by Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle Current data indicates that an increasing number of Americans identify themselves as ‘unchurched’. This includes not only those who, in their adult life, do not go to church, but also a great number who were not raised within a church tradition. While it seems to me that more…
by Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle It has long been a well-established ‘given’ that the sermon plays a crucial role in any worship service. The importance of the preached word was a valuable insight of and priority established in the Reformation and in the years since the Second Vatican Council, the Roman Catholic Church…
by Rev. Dr. Bob LaRochelle What is Adult Education like in your congregation? How is the level of participation? Are the topics you study engaging, and does their complexity challenge you to think deeply? Do you find yourself surprised or even shocked by what you are learning? I have worked in various capacities in…
by Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle The following are some rather established facts regarding the current state of institutionalized religion in the United States: 1. Traditional mainline denominations have experienced a significant decline in numbers. 2. Mergers and cooperative arrangements between/among denominations have raised questions regarding the relative importance of denominations and whether affiliating with…
by Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle [ene_ptp]At my church, as at most, I would suppose, we offer a regular program of adult education. Over the course of time, I have led sessions on a variety of topics ranging from social issues to hot topics in the modern church ( e.g. same sex marriage, the death…
by Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle At this point in our culture, three significant realities are operating at one and the same time:[ene_ptp] There is significant variety in the different religious perspectives held by Americans and the number of functioning religious groupings. Religious pluralism is a reality. There is a real lack of knowledge…
