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 [...]

[Photo by stephenmeszaros] One of my favorite people in the world is, pastor and friend, Jan Edmiston [blog|twitter]. Unless she has a secret life – which could be entirely possible – I don’t believe that Jan has won any world championships, saved anyone from a burning building or beat out a bunch of other people on some reality [...]

[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 [...]

[Photo by stina jonsson] I am putting together a draft syllabus proposal for a class that would cover the very broad topic of “practical” ministry. If you have ever graduated from seminary or know someone who did, I would love to know what you think should be included. In no way an exhaustive course on ministry, this broad survey will hopefully give [...]

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 [...]

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, My name is Bruce Reyes-Chow and I too am a Christian. I am also a Presbyterian minister, a husband, a father and a Democrat.  Identifiers claimed, I write to you today because I am frustrated with the singular version of Christianity that is dominating today’s public and political discourse. Like [...]

[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 [...]