Weekly Outlook - The future is pastor-less?

Dear readers, Merry Christmas! As we turn the corner from Advent to the early days of 2025, here's a final look at the stories and books you were most interested in 2024.  Grace and peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor P.S. If you want your extra orders for our special issue on modern civil rights to arrive by February, don't forget to place your order by tomorrow. Learn more.

Trump’s Bible: Profaning the sacred for profit and politics Former President Trump's promotion of the "God Bless the USA Bible" desecrates the sacred in the name of profit and politics, writes Emery J. Cummins. Louisville Institute dismisses entire staff in restructuring move Terminations come amidst formal complaints and rapid turnover of executive directors. — Gregg Brekke The future of the PC(USA) is pastor-less, and that’s OK. A church can be viable without a pastor, writes Catherine Neelly Burton. Once we embrace this, churches can go about their work of being Christ’s body. God did not save Donald Trump "I’m glad Donald Trump is alive, and I’m quite confident God is, too. But my understanding of Christian theology makes me certain that God did not save the former president from assassination," writes Shane Claiborne. A prayer for peace and justice on Election Day Join us in prayer for peace, dignity, kindness, and justice on election. — Teri McDowell Ott PC(USA) Board of Pensions announces pricing for new benefits structure BoP new benefits structure unbundles family coverage from pastoral health care options. — Gregg Brekke POL-01 approved with amendment “Non-discrimination” removed from second proposed amendment. — Blake Brinegar A call to celebrate the Trans Day of Visibility on Easter Sunday When we embrace our trans siblings, the mystery of Easter bursts into our lives, writes Shea Watts. #GA226 advances two-part inclusivity change to Book of Order The Olympia overture now heads to presbyteries following GA for majority approval. — Gregg Brekke The ongoing dialogue on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) This summer, General Assembly commissioners will vote on amending the "Book of Order" to include sexual orientation and gender identity among the categories against which the PC(USA) will not discriminate. — Patrice Gaines Prayers for the new year... A prayer for walking into a new year by Karen Rohrer Holy yearnings: a prayer for the end of the year by Katy Shevel The top Outlook book recommendations of 2024... This Beautiful Day: Daily Wisdom from Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers Who better to speak to this time and place than everyone’s favorite Presbyterian minister, Mr. Rogers? — Amy Pagliarella Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition edited by Mark Elsdon “This book may help congregations that are far, far away from the sale of their church property avoid this seemingly inevitable fate.” — Beth Guzman Every Day for Everyone: 365 Devotions from Genesis to Revelation “Every Day for Everyone” is the daily devotional I’ll be reading in 2025, writes Amy Pagliarella. Season’s Greetings: Christmas Letters from Those Who Were There by Ruth L. Boling Season’s Greetings is a nativity set come to life as each character tells their story, describing the sights, sounds and smells of that night in Bethlehem. — Amy Pagliarella Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith by Bruce Reyes-Chow “It’s an excellent resource for individuals or groups who may have been wounded by a religious community, or for wandering, wondering folk who may know nothing about Christian faith…” — Lucy Forster-Smith Read the full list...

Did you know loneliness is America’s most significant health problem, according to Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy in 2022? Explore biblical wisdom and practical steps to cultivate meaningful friendships with this “Friendship” Bible study by Katy Shevel. Limited copies are available. Order by Friday, Dec. 27 for delivery in early February.