Category: Theology in Practice

Why I’m pro-choice but totally against abortion

Posted on4 Comments

On August 29, 1996 Bill Clinton said at the Democratic National Convention, “Abortion should not only be safe and legal, it should be rare.”  I couldn’t agree with him more. Unfortunately, it seems the most ardent modern pro-choice advocates have forgotten the “rare” part of Clinton’s comment. When it comes to the ethics surrounding abortion, the focus seems to have fundamentally shifted; the question of whether or not the child is a living being seems to Read More …

Keeping the Baptismal Font Filled

Posted onLeave a comment

Where did the water go? As a person who goes into the sanctuary almost daily I find it odd when I find the Baptismal font empty.  In some congregations the baptismal font is filled before the Sunday service and emptied afterward. I am not sure why some Altar Guilds do this. I think that I can make a case that the Baptismal font should always have water in it (Lent is not exception to this, but Read More …

Planning a Youth Group Meeting

Posted onLeave a comment

Worship, outreach, learning, and fellowship are core aspects of any healthy youth ministry; exclude any one of these and a youth ministry is found wanting.  Though a youth ministry needs these four practices, it doesn’t mean that all four need to be done at every meeting.   Each gathering should be purposeful in its planning and implementation.  Even a plan to “just hang out,” is still a plan.  Here is a regular youth group meeting Read More …