Embracing the margins.   From the inception of the Progressive Christian Alliance, we have had a vision for reaching out to “the least, the lost, the left behind, and those for whom religion has become irrelevant.   We see this position to be very much in line with the teachings of Jesus, teachings that have sadly fallen into neglect.   The Church has often become such an institution that it spends more time and resources maintaining itself than reaching into ... Read Full Story

Contribute The OPEN TABLE is looking for contributiosns from the PCA and Progressive Christian community. If you are interested in writing articles, being a conference reporter or helping choose themes, topics and issues to explore contact the editor at Jasonderr@mac.com Read Full Story

LINKS!!! Links of interest to the PCA and all progressive Christians. Their inclusion here does not imply their endorsement by the PCA. They are provided for your discernment. http://mccchurch.org The MCC is a church for Gay and Lesbian Christians and their allies. They are practicers of Open Communion. http://www.ucc.org/god-is-still-speaking/ The UCC are a traditionally liberal denomination. Check out their website for information and resources. http://www.saintgregorys.org/worship... Read Full Story

Pro-Life or Life-Positive The Leadership Council in association with Theologian-In-Affiliation Jason Derr have released the following statement, encouraging a move away from a strict pro-life positions to ones that are Life-Positive, affirming the goodness of not only the unborn, but of poor, rape and incest victims, the earth and those facing the hell of war. Pro-life or Life Positive? For many decades much of the Christian conversation in the political arena has centered on the issues of ... Read Full Story

The views on Ordination here in do not speak to the realities of ordination in the PCA. Instead it is an introduction to conversation on the nature of ordination and its role in the our lives. 1. Toward a Theology of the Laity I am often asked by my seminary and church colleagues if I feel limited in my calling by not pursuing the path of ordination. The tragedy of such a question is that it misses an important reality of the life of the laity in the church: they are already ordained by th... Read Full Story

The following are provided as a resource for worship, corporate and private. The worship of the PCA is wonderfully diverse, and as time goes by we will learn ways to maintain and share our differences and create unique forms signifiant to us. Feel free to use these. Their inclusion here does not imply support by the PCA or Open Table. Progressive Christian Alliance Statement of Faith: We believe in God, whose love is the source of all life and the desire of our lives whose love was given a ... Read Full Story

We are becoming church! We are becoming the body of God in the world. PCA ministries and congregations are held together not by a concise doctrine of faith, but a common journey. We should not be fooled by the name 'Progressive' as if we are going to arrive at a final destination, the perfect world where we have all the answers. Progressive means we are progressing, in a new place each day, on the journey. Ours is an Advent Journey. It is a pregnant journey of expectation into th... Read Full Story

Wikizines are interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit - and this one is called "Open Table". Here you can find fresh voices and respond in real time. Some members write articles about recent news and trends related to the wikizine's topic, others recount relevant personal stories or share their favorite pictures and video clips. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this wikizine? Well, then put on your journalist's cap and add your o... Read Full Story

IN CONSIDERATION OF THE THEOPOETICby Jason Derroriginally published on Helium.com WHY A THEOPOETIC?     When Plato thinks of theologians he thinks of poets engaged in God-Speak. These poets, though, are radicals deserving of expulsion from his perfect Republic. We should not be surprised by this; didn't George Bush cancel a poetry night after 9/11? Have not the worst of tyrants always sought to control speech and expression?     The truth is that our poetry ... Read Full Story

Well...Shannon (of Erosophy) said i should move to wordpress. Her words 'its sexier'. This, of course, is a great way to make me NOT move. I mean, 'sexy', is the buzz word of teh sonsumer culture. To use that as my justification is to opt in to a system that uses its marketing notions to create zones of 'approved' and 'not approved'.But, i do want to be sexy.So...http://theopoetics.wordpress.com/?p=21&preview=true Read Full Story