Congregational Vitality Archives

The Rev. Dr. Tim Hart-Andersen offers up his final sermon at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Posted October 30th, 2023

For the final time on Sunday, the Rev. Dr. Tim Hart-Andersen took to the pulpit at Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis, a church he has served as senior pastor and head of staff since 1999.

A PC(USA) pastor who knows how to ask good questions of the church

Posted September 15th, 2023

The Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty of the Presbyterian Foundation kicked off the third season of his “Leading Theologically” podcast on Wednesday looking at the joys of ministry alongside guest the Rev. Mark Ramsey, executive director of The Ministry Collaborative. Listen to their 30-minute conversation here or here.

Columbia Theological Seminary announces grant recipients in its ReKindle Congregational Development Program

Posted September 7th, 2023

The Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary has announced the 2023 grant recipients of the ReKindle Congregational Development Program.

Building ramps toward belonging: tools for PC(USA) leaders and volunteers

Posted August 28th, 2023

In my disability ministry work with congregational leaders, the question I have heard most often is not, “How can each person experience the love of God?” The question I hear most is, “How can we meet the needs of this family? We can’t start a disability ministry. We don’t even have the volunteers we need for our ‘regular kids.’”

PC(USA) workshop explores how vital congregations can thrive within the Matthew 25 framework

Posted August 16th, 2023

At the outset of Tuesday’s webinar on vital congregations, organizers the Rev. Veronica Cannon, the Rev. Tony Oltmann and Marla Edwards had the nearly 70 participants play a game: name an outdated mode of technology beginning with “V,” “C,” “I” or “M” that your faith community might still be using.

A Tuesday webinar will focus on Congregational Vitality

Posted August 10th, 2023

At 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 15, the Presbyterian Mission Agency will host a webinar on Congregational Vitality, the first focus of its Matthew 25 movement. “We will delve into the PC(USA)’s Matthew 25 vision and the significance of vital congregations within our denominations,” says the Rev. Tony Oltmann, associate for the Office of Vital Congregations.

Over the years, a 15-member PC(USA) congregation in Tennessee has given $40,000 to help God’s children access clean water

Posted August 10th, 2023

Living Waters for the World, the global mission of the Synod of Living Waters, fulfills our call to provide clean, sustainable water by partnering with churches throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We are continually inspired by their strong sense of call, and none more so than Wartburg Presbyterian Church, nestled in the mountains of Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau.

Congregational Vitality