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

Much can change over 100 years. Much can also stay the same. First Chinese Presbyterian Church in New York City's Chinatown knows both experiences. 

FCPC, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2010, has never lost sight of its original mission of reaching out to new immigrants, a tradition members are proud to carry on today.

FCPC was founded in 1910 by the …

By now, all 173 presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have elected their commissioners to the 219th General Assembly (2010). Those commissioners — 712 in all — and 221 advisory delegates will make their way to Minneapolis to serve in their respective roles when the assembly meets July 3–10.

But their work as commissioners and advisory delegates will have begun long before the gavel sounds to convene the assembly. Let’s imagine that Blossom Creek Presbytery has elected Helen as a commissioner and Peter as a young adult advisory delegate to this year’s assembly (see endnote). Let’s follow them as they …

DECATUR, Ga. — Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright delivered the keynote address at Agnes Scott College's 121st commencement May 8.

Albright was the 64th secretary of state of the United States. As the first female to be named to that position, she became the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government at that time.

"Dr. Albright has been a true trailblazer for women in our country and around the world," said Agnes Scott President Elizabeth Kiss.

DANVILLE, Ky. — Forbes magazine ranked Centre College as the best religiously affiliated college or university in …

An alliance of religious denominations has given the world’s richest nations a near-failing grade for their progress on eradicating world poverty.

Jubilee USA Network, an alliance of more than 75 religious groups that advocates debt forgiveness for poor nations, gave the Group of 20 a “D” grade in a report released June 22, ahead of the June 26-27 G20 summit in Toronto, Religion News Service reports.

Melinda St. Louis, the deputy director of Jubilee USA, said the G20 has made “shockingly little progress” since its last meeting in September.

In the last nine months, the G20 has delivered only $1.2 …

The constant loop of disheartening images from the Gulf of Mexico — oil-covered pelicans, dead sea turtles, despairing fishermen — has prompted many Americans to seek ways to do something, anything, to take better care of the Earth.
   
But what, and how?
   
While the political debate over the oil spill’s cause and ripple effect remains polarized, Christian environmentalists pondering the familiar question “What Would Jesus Do?” believe part of the answer includes cutting back on fossil fuels.
   
“He would probably take the bus,” said Matthew Sleeth, co-founder of Blessed Earth, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading environmentalism among …

Many rural Presbyterian churches share their pastors with one or two other churches in partnerships that enable them to survive and thrive despite small numbers in the pews. But northwestern Wisconsin's Pioneer Parish, part of the Presbytery of Northern Waters, takes this approach to a distinctly higher level.

The parish consists of six churches spread all over Douglas County and drawing members from two other counties. The Rev. Richard Blood has served as head of staff for the past two years, assisted by a part-time youth director/lay pastor and several other lay pastors.

"Basically it is and always has …

As a lifelong Presbyterian, I approached the Calvin Neuron Factor test with fear and trembling. Would I be exposed as a pagan? A heretic? A Baptist?

As part of the celebration of 16th century Reformer John Calvin's 500th birthday last year, two Swiss journalists have developed the online test as a way to "detect traces of Calvin in your brain," says journalist and theologian Michel Kocher.

Kocher and the Calvin Neuron Factor test’s co-creator, Jean-Christophe Emery, are here this week, promoting the test during the Uniting General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which brings together the World …

A new book of essays has been released by Westminster John Knox Press in celebration of Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk Emeritus of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Edited by Neal D. Presa, That They May all Be One: Celebrating the World Communion of Reformed Churches was published for the historic Uniting General Council, which merged the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council earlier this month in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A list of over twenty-five contributors — including pastors, theologians, and ecumenists — have written essays for the book on what it means to live in …

Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) and Congregational Ministries Publishing (CMP), publishers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), are pleased to be collaborating on a new lectionary based curriculum founded on the award-winning lectionary commentary series Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary.

Launching fall 2011, this ecumenical, downloadable resource incorporates the uniqueness of the commentaries, which provide four different approaches to each of the biblical passages for each of the lectionary readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. Feasting on the Word Curriculum: Teaching the Revised Common Lectionary is designed for classroom use in the church among various age levels, including …

There's a prayer shawl ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, N.M., for congregants like Anne Noss who know how to knit. They make shawls for cancer patients and others who are ill and grieving. But Noss has added another item to her knitting circle: rainbow scarves.

Bright colors of yarn are used to symbolize diversity and call for the inclusion of LGBT members (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) in every aspect of church life from ordination to marriage. The scarves are being made for the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in Minneapolis July 3-10. They'll …