A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: CHRISTIANITY – BEING MISUSED IN AMERICA
Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Lindsey is in the pulpit this Sunday as we continue our Advent journey exploring hope and fear. I look forward to hearing her message to us.
On another note, I’ve begun to read a book 
entitled: Being Presbyterian in a Dysvan-gelical America: A Guide to Reclaiming the Good News of God’s Grace. Written by Ted V. Foote Jr. and P. Alex Thornburg, the book speaks directly to Presbyterians who are disillusioned and confused by how Christianity is being misused in American culture.
I first became aware of Ted and Alex’s writing when I read their book: Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt which helped me and a few of the congregations I served then to understand the differences between the theology they might have grown up with or been confronted by, and the reformed theology that we practice in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). It not only helped clarify the differences but also how to talk about them. As one person said to me after reading the book: “I’m not crazy!”
After a recent conversation on Christian Nationalism and how to talk about our own beliefs and theology, I came across Ted and Alex’s new book referenced in the second paragraph above. Here is a link to an article about the book from the Presbyterian News Service (bit.ly/4j7Bqur). I haven’t yet finished the book, but plan to and I want to invite you to read the book with me. It would be great for us to read it and then plan a time where we can discuss it. Maybe it is over coffee or a lunch.
We need to be more public about our beliefs as we confront the very real damaging effects of Christian Nationalism and fundamentalist belief that we see every day in news reports and perhaps in our own faith journey stories. Let me know what you think and if you get the book. Let’s explore and journey together.
Blessings,
Pastor Karen