Letters from the General Minister

Together Again – But Just Like Before?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, May 19, 2022 Together Again – But Just Like Before?[i] The psalmist exults, “How blessed it is when kindred live together!” (Psalm 133:1) We usually cite … →

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Spurring Each Other On

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, May 12, 2022 Spurring Each Other On “…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:25) As our … →

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Everywhere and Always

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, April 28, 2022 Everywhere and Always “Ubiquity.” I love words, especially words that you don’t run into very often. Words like “ubiquity.” When theologians talk about … →

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Two-Handed Theology

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, April 21, 2022 Two-Handed Theology Margaret Buchanan’s octogenarian eyes twinkled as she recounted to me one of her favorite children’s sermon stories from her days as … →

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Were You There?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, April 14, 2022 Were You There? As darkness settles in on the night before Jesus is crucified – the night we call “Maundy Thursday” – everything … →

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A Time to Weep

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, April 7, 2022 A Time to Weep As a child I was part of a Sunday School that from time to time ran contests on who … →

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The Church’s True Beauty

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 31, 2022 The Church’s True Beauty Seriously? The church is “beautiful”? We know all too well the church’s ugliness. Its shortcomings. Its divisions. Its judgmentalism. … →

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The Divine Discount

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 24, 2022 The Divine Discount Last week my youngest grandson, a kindergartener, gave me a card he made for my birthday. It is full of … →

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One, and Only One

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 10, 2022 One, and Only One Paul is flabbergasted about what’s happening at the beloved faith community he helped found in Corinth. Evidence suggests that … →

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Holy? Really?

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, March 3, 2022 Holy? Really?  We continue our conversation about the “marks of the church” (Book of Order F-1.0302) by considering what it means to confess … →

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When One Suffers

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, February 24, 2022 When One Suffers[i] This year Pittsburgh Presbytery is breaking with its tradition of devoting its February meeting to celebrating the history and ministry … →

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We Are Catholic

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, February 17, 2022 We Are Catholic! Today we continue a conversation about the ancient creedal “marks of the church” and how they are foundational for church … →

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Telling Our Story Fully

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, February 10, 2022 Telling Our Story Fully Everything about the church seems to be in flux as we navigate our way through and beyond the pandemic. … →

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Bedrock Church

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, February 3, 2022 Bedrock Church Over the past year these weekly letters have been exploring essential elements of the church’s identity, as set forth in our … →

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Dangerous Bubbles

A Letter to Pittsburgh Presbytery from Rev. Dr. Sheldon W. Sorge General Minister Thursday, January 27, 2022 Dangerous Bubbles Jesus’ final words to his disciples, according to Matthew, begin with “Go…” He had already given them practice in stepping out … →

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