by Brian Ellison | Jun 15, 2013 | Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity, Theology
By Kenneth L. Cuthbertson, PhD “Marriage is to be between one Man and one Woman: neither is it lawful for any Man to have more then one Wife, nor for any Woman to have more then one Husband, at the same time.” – from The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXIV,...
by Brian Ellison | Mar 10, 2013 | Biblical Interpretation, Theology
Henry G. Brinton Covenant Network Baltimore/DC Regional Conference Catonsville, Maryland March 9, 2013 A cab driver from Ghana took a fare to Montgomery County, Maryland, and then decided to attend a service at a Baptist church. After he walked in, the...
by Brian Ellison | Nov 20, 2012 | Biblical Interpretation, Marriage & Civil Unions, Theology
Dr. Mark Achtemeier Covenant Network Regional Conference Village Presbyterian Church Kansas, City, Missouri November 16, 2012 Three weeks ago in Minneapolis we saw how the Bible gives us confidence in God’s willingness to bless lives that depart in various ways from...
by Brian Ellison | Oct 29, 2012 | Biblical Interpretation, Marriage & Civil Unions, Theology
Dr. Mark Achtemeier Covenant Network Regional Conference Westminster Presbyterian Church Minneapolis, Minnesota October 27, 2012 I. The issue of gay marriage now rocks our culture and our politics, generating new headlines almost daily. I trust I don’t need to remind...
by Brian Ellison | Sep 20, 2012 | Biblical Interpretation, Theology
God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality, by Jay Michaelson. Beacon Press, 2011. A Book Recommendation from Tricia Dykers Koenig “The devil made me do it” was Flip Wilson’s memorable excuse, in character as Geraldine Jones. Alas, our society’s...
by Brian Ellison | Jun 27, 2012 | Covenant Congregations, Theology
In joy! Oh! In joy do we gather: knowing we are all the image of God. This is the first verse of one of my favorite choral calls to prayer—one of the pieces we use to open the worship service at Riviera each Sunday morning. I heard it sung first at a Covenant Network...
by Brian Ellison | Jun 20, 2012 | Theology
Kenneth E. Kovacs No, not liberalism (I don’t ordinarily consider that a concern) – I’m troubled by literalism. Literalism is the belief, the philosophy, the attitude that truth can only be found in exactness and certainty. It’s an obsession (and it is an obsession)...
by Brian Ellison | Jun 1, 2012 | Theology
Reflections by Randy Bush East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA A prerequisite for theological conversations about relationships (same gender, different gender) is having a clear understanding about the way we talk about the emotions associated with...
by Brian Ellison | Feb 29, 2012 | Theology
Science fiction writer William Gibson is credited with making the following comment: “The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.” I find this to be a fascinating remark, which can be read as a strong word of hope for all people of faith....
by Brian Ellison | Dec 21, 2011 | Dialogue, Theology
Reforming the Ties that Bind: Theological Virtues for Living Together in Difference Plenary Address from the 2011 Conference, Excerpted and Edited, by James Calvin Davis, Middlebury College Several years ago in our denomination, a task force was charged with thinking...
