“Contention over Scriptural and confessional texts is both inevitable and common,” said one of the two concurring opinions accompanying the GAPJC’s decision. “However, it is not for this commission or the judicial process overall to test the value or judge the truth of variant interpretations of particular texts, excepting egregious refutation or abuse of primary... Continue Reading

“We have just done away with the security of appointment that allowed us to have much gender and racial justice in terms of our appointments.” In a move that will give bishops more flexibility to remove ineffective pastors, the United Methodist Church voted on Tuesday (May 1) to end guaranteed clergy appointments. Clergy appointments have... Continue Reading

The chart shows the majority of churches leaving the PCUSA are joining the EPC, while four have joined the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC); one the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), and one the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP). ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians says that 47 congregations are now in the process of... Continue Reading

The churches’ larger governing body, the Presbytery of Mississippi, will decide on May 17 whether to approve each church’s request to leave the PCUSA The congregations at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs and First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula voted on Sunday to leave the Presbyterian Church USA denomination and join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.... Continue Reading

Southern Baptist pastors will focus on changing their communities and the world at the 2012 Pastors’ Conference, June 17-18 at the convention center. “Changing: Lives, Communities and the World” is the theme, with sessions scheduled Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and Monday at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 6 p.m. Speakers will include David Jeremiah, David... Continue Reading

The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s third largest presbytery plans to branch out into four divisions in an attempt to root out financial decline. At its April meeting, the Pittsburgh Presbytery voted to continue work on a reorganization plan that will divide member churches into four branches based on geography yet with an option for porous alternatives.... Continue Reading

Jones and another pastor demanded the release of the Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani from an Iranian prison. Jones said Nadarkhani faces execution. Dove World Outreach Center pastor Terry Jones on Saturday burned copies of the Quran and an image depicting Muhammad in front of his church to protest the imprisonment in Iran of a Christian... Continue Reading

“We wanted to provide a forum for an objective exploration of Reformed theology from a panel of speakers with diverse opinions on the topic,” he said in the statement. … Our goal for the event is a discussion that promotes clarity, charity and unity.” The Kentucky Baptist Convention will sponsor a conference on Calvinism in... Continue Reading

Here are a few of the salient points from some of the key presentations at this conference From a presentation by Lois Lerner, Director of IRS Organizations: The IRS continues to believe that good governance and compliance go hand-in-hand. Over the last few years, IRS agents have been completing a check-sheet in conjunction with examinations... Continue Reading

The Archbishop of Canterbury could be stripped of his role as figurehead of the worldwide Anglican Church, leaders representing 40 million churchgoers have signaled as they launched a scathing attack on a liberal drift within the Church. A coalition of bishops and leaders from Africa, the Americas and Australasia said it was time for a... Continue Reading