Bruce Reyes-Chow

[Photo By CarbonNYC] Last week as part of the new blog from The Presbyterian Leader, I posted my first contribution, Job Creation in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Lifting up an idea from soon-to-be seminary Graduate, Jack Jenkins, that post was not meant to be the first of many parts, but after further conversations, I decided to add another idea [...]

[image by .aditya.] It’s been about 15 years since I have had to do it, but a year after leaving my last church, I have finally updated my Personal Information Form (PIF) – For you non-Presbyterians, a PIF is our resume – While I would love to turn this post into a “Back in my day PIF’s [...]

What began as  a personal blogging hiatus, there has been such a positive response to the  to the Guest Blogging Crew, I am making this a regular feature on my blog. It is my intention to expose new/different voices to a larger audience so if you are interested in submitting an idea, please feel fill out this form. This week I am glad to [...]

Over the past few months I’ve had the privilege of being part of two task forces charged with thinking about the future of the National Council of Churches in the USA in light of so many changes in the cultural, religious and ecumenical landscape in the United States. Easy peasy. Founded in 1950, the National Council of the [...]

Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to be Speed Racer: jumping over canyons, navigating dangerous terrain and yeah, having a chimpanzee in my entourage. And while I don’t QUITE have a chimpanzee in my life, my life often feels like an off-road race as I joyfully bounce around the terrain of faith, politics and life. Wouldn’t have it any [...]

This spring I am taking a personal blogging hiatus and have invited some folks to blog in my stead. It is my intention help share some new voices and perspectives with a larger audience and keep my blog active during my break. If you are interested in guest blogging, feel free to submit an idea. Today I welcome my friend, Kyle Walker, to the blogging crew. [...]

When I was in seminary, my preaching professor used to tell us that we should be transformed by our own preaching: in the study of the text, in the preparation of the manuscript and in the actual act of preaching. This was not about falling into a “Wow . . . I am God’s holy gift to [...]

There are times when some things in life just make sense. What might seem like a foolish and risky endeavor to one person might be a natural convergence of clarity and call to another. With that said, after nearly a year since I announced the end of my time at a church that I helped to [...]

As part of my commitment to a couple of book projects, this spring I am taking a personal blogging hiatus and have invited some folks to blog in my stead. It is my intention help share some new voices and perspectives with a larger audience and keep my blog active during my break. If you are interested in guest blogging, feel free to submit an idea. Today [...]

[Photo from Fellowship Facebook Photos] UPDATE – At the bottom on this post, you’ll see that I have been adding links to other post on the ECO. In the scheme of the world’s problems, the goings on of the Presbyterian Church (USA) – no matter how much we would like it not to be true [...]

Nearly two decades ago, as a candidate for ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA) I had to take, what we Presbyterians call “ordination exams.” Like the medical boards for doctors or the bar for attorneys, we must pass five exams - Bible context, polity, theology, worship and exegesis - in order to move forward in the process to [...]

[photo: bartelomeus] With recent developments in the Presbyterian Church (USA) regarding changes in our constitution – AKA Amendment 10a – that now make it possible for openly LGBTQ folks to be ordained into leadership, there has been quite a bit of finger-pointing and blame directed towards those who live in the more progressive neighborhoods of our church.  If [...]

This past summer, the denomination of which I am a member, the Presbyterian Church (USA), approved a change to our constitution that essentially removes any obstacles to the ordination of any qualified and called LGBTQ person. For some this has been far too long in coming and for others this change has been a great cause of distress. [...]

Today is my final day as the pastor of Mission Bay Community Church and this post will be the last time, for a while, that I’ll focus on my pastoral life there.  It has been a splendid 11+ years, our good-byes were healthy and, after a few last administrative hand-offs, it will be time for [...]