Presbyterian Mission Agency confession Archives

Why do we keep doing these prayers of confession?

Posted May 13th, 2022

Two thoughtful theologians — Dr. Martha Moore-Keish, the J.B. Green Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, and the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology & Worship — put their brains and their hearts on display Thursday during the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ town hall, “Why do we Keep Doing these Prayers of Confession?”

Confession is not a downer, but moves us forward

Posted June 24th, 2021

In this classic prayer of confession, we remember both the sins of commission (what we do) and the sins of omission (what we do not do), and we acknowledge that sins are both personal and corporate. Of course, when worship rolls around to the prayer of confession, it’s not unusual for pastors to hear, “I don’t come to church to feel bad about myself. Can’t we just skip the prayer of confession?”

It’s time to right the wrongs

Posted February 20th, 2021

The hardest part in seeking God’s forgiveness is working toward restoration of the wrongs we have done, but God’s grace helps us achieve this.

Confession is not a downer, but moves us forward

Posted January 4th, 2021

Even if we haven’t personally and knowingly done or said anything racist, we should still ask God’s forgiveness for living in a culture stained by racism.

‘Community’ redefined in view of COVID-19

Posted April 24th, 2020

In a time of pandemic and social distancing, how do we understand ourselves as the church when we can’t meet in person?

From anger and lament to wonder and awe

Posted May 16th, 2019

As Dr. William P. Brown, professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, confessed his personal anger and lament, Fairfield Hall at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta went silent

New Pentecost worship resource exalts Holy Spirit-inspired possibilities

Posted May 30th, 2017

Pentecost is a time to consider “what becomes possible when God blows through your life with the wind of the Holy Spirit,” says the author of a new Presbyterian worship resource for Pentecost Sunday.

Lenten Reflections on the Confession of Belhar now available through PC(USA) Store

Posted December 1st, 2016

Less than six months after the historic vote by the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to add the Confession of Belhar to the PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions, Congregational Ministries Publishing (CMP) has released a new book titled Lenten Reflections on the Confession of Belhar.

Race and Reconciliation study is timely resource for 2016 General Assembly

Posted April 25th, 2016

A timely, new Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding study honors the 50th anniversary of the Confession of 1967 and the anticipated adoption of the Confession of Belhar as a confessional standard of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at the 222nd General Assembly (2016) in Portland this summer.

A Providential Coincidence

Posted April 20th, 2016

Belhar and C67: calls to reconciliation ‘for such a time as this’ By Clifton Kirkpatrick | Professor of World Christianity and Ecumenical Studies and the William A. Benfield Jr. Professor… Read more »