As a pastor, husband, and father, I have spent many hours in hospitals, particularly in emergency rooms. Inevitably, these places practice triage. When I’ve brought my football-playing son to the ER with an injury, he has often been placed lower on the list for...
Getting Ready for GA General Assembly (GA)—the annual gathering of the PCA—is just a few weeks away! This year, GA will take place in Chattanooga, TN, June 23-27. We’re starting to think about packing our bags and planning our time. If You’re New to GA If you’re new...
In June, P&R Publishing will be releasing my next book, Presbyterianism, in the Blessings of the Faith series. Each book in the series focuses on how its particular theme is good for God’s people—Reformed theology, Reformed confessionalism, church membership,...
Author’s note: This article is a response to Teaching Elder Kyle Dillon’s recent post “Equality over Affinity: The Case against Ethnic Affinity Groups.” I’m grateful for Kyle’s friendship and for his invitation to compose this response.) How can churches live...
Each year in the city and week of the PCA General Assembly, we host the Fellowship Gathering. There are no name tags or official roles, just conversation and laughter—and this year, a bit of bowling. Some wear jeans, others wear bow ties. Some are new to the PCA,...
With General Assembly before us, I thought it might be helpful to steal a line from an Indiana Jones movie (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and offer a challenge that may serve to encourage those who attend. In spite of the fact that our passions are often most...
As many now know, on May 14, 2024, the PCA Administrative Committee decided to cancel the Assembly-wide Seminar on supporting pastors and churches in this upcoming political season. Though there were several leaders who were to be part of the panel, most of the...
General Assembly (GA), the annual gathering of the PCA, is a unique thing. It is part business meeting, part conference, and part family reunion. When you walk through the halls of GA, you’ll see everyone from denominational leaders to local church elders, church and...
For some, the title of this little essay is a bit of an oxymoron. It is like “low-fat chocolate” or “non-alcoholic whiskey.” Hope-full Presbyterianism? That’s as weird as “happy Presbyterians,” am I right? I used to tell audiences that I loved the cover of my 2006...
Mike Khandjian from the Alliance for Mission & Renewal talks to his long-time friend Ray Cortese about ministry and how to make it over the long haul.
