Two leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are the latest to sign a Christian statement denouncing the Ugandan “Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009.”

The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) and the Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the GA, added their names to those of dozens of other leaders from Catholic, mainline and evangelical churches who also signed the statement.

The “Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009” is under consideration by the Parliament of Uganda. If passed, the act would make homosexual behavior punishable by life imprisonment or death. It would also punish citizens for not reporting their …

At a time of year when parents are working even harder to fend off aggressive advertising and too many sweets — and in the wake of a national epidemic of childhood obesity — the interfaith coalition So We Might See is launching today (Dec. 16) its “Spare Kids the Ads” campaign.

In conjunction with the release of findings of other media-justice advocates, the campaign will focus on urging food and media companies to market more nutritious foods to our nation’s children. The campaign is schedule to run through January 2010.

“Today we are raising the first generation of children who …

First Presbyterian Church in Watervliet, N.Y., is in the midst of a yearlong 175th anniversary celebration, an occasion it has chosen to mark as not only a celebration of the past, but also of the future.

“Past, Present and Future” is the theme that sets the tone for four big events the church has planned during the year.

“It’s a chance to celebrate the years that have gone by while also preparing for the next 25 years,” said pastor the Rev. Steve Cronn. “We’re part of the past in Watervliet and we intend to be part of the future.”

The …

Dominican organizations focused on the rights of women are bringing in assistance from all over Latin America to aid them in their fight against Article 30 in the recently approved constitution which states that the right to life is inviolable from conception until death.
Ahead of the formal signing of the constitution by President Leonel Fernandez on Dec. 6, women’s rights leaders from Chile, Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Brazil and Uruguay met with local leaders at an all day forum here Nov. 24 and related the experiences of campaigns in their respective countries.

The forum is only the first of several …

Presbyterian mission workers Frank and Nancy Dimmock have worked with African partners for nearly 25 years to tackle some of the most challenging problems on the continent.

Together they have provided care for orphaned children, improved public health, expanded educational opportunities, and helped communities create income-generating activities.

Their work with partners has had a significant impact on the lives of many, but the complex problems facing the continent persist. Nevertheless, the Dimmocks are not pessimistic about the future. They draw strength from a strong mission heritage and hope from a firm faith in Jesus Christ.

Nancy grew up in Zaire …

The winners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Christmas Joy Offering Children’s Art Contest have been selected.

The contest, in which children up to age 14 were invited to submit art representing their own visions of the Christmas story, attracted more than 250 submissions from scores of churches across the country.

Judges from the Mission Interpretation program area narrowed the entries to about 15 in each of three age categories. The 48 finalists represented more than 25 congregations in 15 states. Staff members at the Presbyterian Center were then invited to vote on their three favorite pieces in each age group. …

A strong majority of Presbyterians supports U.S. participation in international agreements to lower carbon emissions, such as the one negotiators are trying to develop this week in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

They agree with proponents of the Copenhagen process that carbon emissions cause global warming. Seven in ten elders and other church members (69 percent) “strongly support” or “somewhat support” U.S. participation in carbon emission-cutting agreements. 

Even more ministers support participation: 80 percent of pastors and 89 percent of specialized clergy engaged in ministries other than pastoring a congregation.

But according to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Research Services office May 2009 Presbyterian …

The Sultan of Sokoto and the Archbishop of Abuja, along with other leaders of Nigeria’s Muslim and Christian faiths, have joined Nigerian government officials to launch an unprecedented effort to eliminate deaths from malaria throughout the country.

By the end of 2010, the religious leaders plan to train 300,000 imams, priests, pastors, and ministers to carry the malaria prevention message to cities, towns, and rural villages through sermons and other cooperative efforts. 

The effort was launched Dec. 9 at a press conference here led by Babatunde Osotimehin, Nigerian Minister of Health; Ray Chambers, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria; …

The Rev. I Howard Chadwick, who served Presbyterian pastorates for 29 years before serving as founder and executive director of the Outreach Foundation, died Nov. 11 in Charlotte, N.C. He was 91.

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Chadwick graduated from Moravian College and Duke Divinity School. He served the Moravian Church for the first seven years of his ministry before becoming organizing pastor of Charlotte’s Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1953. He served there 10 years, followed by pastorates at Central Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, MO for three years, followed by 16 years of service at First Presbyterian Church, …

Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of stories about congregations engaged in significant outreach and evangelism ministries, reflecting the General Assembly’s commitment to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide.” — Jerry L. Van Marter

Sixty-three days. That’s how long the members and surrounding community of StoneBridge Community Church in Simi Valley, Calif., have to read the New Testament.

At least that’s the goal of the New Testament Challenge.

The program, which started the first weekend in October, will see the church read the entire New Testament together and will incorporate Sunday sermons, small group study, individual reading …