And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13)

It has been brought to my attention that our group has been infiltrated by a person whose attentions are less than faithful. This person has been removed as a member and I am sorry if this person’s miss guided words have affected your individual blogs. I started this community in hopes of bringing people together for open and honest discussion. We represent a wide variety of theologies and beliefs and up to this point I believe that we have been able to discuss issues and even when we differ in our beliefs we respect each other as fellow Presbyterian and as fellow humans.

I would like close with this passage from the Gospel of John:

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have
loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:
34-35)

Theological Question of the Week

With Lent starting Wednesday I was thinking about the practice of giving stuff up or taking stuff on for the season of Lent. Do you plan to participate in this practice if no why not and if so what do you plan to give up or take on?

Monday’s Theological Question of the Week

This week I am introducing a new feature for my Presbyterian Blogging Friends. Monday’s Theological Question of the week. Each week there will be a new questions posed for your discussion. So here we go . . .

Can God Hate?

Beads, Beer, and Floats

With Mardi Gras/Carnival about to go into full swing do you think that this religious observance has become disconnected with its religious roots?

Isreal . . . Palestine . . . What is a Church to Do?

In the past few days there have been two articles from the Presbyterian News Service regarding the PC (USA)’s stance and involvement in the Israel/Palestine debate. So the question is what, if any, is the correct move for the PC (USA) to make?

I highly recommend reading both PC (USA) News Service Articles: Resolution urges PC(USA) to invest in economic development in Palestine and MRTI won’t have any recommendations for GA on Israel/Palestine divestment issue

Notable and Not-So-Notable Presbyterians

I found this very interesting List of Notable American Presbyterians on Wikipedia. People that I found interesting: Andrew Carnegie (yes THE Carnegie), Comedian Jim Carrey (Lair, Lair; The Mask; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Soul), Astronaut and United States Senator John Glenn, Actress Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond), famous talk show host David Letterman, and of course you can’t forget Mister Rogers. There have also been more Presbyterian US Presidents than any other Denomination (James Buchanan, Grover Cleveland, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Benjamin Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, James Knox Polk, Ronald Reagan, and Woodrow Wilson.)

People that were not included on this list that, in my opption should have: sisters Patty and Mildred Hill school teachers in Louisville, Kentucky who in 1893 wrote the melody to Happy Birthday to You, Sarah Hale who in 1830 wrote the poem that would become the popular song Mary Had a Little Lamb, and the infamous leader of the Heaven’s Gate Cult Marshall Applewhite was PK (Preachers Kid) and raise Presbyterian.

Who is your favorite Famous or Infamous Presbyterian?

St. Louis and a Second Chance

Sorry for the laps in posting, I as well as Quotidian Grace are currently in St. Louis, MO at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators Conference. The big topic of conversation this year this the overtures to add a fourth office. Since one responded to it the first time I posted it I thought in honor of APCE I would give it one more try.

There are two overtures that have been sent to the 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) . Both Mission Presbytery and Shenandoah Presbytery have sent overtures to that present the creation of “a fourth office” for ordination. How do you feel about the addition of a fourth office. Do you think these or any combination of them has a chance of passing? If yes, why? If no, why not? What are the advantages of a fourth office? What, if any, are the disadvantages?

For more Information your can download pdf file of both overtures: Mission Presbytery—Overture #16-Minister of Christian Education; and Shenandoah Presbytery—Overture #31—Educating Elder.

The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators also has additional information.