Welcome to Common Grounds Online. Readers of Common Grounds have suggested a website to continue the explorations they began in the book. In keeping with the interactions of Professor MacGregor, Brad, Lauren and Jarrod, the theme of this site is ‘learning and living the Christian story.’
I have invited friends, and a few friends of friends, to communicate aspects of the Christian story that have been significant in their own lives. We’re all trying to find joy and pleasure in this life and the next, but often we forfeit the joy that could be ours by living out foolish, competing scripts. What distinguishes Common Grounds Online Contributors is not our own goodness, achievement or service, but rather the recognition of our need of God’s grace abounding in our lives.
In February, 2008 five PCA pastors gave talks at a conference called "Denominational Renewal". Hundreds of PCA pastors and seminarians attended.
We will host a forum on these talks at CGO. We will spend one week on each talk, in sequence. The forum will run from Monday, September 15 through Friday, October 17.
To listen to the original talks, go to the Denominational Renewal site and click on speakers. Under each of the speakers' biographies you will find a link to the audio of the message.
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CGO Forum on Denominational Renewal Conference
Sept. 15-Oct.17
The structure is as follows:
Mondays- Simpatico response
Tuesdays- Critical response
Wednesdays- Women or minority voices in the PCA response
Thursdays- Outside of the PCA response
Fridays- Original speaker of the talk at Denominational Renewal responds to the respondents
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Week 1 Sept 15-19 Responding to "Renewing Ethos" by Greg Thompson
Simpatico: Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer PCA in New York City
Critical: Ligon Duncan, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS
Minority/Women: Rebecca Jones, wife and mother, daughter of Edmund Clowney
Outside the PCA: Dan Dorianai, Pastor of Central Presbyterian Church (EPC), St. Louis
Original Speaker: Greg Thompson, Pastor of Trinity PCA in Charlottesville, VA
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Week 2 Sept 22-26 Responding to "Renewing Theology" by Jeremy Jones
Simpatico: John Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, RTS-Orlando
Critical: Sean Michael Lucas, Chief Academic Officer and Associate Professor of Church History, Covenant Theological Seminary
Minority/Women: Howard Brown, Pastor of Christ Central Church, Charlotte
Outside the PCA: Michael Walker, Theologian-in-Residence, Highland Park Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Original Speaker: Jeremy Jones, Associate Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Memphis
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Week 3 Sept. 29-Oct. 2 Responding to "Renewing Worship" by Bill Boyd
Simpatico: Reggie Kidd, Professor of New Testament, RTS-Orlando
Critical: Philip Ryken, Pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia
Minority/Women: Carl Ellis, Project Joseph, Chattanooga, TN
Outside the PCA: John Muether, Librarian & Professor of Church History at RTS-Orlando (member of the OPC)
Original Speaker: Bill Boyd, Senior Pastor of All Saints PCA in Austin -------
Week 4 Oct. 6-10 Responding to "Renewing Ecclesiology" by Matt Brown
Simpatico: Leo Schuster, Pastor of Christ the King PCA, Houston
Critical: Rick Lints, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Minority/Women: Diane Poythress, Ph.D. in Reformation
History and Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary
Outside the PCA: Russell Moore, Senior Vice President for Academic Administration; Dean of the School
of Theology; Associate Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Original Speaker: Matt Brown, Pastor of Park Slope Church, Brooklyn.
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Week 5 Oct. 13-17 Responding to "Renewing Mission" by Jeff White
Simpatico: Ray Cannata, Pastor of Redeemer Church, New Orleans
Critical: Derek Thomas, Professor of Systematic Theology, RTS-Jackson; Assistant Minister of Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS
Minority/Women: Elias Medieros, Professor of Missions, RTS-Jackson
Outside the PCA: Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church, founder of Acts 29
Original Speaker: Jeffrey White, Pastor of New Song Church, Harlem.
Don't Miss the CGO Forum on Denominational Renewal
I hope to say a few words about some of the stuff going on in my life that has kept me from blogging, but for now I want to call your attention to what I think is one of the
Wow, Glenn, this is an
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 17:24 — Tim Sharpe (not verified)Wow, Glenn, this is an incredible line-up. Very much looking forward to this series. Thanks for continuing the conference's dialogue.
Glenn great job on this
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 20:54 — Tony Stiff (not verified)Glenn great job on this discussion outline. I'm letting people know its coming. Will the comments be turned on or turned off during it?
I'm pretty doggone excited
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 09:22 — Al Tysinger (not verified)I'm pretty doggone excited about this.
Don't Miss the CGO Forum on
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 18:33 — JOLLYBLOGGER (not verified)Don't Miss the CGO Forum on Denominational Renewal
I hope to say a few words about some of the stuff going on in my life that has kept me from blogging, but for now I want to call your attention to what I think is one of the
where is the actual forum?
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 11:19 — sdesocio (not verified)where is the actual forum?