Weekly Outlook - A new Rachel Held Evans collection

Dear readers, This week, we’re celebrating some recognition for the work the Presbyterian Outlook published in 2025. At the Associated Church Press annual awards, the Outlook received five honors for reporting, criticism and theological writing. Awards are never the reason we do this work. But they do remind us why independent church journalism matters: thoughtful reporting helps the church better understand itself and the world God calls us to serve. We’re grateful to our writers, editors and readers for making this work possible, including: “Presbyterian Outlook reports on the PC(USA)’s mission restructuring” — ACP Award of Merit for in-depth coverage “Chicago pastors confront escalating violence at ICE detention center” by Harriet Riley — ACP Honorable Mention for long-format news writing “What Donald Trump and I have in common” by Patrice Gaines — ACP Award of Merit for personal experience writing “Why ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ may be the most Christian film of 2025” by Brendan McLean — ACP Award of Merit for criticism “Public theology and the many faces of Jesus” by Rachel Baard — ACP Award of Merit for scholarly writing Join Social Media Producer Jesy Littlejohn and me tomorrow at 1 pm to pull back the curtain a bit on the work behind these stories. We'll dive into highlights from the awards, the stories that mattered to us in 2025, and the current state of church storytelling and the Outlook's work. Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor Presbyterian Outlook  P.S. Want unlimited access to the Outlook? We're running a General Assembly special for first-time subscribers. A year of the Outlook for $9.95. Learn more.  P.S.S. Need help catching up on the issues coming to this year's GA? Download our free GA227 guide.  Hear from 2026 E.T. Thompson awardee Jimmie Hawkins! Join us on Facebook next Thursday at 12 pm ET.

Adapting together: A small church and Buddhist monks by David Williams   Thinking about prayer and posture by Brenda Moten Overture requiring PC(USA) ministers to be monogamous generates debate, confusion by Gregg Brekke Presbyterian Outlook wins five honors at Associated Church Press awards by Rose Schrott Taylor  Prayer and the problem of evil by Tara W. Bulger Overtures seek Israel embargo, genocide declaration by Eric Ledermann

In case you missed it... Braving the Truth: Essential Essays for Reckoning With and Reimagining Faith  In "Braving the Truth," Rachel Held Evans’ essays continue to guide doubters, seekers and exvangelicals toward hope-filled faith. — Amy Pagliarella Prayer and poetry: Proclamation and pause  Poetry is not proclaimed in a vacuum. Neither is prayer. Both teach us to construct our words with care and intention. — Kathryn Lester-Bacon How the Board of Pensions prices the Medical Plan Two principles guide the approach to pricing. — Todd Ingves The Presbytery of Milwaukee is just about set to host the 227th General Assembly The Committee on Local Arrangements practices its warm welcome on PC(USA) national staff. — Mike Ferguson Beyond the altar: Prayer as devotion, discipline and public witness Winterbourne Harrison-Jones reimagines prayer as activism, insisting that true communion with God must move beyond the sanctuary and into the streets.

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