Stories from the Big Tent

Read stories from the Big Tent, June 11-13, in Atlanta, Georgia.

No business as usual
1,500 gather in Atlanta for first-ever ‘Big Tent’ celebration

Opening doors (or flaps)
Big tent apt metaphor church as reflection of God’s intent, preacher says

Keep it Simple, Stupid
Clear vision, faith in God’s plan, are keys to multicultural outreach, Chesnut tells Big Tent gathering

Not business as usual
Big Tent workshop urges elders to re-think role, take risks, be ‘dangerous’

Justice for neighbors
PC(USA) looks toward a new immigration reality

Anti-static
PC(USA) Web content developers offer help to struggling webmasters

From maintenance to mission
McDonald challenges disciple workshop to become sacrificial

Grow together
Churches and seminaries need to change how they find and prepare pastors, says outgoing seminary president

'This is my beloved church'
Evelyn Hwang’s retirement is honored at the Big Tent

Into the neighborhood
More than 100 Presbyterian peacemakers hear call to be neighbors “on the Jericho road of life”

Smile!
Extending warmth to visitors more important than the preaching, Nishioka tells National Elders Conference

Making messes
Presbyterians must embrace messy life of ministry in the world, Baird says

What comes after vision
Prayer unlocks strategic planning, multicultural church experts say

Health signs
What are the symptoms of a healthy church, presbytery and seminary?

Looking for Jesus on the streets
Peacemakers take an “Urban Plunge” into the contrasts and contradictions of downtown Atlanta

Young adults see the world through different lenses
Understanding consumerism is key, Nishioka tells Stewardship Conference

Phil Tom receives PHEWA’s Rod Martin award
Social welfare umbrella group opens conference with award, look at future

Able to stand
Leadership requires knowledge, skills and desire, Racial Ethnic Convocation told

Every birth has a story
Diversity in geneology and cultural history produces community

Tell me about it
Communicators urged to view storytelling as gift from God

Giving back to the community
Young adults return gift of service to Big Tent host city

Amazed and Perplexed
Young adults return gift of service to Big Tent host city

How a handshake can be a life saver
Our new opportunity to serve those new to America

Spinning the multicultural church web
Celebrating diversity and confessing stereotyping is key, Jin Kim says

‘Very human’ history honored by PWG
Story of Louisville congregation wins Presbyterian first-book award

The ritual of storytelling
Recalling history creates unity, Racial Ethnic Convocation told

Study hall
Elders’ task is to help others get into the Bible, Gardner says

Reluctant about evangelism
Mead, Hoey present attitudes, styles that can overcome fears

Tools for effective spiritual leadership
No church will rise above the quality of its elders

Celebrating Johnnie Monroe
PHEWA award recipient urges church to ‘stand up and cry out’

What time is it?
Regain sense of urgency in responding to God, McNeil urges

It takes a village to build a neighborhood
The world meets ‘Mr. Rogers’ in Atlanta church’s cardboard creation

Stewardship approaches must take cultural diversity into account, Reese tells Big Tenters
Giving and involvement are inseparable, veteran fundraiser says