A special committee authorized by the 218th General Assembly (2008) has announced that it will recommend to next summer’s 219th Assembly that the Belhar Confession be added to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’ Book of Confessions.
Amending the Book of Confessions requires a two-thirds vote by two successive General Assemblies plus a two-thirds ratification vote by the denomination’s 173 presbyteries between Assembly ballots.
The confession was written in 1982 and adopted in 1986 by the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in response to the apartheid system of racial separation in South Africa. It declared apartheid a sin and the church’s theological …
Organizers of the first-ever Big Tent event this summer in Atlanta told the General Assembly Mission Council meeting here Sept. 22-25 that the gathering exceeded every expectation.
The Big Tent brought together 10 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministry conferences in one place June 11-13. It was conceived as a “family gathering” in the off years between General Assemblies to celebrate the church’s ministry and mission without the encumbrance of parliamentary procedure and difficult decision-making that characterizes the Assembly legislative sessions.
Curtis Kearns, executive administrator of the GAMC, said conference planners were aware of the risk of staging a major event in …
The deaths of 25 children from severe malnutrition this year in Guatemala, mainly in the eastern province of Jalapa, shows that the specter of hunger is still haunting the country, aggravated by the global economic crisis and drought.
On Sept. 11, Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), described the situation in Guatemala as “desperate.”
An estimated 54,000 families are suffering from food shortages in the area known as the “dry corridor” — the eastern provinces of Zacapa, Jalapa, Jutiapa, El Progreso and Chiquimula — as well as Baja Verapaz in central Guatemala and the west-central Quiché, …
The new Form of Government Task Force of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has The Form of Government Task Force has submitted the final draft of its report to the 219th General Assembly (2010).
The task force voted unanimously at its meeting here last month to approve the report.
The new proposal makes some changes from the recommendations regarding the Form of Government (FOG) that the General Assembly considered in 2008, but it keeps intact some key recommendations from that first plan, including some considered controversial.
Among them:
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
But for two pastors of such a setup in Las Cruces, N.M., seeing the congregations work and thrive together is what brings them the most joy and satisfaction.
First Presbyterian Church is led by the Rev. Norm Story. Housed within …
The priesthood has joined journalism as one of the most dangerous occupations in Mexico, according to a report by the Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The report, “Neopersecución de Sacerdotes en México” (Neo-Persecution of Priests in Mexico) by the Catholic Multimedia Center (CCM), affiliated with the Bishops’ Conference, says that 15 Catholics have been murdered since 1993, including a cardinal, 11 priests, and three members of religious orders.
In addition, at least seven bishops and 120 priests have received death threats from drug trafficking groups this year, the report says.
“The Vatican is aware of the situation of the clergy in …
The Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Unions and Christian Marriage has acknowledged what has been clearly demonstrated in debates, governing body votes and judicial decisions throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Presbyterians are not of one mind on the role of same-gender relationships in the church.
The special committee, authorized by the 2008 General Assembly, unanimously approved its preliminary report to the 2010 Assembly here Sept. 17, answering the central question before it — What is the place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community? — with a three word response: “We cannot agree.”
Though it reached unanimous …
Starting next week, dozens of mission co-workers will visit presbyteries across the country as part of the second World Mission Challenge.
From Sept. 25-Oct. 18, 45 mission speakers will visit 152 presbyteries, telling stories of how they’ve seen God at work in the world.
Although fundraising is not the goal of the challenge, speakers will educate Presbyterians about how they can support international mission prayerfully and financially.
The challenge will end with the World Mission Celebration, an educational and networking event Oct. 22-24 in Cincinnati.
Some mission co-workers will be accompanied by International Peacemakers, people engaged …
Saying the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has “fallen into heresy” because of actions taken at last month’s churchwide assembly, the chair of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform) said the organization intends to be a “free-standing synod” which will carry out ministries apart from the ELCA.
In addition CORE — a coalition of pastors, lay people, congregations and reform groups in the ELCA that expressed distress and sadness over the assembly's decisions on human sexuality — is expected to consider initiating conversations with member Lutheran congregations and reform movements in the United States and Canada toward a possible reconfiguration …
The General Assembly Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage has released the draft of its preliminary report to the 219th General Assembly (2010).
The group approved the draft late into the final evening of their September 14-17 meeting.