We think you're up to something
May 29, 2007

Coalition leaders think you may be up to something that ought to be shared with the rest of those in the Coalition--those Presbyterians who are seeking more than business as usual. We suspect that you may be doing something truly reformative in your church or your presbytery. We'd like to hear about it. We'd like to share your good news that is helping to promote the Good News of the Gospel of our Lord. We think you have solutions to some of the problems in our common life, and we don't want you to keep those solutions under a bushel!

I'll suggest a couple of areas of possibility.

Bible knowledge and learning the faith

We've all been talking for years about the sorry state of biblical literacy and basic understanding of the faith among both church members and leaders. Some of us have taken serious steps to reverse that situation.
My particular church, for instance, developed an Institute for Christian Studies that includes a heavy emphasis on learning the Bible from cover to cover and includes courses with a weighty dose of the confessions. An independent group in my presbytery started what is called The Reformed Institute, whose mission is to raise the level of theological understanding, especially among our presbyters.

Officer training

Another related area of possibility is officer training, a weakness for most churches. If it's a strength in your church, please tell me about it. How do you structure the training? How do you get elders and deacons to take it seriously? What is unique element in your practice that makes it work especially well?

Let's spread good ideas

I'm not going into any detail about the relatively new efforts in my church and presbytery, but that's what I'm asking you to do. If you have begun to do something in your church or presbytery that you are finding to be life- transforming, would you name it and tell me about it? I can only handle a short description, but if you have something complete-like a curriculum or full description-on a website or email attachment, I would love to have the link or attachment to possibly pass on to the rest of us.

If you inundate me with response, I may have to do some sorting of ideas. Our hope is to begin circulating good ideas and best practices that ought to spread among us like leaven in the loaf.

This is only my first request. I'll be asking for more in other areas of our life together as Presbyterians. We can help each other.

We're up to something, too

Check the Coalition website at http://www.presbycoalition.org/gXinfo.htm for information on Gathering X. A registration form is now available on line. The theme of Gathering X is "Let Us Rise Up and Build," from Nehemiah 2. Every word of the theme is significant to those of us planning this event, but no word is more important than the "Us." Our future depends in no small measure on our unity of belief and action. I hope you will plan to be a part of the "us" at Gathering X, August 14-16, 2007, at Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston. You soon find a schedule for the Gathering on our website.

Please take time today to pray for the Church-the Church worldwide and your particular church.

Terry Schlossberg
The Presbyterian Coalition

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