rev. dr. kathryn threadgill Archives

Suffering produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope

Posted December 11th, 2020

“I want to tell you a story,” the Rev. Dr. Kathryn Threadgill began her sermon Thursday, “about embodied grace and true hope.”

Celebrating congregational vitality on #GivingTuesday

Posted November 20th, 2020

During the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) #GivingTuesday 12-hour digital telethon set for Dec. 1, the Rev. Dr. Kathryn Threadgill and team will celebrate their Vital Congregations ministry. Along with dismantling structural racism and eradicating systemic poverty, building congregation vitality are the three foci of the denomination’s Matthew 25 invitation.

Finding vitality and resilience in the wilderness

Posted August 6th, 2020

The registration deadline is Monday for the 2020 Vital Congregations annual gathering, being held via Zoom August 18-20.

Pastors hopeful for church’s future

Posted July 28th, 2020

After the first day of the Vital Congregations virtual facilitator training last week, the Rev. Neil Ricketts spoke with elders at the church he serves.

Guided by the LAMB

Posted June 18th, 2020

Congregations striving to maintain their outward incarnational focus, one of the seven marks of congregational vitality, can thrive for at least two reasons: they’re ministering to others while at the same time being ministered to.

A poignant photograph illustrates dealing with deep grief

Posted June 11th, 2020

During the Vital Congregations lament worship service Wednesday, nearly 50 participants were asked if they were willing to weep if they saw a sibling in pain — or if they were just content to be a lens.

Vital Congregations Zoom conversations to resume Wednesday

Posted May 26th, 2020

The Office of Vital Congregations will resume weekly Wednesday Zoom conversations at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on May 27.

Practicing lifelong discipleship formation during COVID-19

Posted April 17th, 2020

As more than 50 pastors and other church leaders explored together “Lifelong Discipleship Formation” — which is one of the Seven Marks of Vital Congregations — it became apparent that during the coronavirus crisis they are discovering new ways to help people live out their Christian faith.

‘We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed’

Posted April 2nd, 2020

For a Zoom gathering of about 65 people ready to hear Wednesday about doing intentional, authentic evangelism in the time of a pandemic, the director of Theology, Formation & Evangelism, the Rev. Dr. Ray Jones III, looked to one of his favorite biblical texts in Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.”

Office of Vital Congregations hosting weekly Zoom conversations through May 6

Posted March 31st, 2020

At 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, the Office of Vital Congregations will continue its weekly Zoom conversations around “The Seven Marks of a Vital Congregation: For Such a Time as This.”