ordination Archives

Minute for Mission: Theological Education Sunday

Posted August 24th, 2017

In 1996, the year after I graduated from seminary, presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ordained 408 new ministers of Word and Sacrament. Many of them continue to serve and lead in the PC(USA) two decades later in critical ways. In 2016, the PC(USA) ordained about half (47 percent) of the number we did in 1996, with only 214 ordained. While we have fewer congregations in 2016 than 1996, it is only 17 percent less, not 47 percent! The need for qualified ministers of Word and Sacrament will increase as Baby Boomer generation pastors continue to retire over the next decade or so. The median age of a Presbyterian minister in 2017 is over 60 years old. The PC(USA) pastorate mirrors the demographics of about 20 mainline denominations in the U.S.

First Arab woman ordained as Presbyterian Minister of Word and Sacrament

Posted April 12th, 2017

Though we often hear only the dark and disturbing stories coming out of the Middle East, on February 26 there was an historic moment of celebration. The Presbyterian Church in Tripoli and the National Evangelical (Presbyterian) Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) ordained the Rev. Rola Sleiman as the first Arab woman to serve as a Minister of Word and Sacrament.

UN Commission on the Status of Women offers solutions to issues affecting Detroit

Posted March 17th, 2017

Troy Byrdsong and Alison Oglesby are two young women with big dreams and big hearts. The freshman and junior attend Wayne State University and are attending the United Nations 61st Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) as a part of the 12-person delegation of the Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Seminary student Leslie Cox blogs her way to the Commission on the Status of Women

Posted March 15th, 2017

Leslie Cox is a second year seminary student at Columbia Theological Seminary in the Masters of Divinity program. She is focusing her efforts in the area of advocacy and inclusion, and has started the blog loveles.co about “Queer Love Stories.”

Hidden sexism in a progressive denomination

Posted March 14th, 2017

In a room filled with women from around the world, participants attending the opening of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s parallel event at the 61st Commission on the Status of Women waited expectantly to hear what presenters had to say about gender discrimination within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Documentary follows trials and triumphs of LGBTQ Presbyterian leaders

Posted February 16th, 2017

‘For decades, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pastors could face judicial charges within the church.’ These words are part of the opening screens of the recently released documentary, ‘Out of Order.’

Lisa Larges ordained as a teaching elder in the PC(USA)

Posted November 17th, 2016

Amidst a trilling of trumpets, a shower of stoles, and a grateful congregation’s affirming applause—interposed with the shedding of more than a few tears—Lisa Larges, a candidate for the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 1986, was ordained as a teaching elder at the Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church.