Cultural Traditionalists

Clergy Competence. For various reasons, a point is reached when a pastor simply is no longer competent to hold this most trusted position in the church. Often, it is a matter of disqualification due

In this book, the authors state that the doctrine of the church or ecclesiology that have always been a major concern for the people called Baptists. They emphasize this statement is neither clean assumption nor moral denominational rhetoric. Rather it can be established by incontrovertible evidence. Moreover, they also explain what then is a right or biblical polity. The authors make an exegetical and theological case for a Baptist polity in the book. Right polity, they argue, is congregationalism, elder leadership, diaconal service, regenerate church membership, church discipline, and a Baptist approach to the ordinances.

For the Life of the World authored by Fr. Alexander Schmemann an Orthodox priest was originally intended as a “study guide” in the 1970’s for students preparing themselves for Missionary work, giving them a “world view”, helping to speak about Christian view points along with an approach to how they coalesce through the eyes of the Orthodox Church. A key theme Fr. Schmemann discussed is Secularism, which he believes developed from our progressive alienation of the Christian culture. Additionally, he presents his interpretation of the transforming biblical themes of creation, fall, and redemption through a sacramental understanding. Fr. Schmemann’s experiences within the Orthodox Church liturgy reveal unity in the meanings of these three themes. It is through these understandings he believes can effectively offset the disastrous effects of secularism while revitalizing the sacramental understanding of the world.

In the article, Baptists and the Ecumenical Movement by John Briggs, the role and history of Baptists in their engagement with the Ecumenical Movement is discussed. This article critique will summarize the main points of the article, as well as look at the strengths and weaknesses. The conclusion of this critique will determine the overall effectiveness of the article itself.

respecting the clergymen’s credibility as men of “good will” which also shows the kind of

Sinitiere, P. L. (2013). Will the evangelical church remove the color line?: Historical reflections on divided by faith. Christian Scholar's Review, 43(1), 41-63. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.library.trevecca.edu/docview/1443781598?accountid=29083

Norris and Speers’ journey sent them out around the US in search for five different churches that undoubtedly worship differently but at the same time follow the universal Christian belief of the one true God. The goal of their expedition was to set out to explore the amount of politics that are found in many congregations. Out of these five distinguished churches, Norris and Speers’ focused on analyzing the congregation’s worship tactics, along with their leaders and mission of the church.

Deck’s theological works are often based on very practical matters, which is very common amongst Hispanic-American theologians and their works. He does not skirt around the facts in his works, instead he bluntly states them and uses them to form this works. He often notes that Latinos/Hispanics are quickly becoming the largest demographic amongst the Catholic Church in the United States; citing changing demographics in states such as Iowa, Alaska and North Carolina to show that the presence of Latinos is no longer a purely regional matter (A Latino practical theology: Mapping the road ahead, 274-275). With these observations in mind, Deck has identified several realities, issues and potential solutions relating to Hispanics throughout the Catholic Church in the United States. As touched on earlier, he has argued that the church leadership needs to add more Hispanic priests to its ranks to better tend to the unique cultural needs of its increasingly Hispanic membership. Fr. Deck also warns that, perhaps as a symptom of the previous issue, the clergy is turning its back on, or even actively shunning, popular religion while becoming overly professional and less close to the members of their respective parishes. Deck has expressed concern that these practices are directly harming and belittling the beliefs of Hispanics, who have always had popular religion popular religion play a central role in their religious lives, that by doing so the church may be alienating a large

The Preference-Driven Church. People cared more about their preference, than being servants, and living out obedience to the mandate for all Christians, that Christ gave. Preference driven churches are self-serving, self-giving, and self-entitled. It was about me, myself, and I.

The members of the Priesthood, Vowed Religious Brothers and Sisters, and the Diaconate take on a different, more difficult way of life to make it possible for the Church to exist. They all make vows, knowing they will be persecuted and made fun of for their beliefs more than laypeople. Yet, they all follow their vocations to express their love for God.

Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community: The Social Dimension of Christian Faith. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984. Kindle.

When I hear for the fist time the God's call in my life, I never envision how could be a priestly life until now. Moreover, the vocation to the priesthood always is a self-donation to the Christian community to serve and love them as a pastor do, and I learned this here in Laredo. This journey makes me feel alive, and consequently, is providing meaning to my entire existence. However, to achieve the happiness in my vocation, I require human, spiritual, academic, and pastoral guidance to serve with high-quality to God and his flock.

#276 “Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up.” In the world around us we there is much suffering, and at times we can focus on the crucifixion of the Lord and Christ’s suffering. We cannot focus on the crucifixion and not acknowledge the resurrection. The resurrection of our Lord is the basis of our faith. Without it, we would be lost! The good news is we win! When our pastor comes to our office after daily Mass, I always ask how it went and his response always is good news- we win! This is the basis of our joy and this joy can only be taken from us with our consent. If we become of the world, we find ourselves empty vessels constantly seeking ways to fill our lives, when the only thing that can fill us is our Lord. Our Parochial Vicar often reminds me to try to look at the world with sacramental eyes. “We recognize that the Sacraments have a visible and invisible reality, a reality open to all the human senses but grasped in its God-given depths with the eyes of faith.” - USCCB.org. I am blessed to have the wonderful spiritual direction to guide me along my journey. It wasn’t until I returned back to the Church that I heard the term spiritual director. As a cradle catholic and a product of 12 years of Catholic school, it is new for me to see priests as someone you go to seek guidance from outside of confession. I go to

Gilbert Bilezikian gives four areas that need to be addressed when administering the church here on earth, 1. A shared faith, 2. A share purpose, 3. A shared lifestyle and 4. A shared authority (Bilezikian, 1993, p. 195-197). A shared faith is noted in Ephesians 4:5 where God’s people are told to have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (NIV). Gilbert tells his readers, “every church needs to formuloate clearly its understanding of the Christian faith” ( (Bilezikian, 1993, p. 195). With this written statement everyone within the church will have a common ground from which to govern, with all people knowing what the belief of that church is.

One of the footers in the foundation of my ministry which supports the philosophy by which I approach the churched and non-churched can be found in Matthew 9:10-13. It is both the intentional formulation of the opportunity in which Jesus frames this footing and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer to which we must respond. Not only does the unfolding dynamics of the text present the attitude of the church in opposition to the needs of the non-churched, but it also reveals the heart of Jesus as he ministers to needs of both concerns, while establishing His ministry of reconciliation unto which we are called and to be measured. In the text, Jesus responds to the thoughts and the inquiry of the Pharisees about his ministry, in as much as he still responds to the church and religious leaders of today. Specifically, he instructs them to go and learn the meaning of what he has said”; and by this example, to those who ask because they truly don’t know, we neither offend, neither do we defend, but by the same spirit of truth, we appeal to those who have the heart of God. Within the context of the churched and the non-churched, examples of this is evidenced, as the church today has been divided into fragments of denominational doctrinal teaching, including but not limited to the offer of salvation through one’s own consciousness, absent the receiving of the work of atonement by Jesus Christ and by faith and confession of the same. In this light, the