Friday' Catch: 'Bishop Jeffery Rowthorn (1934-2025)' And More

Bishop Jeffery Rowthorn (1934-2025)
The Rt. Rev. Jeffery Rowthorn, a liturgical scholar and prolific hymnwriter who served as Bishop Suffragan of Connecticut and Bishop of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, died July 23 at 91. He is probably best known for his hymn “Lord, You Give the Great Commission,” but also wrote about ecological spirituality and published several volumes of liturgical texts for pastoral ministry.

New prosecutor in ACNA trial of Bishop Ruch is named, and accused of conflict
The seven-member court also issued a public response contradicting the claims made by former prosecutor C. Alan Runyan earlier this week.

A Call to Orthodoxy: Reflections on Matthew Barrett’s Departure from the SBC
After more than twenty years of deep investment in Baptist life, Barrett has just announced his departure from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and MBTS.This isn’t the story of a man leaving in protest over politics or platform wars. It’s the story of a theologian — shaped in Baptist institutions, trusted by Baptist churches — walking away not because he lost faith, but because he feared the denomination is heading in the wrong direction.

Also See: I am leaving the SBC and becoming Anglican

Church of England Newspaper Suspends Publication
Andrew Carey, editor of The Church of England Newspaper since 2022, made an announcement July 22 that any editor dreads: his publication may have seen its last edition.

Also See: Church of England Newspaper Ceases Publication

South Dakota priest, family assess losses and blessings after tornado destroys home
The Diocese of South Dakota is calling for prayers after one of its priests, the Rev. Kim Fonder, and his wife, Tammy Fonder, lost their ranch home in a tornado that touched down early morning July 23 on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation. Their three grandchildren and a family friend were with them in the house when the tornado hit, but all escaped uninjured.

Lynn Green elected Vice Chair of Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has elected its first Vice Chair in the form of Lynn Green, the current General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB). She was elected at the BWA Global Council in Brisbane, Australia, where the former General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, Karl Johnson, was selected to be the first Chair of the BWA.

Heatwaves Are Getting Worse—Here’s How Faith Communities Can Help
If you live in the United States, chances are you have experienced the extreme heat waves sweeping the nation. According to PBS, 220 Million Americans– roughly two-thirds of the country– are feeling the exhausting and dangerous effects of this extreme heat. “Extreme heat” refers to high temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit which last for at least two days.

Why Mid-Size Churches Have a Growing Advantage in Reaching People
A time existed when both Thom and Sam wondered if the mid-size church would dwindle as people transferred into megachurches and planted new churches. Today, mid-size churches have distinct advantages. The co-hosts cover several reasons why mid-size churches have new opportunities to thrive.

Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 1: The New Norm
While most people would consider a church with an average worship attendance of 50 to be small, those churches are larger than 50% of churches in America. In this three-part series, Thom and Jess discuss the implications of these developments. In this first of three podcasts, they discuss the reality of this new landscape.

Also See: Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 2: The New Structure; Why We Must Rethink the Smaller Church, Part 3: The New Opportunity

When Your Church Facility Is Too Large for the Actual Attendance: Four Solutions
It is becoming a common problem. Many church facilities were built for a different church era, specifically when more people attended. Now, your space is too large for the number of people who show up each week. Thom looks at this issue and offers four possible solutions.

5 Practices to Lift Up Young Church Leaders
Here are the top five things congregations can do to help young people discern a call to Christian ministry....

‘How Vulnerable Should You Be as a Pastor?’—Carey Nieuwhof Offers Helpful Framework
“How vulnerable should you be as a pastor?” asked ministry leader Carey Nieuwhof in a recent video on his YouTube channel. Nieuwhof is founding pastor of Connexus Church in Barrie, Ontario, as well as an author and speaker who focuses on helping church leaders thrive.

The Limits of Pastoral Care: When Counseling Isn’t Appropriate

Pastors provide spiritual guidance, but there are times when counseling crosses into territory best handled by trained professionals. In this episode, Josh and Sam explore the limits of pastoral care—when ethical, legal, and practical concerns make it necessary to refer someone elsewhere. From mental health crises to marital conflicts beyond a pastor’s expertise, knowing when to step back is crucial for both the pastor and the person seeking help. We’ll discuss red flags, healthy boundaries, and how pastors can support without overstepping.

The Preacher's Trust
Every preacher faces a defining question when stepping into the pulpit: Where will I place my trust? This question reveals not only our understanding of ministry but also our view of God and ourselves.

The history behind the first Welsh Bible and its connection to Queen Elizabeth I
The Welsh language has had the whole Bible since 1588. This is the story....

Experiencing Life in Community
There’s something about community—the relationships, the sense of belonging, the support and encouragement, the sympathy and understanding—that deepens our lives and anchors our souls. But the community pictured in shows like Cheers or Friends, or more recently in This Is Us or Stranger Things, pales in comparison to the truest, best, clearest picture of community that has ever been presented—the new community, called together by Christ for Christ, better known as the Church. And no better snapshot of its life can be found than in the second chapter of Acts....

Image Credit: Episcopal Church in Connecticut