I’ve been thinking more lately about the scandal of fencing the table. I should have thought to do this earlier. Researching an answer to another question I ran across some interesting Dutch Reformed (in this case, Christian Reformed) sources on this question. . . . Continue reading →
Church Life
On Lapsing Members: Coping with a Transient Culture
Re-Posted from Sept 9, 2009. The HB has addressed the problem of “churchless evangelicals” before. This question is a little different. How should consistories/sessions address the problem of members of a congregation who simply seem to disappear as if they’ve fallen off . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Guy Waters on Church Membership
One aspect of Reformed theology, piety, and practice that distnguishes confessional Protestantism from broad evangelicalism is a high view of the visible, institutional church. Calvin spent most of book 4 of the Institutes on the visible church. The Belgic Confession spends two . . . Continue reading →
Peace (with Evangelicalism) in Our Time
It may be impossible to be a confessionalist Reformed critic of evangelicalism of even its more dubious elements such as Willow Creek (or the mega-church movement generally) and remain a “player” within evangelicalism. Being confessionally Reformed (i.e., in theology, piety, and practice) . . . Continue reading →
Sage Advice to Pastoral Candidates
From PCA pastor David Strain. Related HB posts: Candid Comments for Candidates (pt 1) Candid Comments for Candidates (pt 2)
If It Happens: How to Handle Church Violence
It’s an ugly thing to have to consider but this might be a useful handout from CT.
The Improbability of a Megachurch
One of the dominant stories in American Christianity in the last 25 years has been the rise of the “megachurch.” According to a recent study published in the 9 June USA Today there are 1,300 “megachurches” in the USA. For the purposes . . . Continue reading →
On Comity And Mission
There is a topic that few NAPARC types dare raise: the matter of comity between the churches. Nevertheless, Darryl Hart has done just that. The Oxford American Dictionary defines comity as: 1. courtesy and considerate behavior toward others. 2. an association of . . . Continue reading →
Odds and Ends: CRT on Google and More
Thanks to Wes White for keeping us abreast of the Classic Reformed Theology available via Google Books. If the name Bernard DeMoor or the Leiden Synopsismeans anything to you then you’ll understand. Wes Bredenhof: Ways to Help Your Children Leave the Church. . . . Continue reading →
So You Are About to Begin a Pastoral Search
This is a sensitive topic. People don’t always think rationally or biblically or confessionally about the office of pastor. Many folk don’t understand what ministers do and most people who are involved in the pastoral search process are well-meaning but inexperienced. Most . . . Continue reading →