Phillip Blackburn, Author at The Presbyterian Outlook https://pres-outlook.org News and Articles from the The Presbyterian Outlook Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:58:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://pres-outlook.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/outlook-logo.svg Phillip Blackburn, Author at The Presbyterian Outlook https://pres-outlook.org 32 32 How can we best serve small and rural congregations?  https://pres-outlook.org/2024/05/how-can-we-best-serve-small-and-rural-congregations/ Fri, 31 May 2024 10:02:56 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=125515 The majority of PC(USA) congregations are small. Phil Blackburn, Daniel Lee and Caroline Dennis talk about important denominational issues from this perspective.

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]]> The great ends of the (small) church   https://pres-outlook.org/2024/01/the-great-ends-of-the-small-church/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 11:10:34 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=121328 Budgets and worship numbers matter — but they are not everything, Phil Blackburn believes.

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]]> The opportunity to practice the inclusivity of Jesus https://pres-outlook.org/2023/09/the-opportunity-to-practice-the-inclusivity-of-jesus/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 11:32:34 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=119267 "As rural people and leaders, we have both an opportunity and an obligation to both witness and testify to Jesus’ inclusive ministry," writes Phillip Blackburn. 

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]]> Back to school for churches https://pres-outlook.org/2023/08/back-to-school-for-churches/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 12:00:58 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=118832 Phillip Blackburn encourages rural churches to embrace the start of the school year. Can we learn something new, too?

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]]> How can we care for ruling elders? https://pres-outlook.org/2023/06/how-can-we-care-for-ruling-elders/ Tue, 27 Jun 2023 12:00:50 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=117201 In the PC(USA), there’s a lot of focus on pastor burnout — and rightly so. But lay leaders are also facing exhaustion, and we need to care for them, writes Phillip Blackburn.

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]]> Don’t forget rural residents https://pres-outlook.org/2023/05/the-church-can-address-social-isolation-in-rural-areas/ Wed, 17 May 2023 12:06:21 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=116330 Phillip Blackburn encourages the PC(USA) to remember the vulnerable outside of the city — and for Presbyterians in rural areas to utilize the gift of community.

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]]> Let’s reframe vitality https://pres-outlook.org/2023/04/lets-reframe-vitality/ Tue, 18 Apr 2023 11:36:40 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=115658 Phillip Blackburn offers two tips for thinking about church vitality in rural settings.

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]]> Why you should study the rural church https://pres-outlook.org/2023/03/why-you-should-study-the-rural-church/ Wed, 29 Mar 2023 11:04:20 +0000 https://pres-outlook.org/?p=114960 When Phillip Blackburn began as the director of the University of the Ozarks’ Thriving in Rural Ministry Program, he expected to serve small, dying churches. Instead, he has found livelihood and wisdom.

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