Weekly Outlook - PC(USA) mission changes: what you should know 🌎

Dear readers, So far this year, the Outlook has published around 700 articles on the website. As I often joke with my colleagues, pres-outlook.org is a hungry beast that is never satisfied! With such a steady stream of content, I find it helpful to pause at the end of each year and look closely at our data. Which articles performed well? What questions are our readers asking? Which resources proved most useful? What major events shaped the year — and how did we engage them? One trend emerging in our analytics, particularly within our news coverage, is sustained interest in how the Presbyterian church engages international mission. You may remember some of the articles we’ve published on this topic: "PC(USA) announces major cuts to mission co-workers amid restructuring" by Eric Ledermann, Outlook reporting "PC(USA) faces backlash over mission co-worker layoffs" by Eric Ledermann, Outlook reporting "Global partners protest PC(USA) mission layoffs in open letter" by Eric Ledermann, Outlook reporting "Stated Clerk Jihyun Oh on leadership, cuts, and accountability" by Teri McDowell Ott, Outlook reporting "Our fork in the road: On the end of the Presbyterian Mission Agency" by Stanley Skreslet, Outlook opinion Based on our sources and the audience engagement these stories continue to receive, all signs suggest this will remain a significant issue heading into the 2026 General Assembly. For those following this unfolding story, there’s a new development covered by Pat Cole in our article, "Presbyterians organize to continue international mission sending." Stay tuned — there’s more to come on this topic from the Outlook. Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor Presbyterian Outlook

Presbyterians organize to continue international mission sending by Pat Cole Seven things queer people would like the church to know by Mike Ferguson Music in worship is “like a heartbeat” by Patrice Gaines Doechii: Unlimited God, unlimited creativity by Chris Burton Rapper as psalmist by John Molina-Moore The manger and the inn: A Middle Eastern view of the birth story of Jesus by Ken Bailey In case you missed it... Kingdom Racial Change: Overcoming Inequality, Injustice, and Indifference Racial healing requires personal and collective transformation; Kingdom Racial Change outlines a path toward unity and repair, writes Maddie Gold. Discussion guide for November 2025 issue In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation. — Don Griggs Dearly Beloved: Prince, Spirituality & This Thing Called Life "Dearly Beloved" reveals how Prince’s music can be a guide for healing, spirituality, and self-love, writes Llewellyn Dixon. 2026 Grawemeyer religion award honors ‘God’s Ghostwriters’ Biblical scholar Candida Moss wins the 2026 Grawemeyer Award for "God’s Ghostwriters," highlighting enslaved collaborators who helped shape the New Testament. — Grawemeyer staff Board of Pensions begins search for next president Next year, the 227th General Assembly will be asked to confirm the person selected to succeed the Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer. — BOP All is Calmish: How to Feel Less Frantic and More Festive During the Holidays In "All is Calmish," Feliciano offers gentle, practical wisdom to ease holiday stress and help families find small miracles in the season, writes Amy Pagliarella. Good news for all the people As social media amplifies anger, Advent invites us to practice faithful communication — words that add value, meaning and peace, writes Teri McDowell Ott.

byFaith Magazine - Celebrating the Ministry of Bill Barcley

Celebrating the Ministry of Bill Barcley By Trip Smith Former students, church members, colleagues, and family celebrate the impact of Bill Barcley's ministry as he retires. READ NOW

A Practical Guide for Foreign Missions By Philip DeHart What is our church’s vision for foreign missions? READ NOW Pastor’s Homeless Experience Informs Future Ministry By Zoe S. Erler In 2009, Pastor Brian Sleeth found himself homeless. Now, he leads a ministry to the homeless in downtown Baton Rouge. READ NOW Reforming Generosity By Tim Townsend We need a theology of generosity that is solidly rooted in grace alone. READ NOW Ministry Transitions August - October 2025 By Staff Here is a list of pastoral and ministry transitions within the PCA from August 1 to October 31, 2025. READ NOW

AROUND THE WEB Trading TikTok for Time with God—and Each Other Some young Christians embrace lower-tech options. Clean Words and Clean Witness What a profile of budget director Russell Vought teaches us about Christian witness. ‘In God’s Timing’: 2 Adoptions, 31 Years Apart Our mission was always to say: How do we serve women between the choice for life, and then on the other side of the postpartum ward, how do we help make sure that women and children are thriving? It’s Here: Gen-Z Revival Hits Campuses This Fall   This level of spiritual engagement “is unheard of in our world." FOLLOW  |  DONATE  |  DAILY DEVOTIONAL

RNS Morning Report - Vatican report says church teaching bars women deacons, but stops short of final ruling

Top Stories Vatican report says church teaching bars women deacons, but stops short of final ruling (RNS) — A Vatican-appointed commission says current church teaching does not allow women to be ordained as Catholic deacons. Advocates for women deacons describe the decision as discouraging and warn it could push some women away from the church. In Minneapolis, clergy mobilize to manage expected ICE raids targeting Somali immigrants (RNS) — Preparing for ICE agents' presence in the city, an interfaith coalition shared best practices for dealing with law enforcement at houses of worship. Faith groups join other death penalty opponents in new campaign (RNS) — The new initiative points to an increase in the use of the death penalty over the past year as public support for it has fallen in the United States. Celebrating its first century, Xavier University of Louisiana perseveres as Catholic HBCU (RNS) — ‘Being rooted in faith is what leads us to be resilient,’ said the president of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament on Xavier’s Founder’s Day. Skillet Christmas single gets controversy-driven Billboard boost (RNS) — The Christian rock band's version of 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' has some critics calling the band 'demonic.' Opinion Vatican document on women deacons opens door to more confusion (RNS) — The opinion by the head of a commission charged with considering the question in effect states that the Catholic Church officially views women as 'other.' Stalin’s postwar terror targeted Soviet Jews – in the name of ‘anti-cosmopolitanism’ (The Conversation) — Thirteen Jewish leaders and artists were killed on the ‘Night of the Murdered Poets,’ one of the campaign’s most infamous examples of persecution. ICYMI Muslim students warn of spate of harassment by far-right Christian agitators (RNS) — Over the last two months, at least seven Muslim student groups in the U.S. have been harassed by right-wing Christian activists, said Mohamad Altabaa, a Texas student who is tracking harassment cases. Latinos are underrepresented in Catholic higher ed. These schools are trying to change that. AUSTIN (RNS) — Latinos’ absence on Catholic campuses, experts say, impacts their representation in church leadership as well as among influential Catholics in secular society. In Other News Dozens of Congress members urge court to allow Ten Commandments display in public schools Evanston church’s Nativity depicts baby Jesus zip-tied by ICE agents Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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