For Such a Time as This: A Small-Church Residency—Growing Leaders, Growing Churches has announced recruitment plans for its next class of residency presbyteries, congregations, and pastoral residents.

The National Council of Churches (NCC) governing board, meeting here in The Interchurch Center Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 17-18), has approved a plan for re-envisioning and restructuring the NCC that includes a “new organizational structure and an implementation strategy to bring it to fruition.”

The economy continues to weigh on pastors, with a new survey showing that nearly two-thirds say it has affected their churches negatively.

Christian, Muslim and Hindu leaders from Pakistan attending an international hearing on Pakistan’s blasphemy law said the law is leading to “blatant violations of human rights” and called for the government of Pakistan to investigate misuse of the law.

When Mamu Mujinga brought her sick baby boy to Good Shepherd Hospital, she was at the end of her rope. The Congolese woman walked 160 miles to get her son the help he needed. No doctors near her home could treat Kasawu’s rare colon condition. At Good Shepherd, Dr. John Fletcher, a Presbyterian mission worker, and a medical team were able to perform the lifesaving surgeries Kasawu needed. Kasawu was able to make a full recovery thanks to the treatment he received at the hospital founded by Presbyterian missionaries and now run by Congolese Christians.

Brieann Glass was leading her southern California congregation in worship, but found that, in doing so her heart was breaking. It wasn’t that Glass didn’t believe in what she was doing. It was what was missing that she couldn’t shake. Or, more to the point, who was missing.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Latin America and the Caribbean have launched an HIV and AIDS network in the region utilizing biblical analysis to affirm this prophetic ministry.

The lobby and the wide front porch of the Lily Dale’s Maplewood Hotel are typical of a place built in 1888, except for the sign that reads “No readings, healing circles or seances in this area please.”

Faith leaders in Kenya have distributed guidelines intended to help citizens choose good leaders, ahead of the general election set for March 2013. A booklet called Leadership and Integrity is being distributed through churches, mosques and temples.

“The misuse of blasphemy law is contrary to the vision of Pakistan as a moderate and democratic country,” said Mohammad Tahseen, in a public hearing on the “Misuse of blasphemy law and religious minorities in Pakistan” organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) here.