…
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Children in Worship: It’s More than Having Coloring Sheets
In the first issue of PLGRM, Rev. LeAnn Watkins, rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, MN, shares how after numerous attempts of increasing attendance of bible studies and other church-related programs, her staff decided to cancel it all – everything during the weekdays except seasonal services. You can hear her tell her…
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In the Middle: Intersection between Age & Wisdom
Photo by Dan Meyer I am a member of the Committee to Review Biennial Assemblies. This committee was tasked to research and suggest changes to the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. We surveyed hundreds of past General Assembly commissioners and staff, asking them what message would they like to convey to this…
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Non-Geographic Presbyteries & the Issue of Diversity
Rev. John Vest, a member of the Mid Council Commission, recently wrote a blog stating his views about non-geographic presbyteries: “After much conversation and reflection, I changed my mind and embraced the concept of non-geographic presbyteries as a potentially energizing and catalyzing change to our existing way of being Presbyterian, which I do not think…
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Is There a Different Way to Do Presbytery Meetings?
I began my moderator year for the Presbytery of San Francisco January of this year. My focus for this year is to change the way we meet during our Presbytery meetings. Like most presbyteries, we sit in pews for 5-7 hours listening to reports and voting on important issues. What is clear is that people…
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United We Stand, Divided We Fall
22“No!” the other woman shouted. “He was your son. My baby is alive!” “The dead baby is yours,” the first woman yelled. “Mine is alive!” They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, 23until finally he said, “Both of you say this live baby is yours.24Someone bring me a sword.” A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, 25“Cut the…
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Expanding Our Baptismal Community
9 The Samaritan woman asked, “Why do you, a Jewish man, ask for something to drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with each other.) 10 Jesus responded, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you…
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Future of Urban Ministry: You Say Potato, I Say Potahto
I grew up watching the Electric Company. I loved the “Hey, you guys!” calling me to watch the show. I loved the Spiderman comic. I loved Morgan Freeman. What I especially remember is the two silhouettes whispering a part of a word and sounding out each syllable until it formed one word. Two people, two mouths, two…
Still Waters 