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Serving as an elder in the Christian Reformed Church in North America comes with significant responsibility. Whether stepping into the role for the first time or bringing years of experience to the consistory table, every leader can benefit from space to reflect, learn, and grow. To support leaders in this calling, Thrive has produced the Elder Essentials workbook. Designed as a comprehensive leadership development course, Elder Essentials provides foundational orientation tailored specifically for CRC elders. Across six instructive lessons, the workbook explores vital topics from preaching, sacraments, and pastoral care to faith formation, hospitality, and gospel witness. It aims to equip consistories to connect their weekly work directly to God’s redemptive mission in the world. Early feedback from congregations that...

Thrive, the congregational support agency of the CRCNA, has appointed Tim (Sang Joon) Won as its new chaplaincy endorser and ministry consultant. Won, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and chaplain with more than 24 years of leadership experience, succeeds Tim Rietkerk, who recently retired from the role with Thrive. Won began serving as an ordained CRCNA minister of the Word before entering active duty. During his military career, he served in diverse contexts, including combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Other roles include service as a community chaplain in Germany, as a garrison chaplain in South Korea, and as chief of the Department of Ministry and Pastoral Care at Womack Army Medical Center in Fayetteville, N.C., during the pandemic...

Many ministers I’ve spoken with over the years have said that pastoral ministry is a beautiful calling—and yet a challenging one. Ministers are often with people in some of the most joyous moments of their lives—baptisms, professions of faith, weddings—but they also share in some of the most difficult times—death and grieving, marriage breakdown, loved ones walking away from the faith or the church. Pastoral ministry can take an emotional toll, and it’s important for ministers and other ministry leaders to find ways to be refreshed and renewed. Many pastors and ministry leaders find that their local ministerial association can be a helpful source of refreshment and inspiration. A ministerial association, often called simply a “ministerial,” is made up of...

Phil Knox explores five signs of the spiritual springtime emerging across the UK

An English edition of a Korean United Methodist small-group curriculum on Jesus’ parables is expanding its reach to English-speaking churches, bilingual families and congregations beyond the Korean community.

Ethan Loewi

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Rev. Karen G. Johnston reflects on her arrest and what comes next for the movement.

As actions and policies of governments, state authorities, and armed factions create millions of refugees and stateless people in Africa, church and faith-based organizations have become key respondents, offering humanitarian relief, advocacy, and spiritual support.

During a sermon at the St Hedwig’s Cathedral in Berlin on 15 September, World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm commemorated the signing of Charta Oecumenica.

Peace cannot be built on an economy that runs on war. That is the assertion of a theological communique released by churches meeting in Panama City. It asks governments to redirect military spending toward poverty and climate, and it asks the churches to move their own money first.