As communities continue to report new outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is urging all churches to refrain from conducting worship in person. The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, shared the messages via video on Facebook Saturday after hearing from church and presbytery leaders across the country about the continued spread of the virus.
On February 11, the Board of Pensions announced that its President, the Rev. Frank Clark Spencer, had been granted a travel leave for March 11-April 24, 2020. Due to the current situation, Spencer returned to work, effective March 19.
Building on Wednesday’s pastoral letter to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on the COVID-19 health crisis, denominational leaders the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II and the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett have released a video created this week in the Chapel at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
In their monthly video conference call, members of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA), set aside time from their agenda to share and pray about the impact of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, on churches and presbyteries.
Hagar’s Community Church, a 1001 New Worshiping Community in Olympia Presbytery located inside the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW), is currently unable to meet for worship due to social distancing required inside the prison during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Among the winners announced Thursday during the Associated Church Press’ 2019 Best of the Church Press Awards was the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II.
On Easter Sunday, 1949, four years after the end of World War II, the One Great Hour of Sharing offering brought relief to neighbors in need within the United States for the first time. In the 1960s, it expanded to include international needs.
The latest webinar in a series on how churches can address American gun violence highlighted the need to refocus discussion on the communities most deeply affected by the problem and the societal pressures that may lead to shootings.
Presbyterian congregations are learning that extended time off for pastors is not a luxury but a must for healthy and vibrant ministry.
As 300 people, including a pastor from Ireland, gathered via Zoom for conversation on best practices for streaming worship services, the host, the Rev. Marthame Sanders, began by asking for grace to abound — and that those gathered would remember that nothing can separate us from God’s love.