At this year’s General Assembly in Pittsburgh there was quite a buzz around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s “1001 New Worshiping Communities” movement — from t-shirt giveaways to video presentations and, of course, consideration by committee on 1001 related business sent to the Assembly floor.

News from the presbyteries and synods of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

It might seem like a trivial task to help with the logistical arrangements of a major meeting. However, for the “stewards” of the World Council of Churches (WCC), this task means more than merely helping out.

African-American clergy are joining forces with civil rights groups to push for increased voter registration ahead of the November election, spurred on by new voter laws they say restrict opportunities for minorities to enter the voting booth.

Her superiors were disappointed and even the bishop in her diocese resisted when Sister Anima Pushpa Toppo left her convent in India to live with her fellow indigenous people to help them fight for land rights.

Representatives of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) environmental programs will be at the White House Thursday (Sept. 13) for a “Greening America’s Congregations” event sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency’s “ENERGY STAR” program and the White House’s Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Presbyterian World Mission announces that Tamron R. Keith has joined the World Mission team of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Presbyterian Mission Agency to serve as Finance Manager. With valuable experience working with government agencies as well as at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation, Keith will support World Mission leadership by preparing and managing the ministry area’s budget, managing the finance team, and monitoring and reporting on foreign finance offices and property inventory. 

News from the theological seminaries related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Javier Sicilia once wrote poetry inspired by Catholic mysticism, but traded his pen to work for justice and peace after the March 2011 murder of his son Juan Francisco, 24, whose body was stuffed with six others into car in Cuernavaca. Sicilia founded the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity, which has protested violence, impunity and the unexpected consequences of the government crackdown on drug cartels and organized crime.

Religious rights activists are hailing the release over the weekend of an Iranian pastor accused of apostasy and a Pakistani girl who was charged with blasphemy.