Day One of The Gathering
Nearly 2,000 Presbyterian pastors, elders, and lay leaders, representing more than 830 U.S. congregations, are in Minneapolis for the inaugural Gathering of The Fellowship of Presbyterians. Today we shared in worship, small group discussions, and heard ideas and vision from pastors serving in a variety of ministry contexts around the country. Dr. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Seminary, offered a keynote address. Tomorrow we’ll continue the conversations in break-out sessions. The two-day Gathering invites Presbyterians to examine new ways for churches to be in relationship with each other and the denomination. See a few scenes and pictures from the first day of The Gathering here.
8 Responses
Dear Fellowship of Presbyterians,
Please pray for those of us who are serving our Nation’s military, abroad. I wish that I could be in Minneapolis for this wonderful event, and am praying for you all diligently.
As you discern a way ahead for our more conservative members, please keep in mind that there are Presbyterian Pastors called to minister “outside the bounds.” As one who is in ministry outside the confines of the local church’s walls, I am worried about the direction our Church has taken. However, for the sake of the valuable ministry I do each day, I remain in the PC(USA).
Please consider how you might reach out to people like me. The Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel (PCCMP) is our ecclesiastical endorsing agency. Ecclesiastical endorsement is a prerequisite of military service. Dialogue with this agency about the needs of Military Chaplains could prove very meaningful.
I am grateful for your prayers and will continue to lift you all up as well!
Co-laborer in the fields of the Lord,
Jennifer Rogers-Cooper
Dear Jennifer (and colleagues in service to those in the armed forces): My wife and I remember you daily in our prayers. Your witness in the midst of the most obvious expression of discord within the human family reminds us of the significance of the Word made flesh who dwells among us. Bless you in your prophetic, healing role. You may be far removed from Minneapolis but no farther away than the Spirit of God.
Your endorsing agent was sitting at my discussion table at the Gathering. Seems the dialog has already begun and you are in good hands.
Good point. Retired Ministers were also mentioned as needing a ‘safe home’. My impression is that the organizers of the ‘Gathering’ want input from outside their little group. Our congregation has a prayer list which includes active duty service members. We need to include Military Chaplains on that list. Thank the Lord for your service.
Please don’t forget to post Jim Singleton’s quote from John Stott’s address to the World Council of Churches (in 1975?)–it was one of the best bits and he said he would post it for us. Thanks.
Like Matt, I was really moved by the Stott quote. Until Jim is able to post a more accurate response. Here is the quote I found:
“Some years ago, John Stott was invited to attend the Assembly of the World Council of Churches as an official adviser. He was a kind of token evangelical Christian at that largely liberal gathering. At one point in one of the plenary sessions he was asked to give a formal response to one of the addresses, an address typical for its lack of any concern to be faithful to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Stott used his ten minutes to list five things that he felt the World Council needed to recover:
1)the doctrine of man’s lostness (over against the popular universalism of the day), 2) confidence in the truth, relevance and power of the biblical gospel (without which evangelism is impossible), 3) the uniqueness of Jesus Christ (over against all syncretism), 4) the urgency of evangelism (alongside the urgent demands of social justice), and 5) a personal experience of Jesus Christ (without which we cannot introduce others to him).
Delegates were seated alphabetically so Stott had been seated next to Krister Stendahl, the Swedish theologian from Harvard. When Stott returned to his seat after delivering his short address Dr. Stendahl leaned over to offer his comment on his remarks: “I did not agree with one word you said!” [Dudley-Smith, John Stott, ii, 206]”
Source: http://sermons.faithtacoma.org/Matthew/Matthew73.21.23-32.Jun19.05.htm
please post John Stott’s four comments at WCC.
Please post videos of presentations, for those of us who could not attend the Gathering. We want to see & hear more. We too are seeking God’s will & God’s future for PCUSA evangelicals.
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