The Pastor's Heart with Dominic Steele

Church music is one of the most formative and contested parts of local church life.
People join churches because of music. People leave churches because of music. But music is not a filler between the sermon and the prayers. The songs we sing put theology into people’s mouths and memories.
So how should we choose the songs we sing in church?
Mal York, the dean of students at Sydney’s Moore Theological College, joins us to talk about principles and pragmatics in choosing songs for church.
We discuss theological depth, singability, musical excellence, doctrinal drift, performance culture and what to do with songs from movements like Hillsong, Bethel and Elevation.
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Dominic Steele says 'There are no rocks being thrown from this corner.' 

Dominic Steele's Pastor's Heart for Sam Allberry.

I, like many Pastor’s Heart viewers, read online in the middle of the day on Monday that Sam Allberry had engaged in inappropriate relationship with a man in 2022 and that, as the statement said, while the relationship did not go as far as it could have, it was a serious breach of trust, and that Sam is currently disqualified from gospel ministry.
I immediately stopped and prayed for Sam and then wrote to him to say that I care for him, love him, have stopped to pray for him and that there are no rocks being thrown from this corner. 
Full Statement from Immanuel Church Nashville 

#thepastorsheart #samallberry
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In the UK there are serious signs of a narrowing pipeline into ministry recruitment and training. Fewer people are coming forward through some of the traditional routes. Traineeships are under pressure. Residential theological education is changing. 
And churches are asking: where will the next generation of pastors, evangelists, church planters and ministry leaders come from?
In Australia, it is not the same story, but there is a similar question. Geoff Folland has argued that the old model of the young, full-time, residential theological student is no longer the dominant reality. Colleges face rising compliance costs, changing student profiles and tighter finances. And, churches, apprenticeships, parachurch organisations and mission agencies are now doing more of the early work of formation.
So is this a Bible college problem? A local church problem? A recruitment problem? A funding problem? Or an ecosystem problem?
Orlando Saer is Senior Pastor of Christ Church Southampton, Chair of Trustees of 9:38 and part of the team behind the Yarnton Gospel Workers Trust launched last week — a new UK initiative seeking to remove blockages and multiply gospel workers for the harvest.
Yarnton Gospel Workers Trust Link
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How should Christians respond when voluntary assisted dying is publicly framed as dignified, compassionate and courageous?
James Valentine has been rightly honoured as a much-loved broadcaster in the wake of his death last week.  But alongside the tributes there’s been significant reflection on his choice to use voluntary assisted dying in the language of control, dignity, generosity and dying “his way”.
How do we honour and grieve a much-loved public figure, while still asking serious ethical and pastoral questions about voluntary assisted dying? Has the public conversation shifted from VAD as a last resort to VAD as a normal end-of-life choice?
As we think carefully about death, autonomy, compassion, medicine, conscience and Christian hope we are joined by:
Dr Megan Best, senior researcher and professor of bioethics at the Institute of Ethics & Society at the University of Notre Dame Australia & Director of Ethicenter and 
Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan of the University of Notre Dame.  Michael is also on the board of Freedom for Faith and Ethical End of Life Care. 
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Not every funeral is great.  Sometimes they go too long, sometimes the gospel is not clear, sometimes the content overlaps. 
How do you create a funeral service that God would be pleased with, connects well with people, honours the deceased and serves the bereaved?
David Cook is former Principal of Sydney Missionary and Bible College,
Sandy Grant is dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney,
and Gary Coleman is former chaplain to the Motor Racing Industry. 
The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches. 
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