Concluding its 2015 annual gathering, the Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recommitted itself to finding hope and peace for Israel/Palestine even as tensions and violence escalate.
A recent letter campaign aimed at securing new and improved health facilities for heavily polluted communities in Peru is being called a success. The campaign was launched as part of an ongoing initiative to address growing health concerns for citizens of La Oroya and other communities in the region of Junin that have been impacted by mining operations. A significant number of signatures on the letter came from the U.S. including numerous Presbyterians.
The committee tasked with nominating the next Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) had received 21 requests for application packets as of October 26. The deadline for receiving completed applications is midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on December 21.
“There is no doubt in our minds that the church is living in a defining moment,” the Reverend Carol McDonald, moderator of the Stated Clerk Nomination Committee (SCNC), said. “All around us is the search for vision, direction, stability, and focus.”
A weekend of torrential rain, tornadoes and flooding has left at least six people dead in Texas, along with dozens of flood-damaged homes and businesses. The Houston area is reporting up to a foot of rain since Friday. There were reports of at least six tornadoes touching down in communities to the south and east of Houston. More than a hundred water rescues have been reported.
Rosa Robles Loreto hasn’t been to Mass at her parish for almost 15 months. Facing imminent deportation, the undocumented Catholic mother sought sanctuary at Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Ariz., in August 2014. She, her family, her attorney and supporters have appealed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to close her deportation case, which stemmed from a traffic stop. But more than a year later, the reprieve has not come.