Tuesday's Catch: 'Farewell to a Church Triumphant ' And More

Farewell to a Church Triumphant
The current run of failures in leadership and difficulties applying our disciplinary processes won’t be the death of the Anglican Church in North America. Far from it.

I make that prediction as one of a small group of people who witnessed the formation of the ACNA up close. The truth is, we have survived many near-death experiences over the years, even though most never made it into the Washington Post. We will survive this one as well. There is even something hopeful in the fact that we are a church that has a process for investigating and, if necessary, disciplining our own primary leader.

Still, there is both a warning and an opportunity for us in this moment of public accounting.

The ACNA has a seamy underbelly which has not escaped the notice of longtime observers of the ACNA. Its clergy and congregations have also displayed a proclivity to willingly let the wool be pulled over their eyes rather than acknowledge the chicanery involved in its establishment and the other dark spots in its history.

‘The future of Christianity is already here’: Gospel spreading at an ‘explosive’ rate in Africa
Evangelicalism is growing around the world but nowhere more so than in Africa where the increase has been “explosive”, says researcher Jason Mandryk.

By contrast, growth in Western nations remains “modest”, he told the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) on the first day of its World General Assembly taking place in Seoul this week.

America’s Hunger Crisis Is Growing
“I can’t stand for too long a time, or I lose my balance.”

This is what Rubem DaSilva, a 79-year-old retired accountant who lives alone in New York City, experiences when he tries to prepare a meal or go grocery shopping ever since his cerebral hemorrhage. His story reflects what I see every day: older Americans going hungry behind closed doors.

States are sounding alarm bells that SNAP benefits will run out as soon as next week—and I can’t stop thinking about Rubem and many others in his position. And while we're focused on the immediate crisis the government shutdown poses, we've already lost something far more permanent: our ability to see the next crisis coming.

Most Americans don’t share the MAGA vision
Last week, PRRI released our flagship American Values Survey. In this unprecedented political moment, we find party polarization remains a pernicious and growing aspect of American politics.

That Republicans and Democrats remain polarized in their views on a range of public policies, their political priorities and the direction of the country is hardly newsworthy. It is notable, however, that independents are far closer to Democrats in their views of many Trump administration policies than they are to Republicans. This explains in large part why President Trump’s job performance remains under water.

Yet for me, the most important takeaway from this year’s AVS is that most Americans, including in some cases majorities of Republicans, largely reject the worldview espoused by MAGA leaders.

Why Christmas Worship Music Still Matters: Leading Your Church Into Wonder
Few things shape the atmosphere of the Christmas season more than music. Long before anyone hears a sermon, the sound of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” or “Silent Night” softens hearts and points people toward Jesus. Christmas worship music has a unique way of bringing generations together, stirring nostalgia, and opening the door to spiritual reflection. For pastors and worship leaders, this season is more than a musical tradition—it’s a sacred opportunity to help the church encounter the wonder of the incarnation.

When done intentionally, Christmas worship music strengthens community, deepens faith, and reaches people who may not normally engage with church. The goal isn’t performance—it’s presence. As we plan, we must remember that worship is not just about singing; it’s about leading people into awe of Christ.

The Comfortable Words: A holy refrain that still assures modern souls
A moment in Anglican worship that reminds us of what is always true — even when our feelings waver.

Why (Really) Do We Become Prayerless?
What was the mental, emotional, or spiritual path that took me away from an awareness of God’s presence, away from obedience to the command to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? I usually notice a combination of three things: disappointment, deviancy, and distraction.

Denominational Discourse in the Age of the Algorithm
Everywhere I go, when I meet with leaders and pastors in various denominations, I encounter a common concern: how do we sustain denominational partnerships and healthy fellowship in a world where social media incentives are designed to pull us apart, in service of an algorithm that thrives on conflict? Even if only a minority of churchgoers and leaders are on the platforms most associated with controversy, and even if a tinier minority generate incendiary posts, these online dustups sometimes have outsized influence in directing conversations and hardening tribal lines. Why is this the case?

The Discipleship of Phones
Discipleship is not just about what we believe; it is about what shapes us day after day. In most churches, when we think about discipleship, we picture Bible studies, sermons, small groups, and prayer gatherings. All of those are essential.

But there is another discipler working quietly, consistently, and often more effectively than the church itself. It sits in our pockets, on our nightstands, and in our hands nearly every hour of the day. Our phones are discipling us.

For many believers, the phone has become a constant companion. It gives direction, fills silence, and creates rhythms of life. The question is not whether our phones shape us, but how. Unless we acknowledge this reality, we risk being formed more by technology than by the truth of the gospel.

Research from Harvard Recommends Surprising Health Hack: Go to Church 

Study after study has shown that people who attend religious services once a week or more are happier, healthier, and longer-lived than those who don’t.

11 Low-Stress Christmas Outreach Ideas That Actually Work
Christmas should be a season of joy, not burnout. Yet many churches enter December already exhausted. We feel the pressure to plan big events, draw large crowds, and make everything perfect. But what if meaningful ministry didn’t require massive productions? The most effective Christmas outreach ideas are often simple, relational, and doable for churches of any size. When we focus on loving people instead of impressing them, our outreach becomes both low-stress and deeply impactful.

Jesus didn’t call us to overwhelm ourselves—He called us to love our neighbors. This Christmas, your church can reach others in practical, heartfelt ways that build relationships and open doors for the gospel.

Why you can't debate unbelievers into the Kingdom of God
In an age addicted to argument, Christians have become remarkably good at talking — and remarkably poor at listening. Scroll through social media or walk past a campus debate table, and you’ll see believers armed with microphones, cameras, and carefully memorized rebuttals. The object is not conversion but conquest. The applause line has replaced the altar call.