Weekly Outlook - What are small churches to do?

Dear Outlook readers,  "Massive snake spotted hanging from a tree in Frick Park." After reading that headline, I canceled my daily COVID walk in the large Pittsburgh public park. Nuh-uh. Not today.  The snake was massive. Google it if you want a queasy thrill. It turns out it was native, which I suppose on paper is a good thing but didn't offer much comfort to me. After a couple of days, I gathered my courage to re-enter the park with a wary eye on the tree lines.  I thought of that snake when I read SueAnn Shiah's "On doppelgängers, bronze snakes and repentance." Shiah, a Princeton Theological Seminary student, calls American Christians to see their complicity in the Israel/Palestine war. I am convicted by Shiah's writing, particularly her use of Numbers 21 where God instructs the Israelites in the desert to make a bronze snake. When grumbling community members were bitten by the poisonous snakes God sent as retribution, a glance to the bronze model would save them. "The poison and the shame that runs through our veins will only be healed when we acknowledge that which torments us ... This is confession; this is the cross; this is the Eucharist..." Shiah writes. The only way toward healing and growth is to acknowledge the parts of ourselves that we most want to hide. How does this truth affect the way we see the war in Israel/Palestine? How does it affect the way we see the conversation about equipping small churches? How does it affect the way we see the plight of Black Presbyterian churches?  The promise of our faith is that redemption is possible, but not without brutal honesty and self-reflection. In Christ, Rose Schrott Taylor Outlook digital content editor

The future of the PC(USA) is being reformed by God by Allison Unroe As churches shrink and pastors retire, creative workarounds are redefining ministry by Elizabeth E. Evans Doing more with less: Smaller PC(USA) congregations face new leadership realities by Gregg Brekke Black Presbyterian leadership and churches with Warren Lesane Jr., Shavon Starling-Louis, Stephen Scott and Teri McDowell Ott  In case you missed it... On doppelgängers, bronze snakes and repentance If American Christians considered our complicity in the genocides of Jewish and Palestinian people, what would we realize about ourselves? SueAnn Shiah reflects. Christians Against Christian Nationalism translates TikTok activism to local politics The popular TikTok account is, in part, a response to the growth of ‘trendy’ fundamentalism on the platform. — Kathryn Post Hope is Here! Spiritual Practices for Pursuing Justice and Beloved Community Luther E. Smith Jr. proclaims that "Hope is Here!" as he invites us to practice and pursue justice in our churches and communities. — Amy Pagliarella The great ends of the (small) church Budgets and worship numbers matter — but they are not everything, Phil Blackburn believes. Small is beautiful: Readers write We asked you to write about small, beautiful moments in 250 words or less. Here are some of our favorite submissions.