As the threat of more attacks lingers in Sri Lanka, the Stated Clerk of the Office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is calling on all faiths to find peaceful solutions to their problems. As many as 350 people are known to have died in a series of bombings on Easter at three churches and three hotels. Sixty people have been arrested in connection with the attacks.

Heritage Presbyterian Church in Muskego, Wis. has a resurrection story to tell.At the beginning it might sound familiar to many Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations.  The membership was graying and in decline.  Of the 100 members on the rolls, between 30-40 came to worship.In 2015, the Rev. Michelle Henrichs joined them, providing pulpit supply for five months.  Ordained, and trained as a new worshiping community leader, she began asking members of the congregation, “When were you were most energetic and excited about church?”Their most common answer: “When we were raising our children.” 

The crises were different, but one of the results was the same: Presbyterians stepped up when help was needed.

223차 총회 (2018) 공동총회장 빌메리 신트론 올리비에리^{Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri}와 신디 콜만^{Cindy Kohlmann}은 총회 승인을 받은 두 개의 특별 조직에 대한 임명을 발표했다.

Vilmarie Cintrón Olivieri y Cindy Kohlmann, comoderadoras de la 223a Asamblea General (2018), anunciaron hoy los nombramientos de dos entidades especiales adicionales aprobadas por la Asamblea General.

On the recommendation of a consultant hired to identify immediate needs at Stony Point Center north of New York City, the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board voted Wednesday to spend $630,750 in unrestricted bequests on projects including roof repairs, a sewer line replacement and a commercial-grade electric mower.

미국장로교회(PCUSA)는 수백 개의 교회가 교단을 떠나는 것을 보았을 때 출국하는 교회의 수가 감소하는 것을 보기 시작했습니다. 총회 사무국은 최근 교인 통계에 대한 검토를 마쳤다. 이는 교인 감소가 둔화될 수 있음을 나타낸다.

2015년에 미국장로교 교인수는 150만 명을 상회했다. 1년 이내에 교인 수는 거의 90,000명 줄어 들었다. 작년의 감소는 62,000명을 약간 넘어섰다. 2015년과 2016년 사이에 교단을 떠난 교회의 수는 203개가 되었다. 2018년에는 34개였다.

Después de años de ver cómo cientos de iglesias abandonan la denominación, la Iglesia Presbiteriana (EE. UU.) está comenzando a ver que la cantidad de iglesias que se van está disminuyendo. La Oficina de la Asamblea General ha finalizado su última revisión de las estadísticas de membresía, lo que indica que la disminución en la membresía puede estar disminuyendo.

Members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) have gathered in Philadelphia this week for its spring meeting. Part of the agenda includes meeting jointly with the Presbyterian Historical Society Board of Directors.

The two groups gathered Tuesday morning at the offices of the Board of Pensions for cultural proficiency training, led by the Rev. Molly Casteel, manager for equity and representation for the Office of the General Assembly and Vanessa Julye, racism program coordinator for Friends General Conference. 

A new level, a new devil. I couldn’t believe my ears when a young mother said this during a Bible study once. I rarely heard anyone talk so openly about the opposition that comes when you walk with Christ — even though our Presbyterian confessions speak of this reality. In the Heidelberg Catechism, Question 127 asks why we pray, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” The answer: . . . since our mortal enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh cease not to assault us, do Thou therefore preserve and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare . . .  .