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Greg Smith

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United Church of Christ

What the Church Is and What it Should Be (#0328)

2011/04/10 By Greg

Jason Fairbanks, pastor of First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in Lake Worth, Florida, recently wrote a series of posts on his blog about what the church is and what it should be.  In making his case for what the church should be he offered the wisdom given him by his father: A church is a hospital for those that find themselves hurting and on our doorstep. It is these that we have the opportunity to receive and to love. A church is a greenhouse for those interested in Read More …

Learning from Gen Y: Thoughts of a New Reformation (#0324)

2011/04/06 By Greg

Bradley N. Hill, a minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church, recently wrote an article for the Christian Century suggesting that the way most churches operate (an attractional model) will never effectively engage Generation Y (those he characterizes as being born between 1976 and 2000) for many reasons including: . . . advertisement is just part of the background white noise of our culture. No impersonal website or advertisement, no program or event flyer, poster or radio spot will entice Read More …

Mission 1: Feeding the Hungry and Confronting Food-Related Injustice (#0323)

2011/04/05 By Greg

The one million member United Church of Christ may be best known by its incredibly successful multi-year "God is still speaking" campaign. Perhaps you have heard the message: No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. We believe in extravagant welcome. (For more information read The Language of God and Uniquely UCC then watch some of the original television commercials.) The United Church of Christ originated as the result of mergers that Read More …

Do you Attend a Living Church or a Dying Church? (#0312)

2011/03/25 By Greg

Sam Trumbore is a Unitarian Universalist (UUA) pastor who currently serves as minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany (New York).  Previously, he was Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Charlotte County, Florida.  Recently he wrote a piece contrasting the experiences of living churches with those of dying churches.  This article was originally published in the newsletter of a Charlotte county church: Pilgrim United Church of Christ.  More recently it Read More …

A Shift in Theological Education (#0292)

2011/03/05 By Greg

In the last two weeks two United Church of Christ (UCC) related seminaries have announced plans to launch or expand hybrid or online educational offerings. Andover Newton Theological Seminary will partner with The Alban Institute to offer "courses in church leadership and vitality . . . using Andover Newton’s online learning system and Alban’s authors as instructors."  These four week offerings are designed primarily as continuing education for clergy. Eden Theological Seminary will Read More …

Review of New Feminist Christianity (#0229)

2011/01/01 By Greg

Mary E. Hunt and Diann L. Neu, eds.  New Feminist Christianity: Many Voices, Many Views.  Skylight Paths, 2010.  ISBN: 9781594732850. Meet the Editors and Authors Mary E. Hunt (pictured on the left) and Diann L. Neu (pictured on the right) are co-founders and currently serve as co-directors of WATER (Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual), which is an an international community of justice-seeking people who promote the use of feminist values to make religious and Read More …

Review of Saving Jesus from the Church (#0202)

2010/12/04 By Greg

Robin R. Meyers.  Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus.  HarperOne: 2009.  ISBN: 9780061568213. Meet the Author Since 1985, Robin R. Meyers has served as the Senior Minister of the 750 member Mayflower Congregational Church in Oklahoma City, which has been recognized as the fastest growing  United Church of Christ congregation in the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference.  In addition, he serves as a tenured professor of rhetoric Read More …

Catholics to Recognize Protestant Baptisms (#0189)

2010/11/21 By Greg

After working for the last six years on a means to provide mutual recognition of baptism with several Reformed Protestant denominations, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted in favor of the measure at their annual Fall General Assembly.  While similar agreements have been reached in other countries, this is the first of its kind in the United States. According to Religion News Service, Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, chairman of the ecumenical and Read More …

Reign of Christ / Christ the King (#0186)

2010/11/18 By Greg

From Christ the King to Reign of Christ to  . . . This Sunday is the final Sunday of the liturgical year: Christ the King.  Carey Gardner Mack provides a brief history of this new addition to the church year: Christ the King Sunday is a relatively new development. It does not bear the history of many long-held church traditions such as All Saints or Christmas or Easter and does not possess the deep and traditional biblical backing of these celebrations. Pope Pius XI brought Christ the Read More …

A Still Speaking and Still Doing God (#0129)

2010/08/08 By Greg

Offertory Sentences The God of creation and new beginnings The God of prophets and promises And the God of you and of me Is a still speaking God and a still doing God A God who welcomes us to participate in God’s ongoing work with our giving Prayer of Dedication Holy One, we acknowledge your power and welcome your influence in our lives and in the world.  Enable within each of us a heightened spiritual awareness – an ability to see the expansive tapestry of your love. Accept now our Read More …

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Greg Smith

Greg is a follower of the Way of Jesus who strives to make the world a better place for all people. Currently, he serves as Chief Executive Officer of White Rock Center of Hope and as Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church. He has served ten congregations, taught religion to undergraduates for eight years, and helped three organizations provide quality healthcare to underserved populations. (Read More)

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Recent Posts

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