“A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” posed a relatively straightforward question to its guest last week, Dr. Kathryn Gin Lum — a question that took the Stanford University scholar nearly half an hour to answer. Listen to the most recent edition of the podcast, put on by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice, by going here. Read more »
October 18, 2022
Stanford University scholar uses ‘A Matter of Faith’ appearance to discuss how the term ‘heathen’ is understood
“A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” posed a relatively straightforward question to its guest last week, Dr. Kathryn Gin Lum — a question that took the Stanford University scholar nearly half an hour to answer. Listen to the most recent edition of the podcast, put on by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice, by going here. Read more »
Kicking off last week the first in what will be a series of discussions on the future of American democracy, the Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes, the president of Princeton Theological Seminary and professor of pastoral ministry, said surveys show half of young Americans believe democracy is in trouble or has already failed. One-third feel there could be another civil war in their lifetime. Among seminary students, there’s plenty of diversity of thought, Barnes said. 
When we read about the first band of Christ followers selling their possessions and “distributing the proceeds to all, as they had need,” (Acts 2:45), we clap our hands, lauding such noble sacrifice, but snicker under our breath, whispering, “Now that’s a bit too much!” 
A minister, social ethicist and scholar has been chosen to lead a new endeavor by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to repair the damage done by structural racism and white supremacy within the church and around the globe. 
Princeton Theological Seminary announced Friday that the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton has been elected by the Board of Trustees to serve as the Seminary’s eighth president, effective January 1, 2023. Walton will succeed the Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes, who has served as Princeton Seminary’s president since January 2013. 
The inspiration to write his 2021 book “Our Angry Eden: Faith and Hope on a Hotter, Harsher Planet” came, of all places, during a meeting of National Capital Presbytery, the Rev. Dr. Mark Williams told Presbyterians for Earth Care during a Zoom conversation Thursday. 
Together with the Rev. S. Balajiedlang Khyllep, a colleague at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s World Mission Initiative, the Rev. Dr. Hunter Farrell has written a book to help congregations decolonize their mission outreach. Farrell, the former director of Presbyterian World Mission, was the guest Wednesday of the Presbyterian Foundation’s the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty on the broadcast “Leading Theologically.” 
Prof. Petr Kratochvíl is an optimist when he considers the role of churches in European politics. 
Wind out of the northwest, crisp and chill. I’m wishing I’d worn one more layer for this morning’s walk, maybe a shell over the fleece. Brr. Autumn is here. 
The Presbyterian Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment has approved its divestment/proscription list for 2023, incorporating five energy companies that the 225th General Assembly agreed should be added to the list for lack of alignment with PC(USA) policy.