Letters from the General Minister

Possibility Posturing

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister October 21, 2019   I write this from the annual meeting of Mid Council leaders, where we have enjoyed much provocative discussion about new possibilities for being … →

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Love Incognito?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister October 17, 2019   For followers of Jesus, some forms of love require that they be exercised incognito. Alas, we often seek to make obvious our forms … →

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Of Immigrants and Pilgrims

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister October 10, 2019   The story of God’s people in Scripture is marked by repeated emigrations and immigrations. The great father of faith, Abraham, migrated far from … →

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Goodness and Fidelity

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister September 26, 2019 Nothing could be more rewarding than hearing our Lord’s “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:14-30) Good servants are “good” in two major … →

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How We Gather

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister September 19, 2019   Today we meet as a presbytery, our annual pilgrimage to the beautiful Crestfield Camp and Conference Center near Slippery Rock. We have settled … →

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Why Have Presbytery Meetings?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister September 12, 2019   Our presbytery meets next week, at Crestfield Camp and Conference Center, at 10:00 a.m. on September 19. Why should anyone bother to drive … →

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Renewing Disciple-Making

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister September 5, 2019 It was the summer of ’93 and the beginning of a new pastoral call, when someone approached me about plans for the upcoming Rally … →

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Remembering Well

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister August 29, 2019 In the primeval story of Noah and the flood, God promises never again to flood the earth, setting the sign of the rainbow as … →

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Praying Jesus’ Way

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister August 22, 2019 When his disciples asked him to teach them to pray, Jesus responded with what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” The versions reported by Matthew … →

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Of Walls and Open Borders

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister August 15, 2019   Bumper sticker theology has long been a booming business. From the alarmist – “Hell is Real!” – to the clever – “In case … →

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Breaking the Impasse

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister August 8, 2019   In my August 1 letter, I mourned yet another instance of senseless gun slaughter in our community, this time far too close to home, … →

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In the Army of the Lord

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister August 1, 2019 It struck way too close to home for me. I saw it first on social media, then in the newspaper – a minister was … →

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Give it a Rest!

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister July 11, 2019 “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” So says the 1935 Gershwin musical Porgy and Bess. Time to move more slowly, take a load off, … →

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