“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Jesus, Luke 12:49 What did Jesus mean? He came to cast fire on the earth, and wished we were already burning. A few decades ago, Catherine Doherty linked these words of Jesus to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to…
Spiritual Leadership for a New Day
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is stepping into the world of online learning. We’re experimenting with online and hybrid classes, and asking: How does this mode of learning fit into our vision for forming theologically reflective leaders? Old Testament Professor Steven Tuell is currently teaching the first online course in the M.Div. program. Beginning Oct. 6, I…
Cross-Cultural Outreach in Pennsylvania Churches
Many times in our Christian faith we can become spiritually narcissistic internalizing the gospel as a personal salvation experience as opposed to a communal restoration. We try hard to separate our spiritual selves from the broader community, retreating to an isolated faith and distorted reality of Christendom. Our actions may model more so the religiosity…