Blog Post by: Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org Today we celebrate the 500th year of the reformation. On October 31 in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the church door. Luther’s work was the result of personal struggle with what it means to be righteous with God, and struggle with the Catholic…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org This past weekend I took care of the leaves that had fallen in my yard. I did a wonderful job of raking and bagging. My yard was the cleanest on the block, at least for one day! The problem is my neighbor has a big tree…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org This week the presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy is hosting a gathering of over 400 Presbytery Mid Council Leaders. This event, which will be held at the Hyatt by the Arch, will bring all of the executive presbyters, associate presbyters, Stated Clerks, presbytery moderators and vice moderators…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org Horrific. Unimaginable. Frightful. Gruesome. These are some of the adjectives that describe the scenes from Las Vegas, as America experiences another mass shooting. Over the next several days we will hear about the background of the shooter, and what may have motivated him to commit…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org In the book, Legacy Churches, Stephan Gray and Franklin Dumond address the question, “How do you know when it may be time to close.” They highlight six characteristics: Public Worship Attendance has Drastically Declined Staffing of Essential Ministry is no Longer Adequate or Effective Annual Income…
Blog Post by the Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Transitional Leader of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy choward@glpby.org I sent a letter to the presbytery last week as a response to the Stockley trail in St. Louis. I received more responses to that letter than anything else I’ve written. Most responses were positive and affirming. A few responses took issue…
Blog Post by the Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Transitional Leader of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy choward@glpby.org Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1 “The only person who like change is a wet baby!” Mark Twain I believe the future…
Blog Post by the Rev. Dr. Craig Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org We had a full and exciting Presbytery Gathering this past Thursday. In addition to hearing motions, voting, and taking actions, this meeting featured several “ignite” presentations. An ignite presentation is a five minute or less slide presentation that focuses on an issue or event. Thursday’s reports…
Blog Post by the Rev. Dr. Craig Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org On Thursday the Presbytery Gathering will take place, and it is going to be a big one! If you are wondering if you should attend, the answer is yes! At this Gathering we will meet our new Designated Associate Presbytery Leader, Vanessa Hawkins. Also, we will…
Blog Post by the Rev. Dr. Craig Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org (I’m writing this blog from Jerusalem as I am coming down the home stretch of my clergy study trip to the Holy Land. The trip is sponsored by the group, Interfaith Partners For Peace. The focus of the trip is to explore relationships between major religious…