Church Polity and Online Sacraments in the Christian Reformed Church
Kathy Smith, Adjunct Professor of Church Polity at Calvin Theological Seminary, reflects on the administration of sacraments in the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. She advises Christian Reformed churches to practice pastoral flexibility while still abiding by church polity, and provides a historical example from World War II, related by her predecessor Henry De Moor.
Streaming Worship Services and Copyrights in a Time of Social Distancing
In an age of social distancing and remote, online worship due to COVID-19, churches are figuring out how to honor copyrights in entirely new ways, and companies are giving special allowances during this time.
Mark L. MacDonald on Gospel-Based Discipleship and Indigenous Christians
Archbishop Mark L. MacDonald speaks and writes about gospel inculturation in Indigenous ministries, especially among First Nations Anglicans in Canada. Churches everywhere can learn from the Indigenous Gospel-Based Discipleship model for worship, governance, and community life.
Trauma-Informed Care in Church Worship and Life
This topic showcase highlights resources to help churches use trauma-informed practices in church worship and congregational life. Faith communities are more effective when they become more aware of adverse childhood experiences, collective trauma, and other tragedy.
Pandemics and Public Worship Throughout History
As the pandemic COVID-19 brings isolation and unprecedented challenges to congregations around the world, it can be of great comfort to reflect and learn about how Christian churches have responded to epidemics and pandemics throughout history.
Holy Week in Uncertain Times
The pandemic of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, has thrown Lent and Holy Week plans into turmoil. But the remembrances and celebrations of Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday present opportunities for both innovation and stability amid uncertainty.
Funeral Practices during COVID-19: Praying for Wisdom in Pastoral and Liturgical Adaptations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, pastors and churches preparing to conduct funerals face unique challenges, particularly restrictions on public gatherings even for those who grieve.
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Faith Community
Resources to help churches and other faith communities do ministry with people affected by adverse childhood experiences or other trauma.
Indigenous Christian Worship Resources: Where to Start
Many congregations are beginning to realize that they live, work, and worship on land taken from Indigenous people. Learning about First Nations and Native American Christians can help worshipers from other cultures see the gospel with new eyes.
COVID-19 and Worship: Resources for Churches Adapting to Social Isolation
As containment of COVID-19 forces your worshiping community to implement "shelter-in-place" worship and practice social isolation, we offer these resources to help you plan and cope in ways that encourage and support your community. These resources were initially created from events and in response to different situations and can be adapted for worship that encourages prayer and Christian community during this time of social distancing necessary to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Challenges of Women in Ministry
Symposium on Worship 2020 hosted a global panel of women ministry leaders from Australia, the Middle East, and North and South America.
Worship Symposium Speaks Hope and Grace
The theme of “Living in Hope and Grace,” based on 1 Peter, threaded through much of the three-day Calvin Symposium on Worship that drew some 1,500 participants Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 from across North America and beyond.
