Opportunities are broken, the Rev. Bertram Johnson told the NEXT Church gathering Friday, when we worship anything but God. And for anyone who needed proof, he cited Exodus 32:1-20, the story of the tablets that Moses broke, furious that while he was atop a mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, Aaron allowed the people to construct a golden calf to worship. Moses was so mad upon his return he took the image and burned it. Then he grounded it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink the water.
The gift of $22,000, which after legal fees would be worth around $250,000 in today’s dollars, was given to Knox Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati exactly 100 years ago to aid the congregation in constructing a new church. But according to Knox’s pastor, the Rev. Adam Fronczek, there was “some lore” in the congregation about the gift, which came from a woman who wanted to be buried inside the walls of the church.
About a year ago, Union Theological Seminary in New York City hired the Rev. Bertram Johnson as an interfaith minister. His call is to help students with their discernment process, including three students working as peer chaplains.
The Rev. Dr. Glen Bell, an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with 30 years of experience, joined the Presbyterian Foundation on Aug. 31 as Senior Vice President of Development.
The Rev. Jessica Tate, director of NEXT Church and a worship leader for the 2020 Presbyterian Association of Musicians Worship & Music Conference, told a telling story about life during COVID-19 with 2-year-old son, Huw, during opening worship Sunday. As PAM turns 50, it’s holding its golden year celebration online , with live broadcasts originating from Montreat Conference Center.
The Rev. Bertram Johnson has joined Union Theological Seminary in New York City as a new interfaith minister and will be training and mentoring a newly-forming student peer spiritual care team this semester. He began his work last month.
The Rev. Frank Clark Spencer, president of the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has been granted a travel leave for March 11-May 8, 2020, announced the Rev. Dr. Fairfax F. Fair, chair of the agency’s Board of Directors.
Jess Cook’s father, a doctor, had contracted hepatitis B from a patient and died due to complications from the disease nearly 20 years later. Jess said his father always loved juice, and asked for toast and grape juice one day as he was nearing death. Despite having seminary training on Communion, Jess said, “I learned more about the Eucharist that day than in any class.”
What could be “next” for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)? Nearly 700 participants pondered that question at the recent NEXT Church 2018 gathering in Baltimore. The annual conference brings together PC(USA) members, pastors and those in affiliated ministries to envision what is “next” for the denomination. The theme for this year’s event was “The Desert in Bloom: Living, Dying and Rising in a Wilderness Church.”
