The World Student Christian Federation has announced the launch of the Milan Opoèenský Memorial Fund, dedicated to economic, environmental and social justice.
Opoèenský, a Czech theologian and ecumenist, served as European secretary of WSCF from 1967 to 1973.
In a statement, the Milan Opoèenský Memorial Fund said it seeks to support the dynamic work that young Christians of all denominations are performing together and it will focus on those who address economic, environmental and social injustices in their schools, communities and nations.
It was initiated by Opoèenský’s former WSCF colleague and friend, the Rev. Alice Hageman.
The Milan Opoèenský Memorial …
There are about 170 million cats and dogs in the U.S. that have found a place in the homes of American pet owners, according to the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey.
Probably most of them have also found a place in their owners’ hearts. And anyone who’s ever had to say goodbye to Fido or Fluffy has wondered if their beloved pets will be waiting for them in heaven.
The fate of our four-legged friends — whether they have a soul, whether they'll be in the afterlife — has occupied the minds of Christian thinkers ever since the days of …
A summary of the 219th General Assembly’s actions on Middle East peace issues:
What did the Assembly do?
The Genenal Assembly approved a comprehensive report on the Middle East — its first since 1997. The paper calls for:
A memorial service was held July 12 at Springdale Presbyterian Church here for Dottie Hedgepeth, whose smile brightened the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at all levels of the denomination.
Hedgepeth, the widow of H. William "Bill" Peterson, died July 5 at age 69 after battling cancer.
Born in Pittsburgh, Hedgepeth grew up in California. She dedicated her life to educational ministry in the PC(USA), serving on the staff of two Presbyterian congregations and then Santa Barbara Presbytery. In 1988 she moved to Louisville, accepting a position as coordinator of theological education.
She was a tireless and winning advocate for educational ministry …
Indonesian musician Christina Mandang, who died after a traffic accident while attending an international church gathering in Grand Rapids, Mich., has been praised for helping Christians in her country develop their own style of hymns and worship.
Mandang died on June 27 after a car struck her the previous evening during the founding meeting of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
“Echoes of what a talented musician she is and … how much she has contributed to helping Indonesian churches bring their own [style] into the development of hymns and worship have been ringing all round,” WCRC general secretary the …
Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders from around the U.S. cruised through the oil-fouled upper reaches of the Gulf of Mexico on July 7, and some said the BP oil spill looks not only like an accident, but a sin.
“From my perspective, it’s an insult to God and a sin against creation,” said the Rev. Sally Bingham, an Episcopal priest and environmentalist who heads the San Francisco-based Interfaith Power and Light.
Bingham and almost a dozen others motored through the upper reaches of Barataria Bay after assembling at First Grace United Methodist Church for a prayer service calling for restoration …
The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been honored with two prestigious Communitas Awards for its commitment to exemplary organizational stewardship. Sponsored by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), the Communitas Awards is an international effort to recognize exceptional businesses, organizations, and individuals that are unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business to benefit their communities.
The Board was presented with an award in the category of Company Sponsored Volunteer Project for its "Giving Back to the Community through Volunteerism" effort. Staff throughout the organization participate …
The Rev. Deborah A. Block has been elected to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC). Block, a member of the PPC board since 2004, becomes the first woman to serve as chair in the history of PPC. She succeeds Kenneth Godshall, who has been chair since 2006. She begins her term this month.
"PPC has been blessed to have had an impressive series of strong board chairs since its incorporation in the mid 1990s," said PPC President and Publisher, Marc Lewis. "Deborah Block's historic appointment, as the first woman chair of the …
The wait is over. The two winning videos in the ymiLIVE Video Challenge were announced today during the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Presbyterian Foundation will establish a $25,000 endowment fund at each of the Presbyterian churches represented by these youth groups to provide on-going, financial support for their youth ministry programs.
The two finalists were from the following churches:
The video challenge encouraged Presbyterian youth groups to creatively express their interpretation of John 7:38: "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers …
A summary of the 219th General Assembly’s action on ordination standards:
What did the Assembly do? What has changed?
The 219th General Assembly (2010) proposed a change to the PC(USA) Constitution regarding ordination standards by a vote of 373-323-4. This action does not change the Constitution. It is a first step in the process. A majority of the 173 presbyteries would have to vote in the affirmative to approve the replacement by July 2011.
What does it mean?
G-6.0106b is a provision in the PC(USA) Book of Order (Constitution) that provides the following standards for persons ordained as church …