At least two-thirds of Presbyterians believe the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should try to dissuade corporations from doing things that “directly or indirectly” support violence against Israeli or Palestinian civilians, and at least three in five Presbyterians believe that the denomination should shift its investment funds away from corporations that continue to support such violence despite pleas to stop.

These are findings of the August 2009 Presbyterian Panel survey of representative samples of members, elders, pastors and other ministers.

“Presbyterians don’t want companies supporting violence in the Middle East,” said Perry Chang, Panel administrator. “And they don’t think we should keep …

With the spring planting season nearing in earthquake-stricken Haiti, an emergency effort to raise money for Haitian farmers to buy seeds is under way now through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP).

Corn and beans are typically planted in March when the spring rains begin on the island nation.

PHP will release monies to FONDAMA, a national coalition of peasant farmers and rural organizations. The group partners with several U.S. congregations and individuals through PHP’s Joining Hands’ program, which advocates on issues determined by the farmers themselves.

With the influx of displaced people to Haiti’s countryside, local food …

A leader in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has added his voice to those of other Christian leaders to call for an end to recent bursts of violence in northern Iraq.

The Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the PC(USA)’s General Assembly, stated that the church urges U.S. and international leaders to speak out against all such religious violence.

According to the Assyrian International News Agency, Chaldean Bishop Emil Shimoun Nona said that hundreds of Christian families left Mosul, Iraq, Feb. 24. They fled after a series of attacks that left five Christians and a family of five dead.

Upcoming …

After much discussion as a council and within its committees, the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a set of 11 “guiding principles for planning decisions” Feb. 26.

The guidelines aim to focus and prioritize the council’s service on “the mission of the whole church,” acknowledging that “there are good ministries that we can no longer support within the General Assembly Mission Council.”

The most immediate use of the guidelines will be seen in the 2011-12 General Assembly Mission Budget. The GAMC will have to adopt that budget at its May meeting.

In a Feb. …

Editor’s note: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working with our ecumenical partner Church World Service (CWS) in Chile to provide basic humanitarian assistance and to help local partners in assessing the needs. $25,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing funds have already been sent. CWS emergency response staff are coordinating their response with two Chilean agencies, FASIC (Fundacion de Ayuda Social de las Iglesia Cristianas) and the Humanitarian Team of the Methodist Church of Chile, IMECH. PDA will also coordinate with PC(USA) World Mission and their work with CLAI (Latin American Council of Churches) and with ACT Alliance member Lutheran World …

The Presbytery of West Virginia gave $18,553 in 2009 and $19,205 in 2008, and, has remained among the top three presbyteries in its financial support specifically for the hunger ministry during the past five years.

In 2009, the nine other top presbyteries on the list include — in order — Peace River, Redstone, Lake Erie, Chicago, National Capital, Mid-Kentucky, Sacramento, Peaks and Cascades. …

Once again, the earth has shaken violently, as it did in Haiti several weeks ago. This time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 — one of the most powerful ever recorded — has rocked the country of Chile.

The General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has recommended to the upcoming 219th General Assembly approval “for study and reflection” a paper intended to “reexamine and strengthen the relationship between Christians and Jews.”

“Christians and Jews: People of God” has grown out of eight meetings between PC(USA) theologians and representatives of the National Council of Synagogues and four larger consultations involving Presbyterian pastors, theologians and governing body staff members and rabbis from the Conservative, Reformed, Orthodox and Reconstructionist branches of Judaism.

The paper — commissioned by the 2004 General Assembly in response to a controversial and …

Navigating the waters of first call and departure from seminary into “real life” can be a daunting task, especially for clergy couples who face their own set of joys and challenges.

While Derek and Erin Davenport serve the church in different ways, they still live and function very much as a “clergy couple.” The unique challenges they have faced have been helped by the Company of New Pastors, a program sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of Theology & Worship.

Company of New Pastors is a pastoral formation program designed to both deepen and sustain the theological …

The earthquake that struck Chile Feb. 27 has killed more than 700 people, but that toll — like much of the information about the effects of the disaster — is expected to change.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has committed $25,000 to its partners, Church World Service and the Lutheran World Federation. Those agencies are conducting a damage assessment in Chile and will report back in a few days, said PDA Coordinator Randy Ackley.

“We have no idea yet what the full scope of this disaster is,” he said.

The $25,000 comes from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s One Great Hour of …