Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard, Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org Vanessa has been preaching to the presbytery office for some time now that as a presbytery, we are living in resurrection, and we get to decide what that will look like. One of the consistent concerns I and the staff received is that the presbytery doesn’t care about “us.”…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org In the 1940s, psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark conducted a series of experiments on African American children that would become known as “the doll tests.” Each child was given a set of four dolls which were identical except for their color. The children were then asked which doll they…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org The other day while driving to the office, as I turned onto Olive off of 270, I felt the crash of my tire hitting a pot hole. It happened so fast. First the front tire and then the back. I fumed at the thought of a bent tire rim…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org In his book, At Caanan’s Edge: America in the King Years 1965 – 1968, Taylor Branch tells the story about Rev. Lorenzo Harrison. Harrison was preaching at a church in Lowndes County Alabama, when the sound of pick-up trucks came through the open windows. The trucks were carrying Klansmen…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org I am still bubbling with excitement from our presbytery gathering! The Holy Spirit was present in every element of worship, including the preaching, installation, offering (we received over $1500!), and communion. The business session was efficient and uplifting. The workshops were full of conversation and sharing ideas. The gathering…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org Recently, I worshiped at a very small church in our presbytery. During worship, I could see many ways of how connecting to the presbytery would help this congregation. The connection had been severed a while ago because of bad experiences at presbytery gatherings as well as with presbytery…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. I Thessalonians 2:8 At the upcoming presbytery gathering on February 7th at Southminster, I will…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org The installation service of Rev. Alexandra (Alex) Lysdahl at First United, Bellville, was joyful, lighthearted, reverent, and delightful. When Rob Dyer, the head of staff, gave the charge to Alex, he began by using scripture in a humorous way. But his jovial mood became serious as he reflected on…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org In the 1990s there was a series of commercials featuring the Shell Answer Man. These commercials talked about ways to save gasoline and how to keep a car maintained. The Shell Answer Man was portrayed as the expert who had the answer to any question regarding automobiles. Today, automobiles…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org I began my ministry in the Presbyterian church as a ruling elder on session responsible for worship and music. Things were going along fine until the musician resigned. In my former church, which was Pentecostal, the pastor would step in and find another musician. In fact, the musician could…