Whatever the outcome of the higher court’s decision, Mills said Olivet’s legal battle will help clear murky legal waters for other churches. “We believe that’s not only going to bless us – whichever way it goes – but it’s going to make it really clear not only to other PCUSA churches that have left but... Continue Reading

The Presbytery of Santa Barbara is promoting an initiative called Presbytery Committees of Correspondence hoping to unite those “who voted no on Amendment 10A to discern together God’s will for our future.” (Editor’s Note: The complete statement from the presbytery is recorded at the end of this article) “We believe that it is essential that... Continue Reading

(The judge) also found Colonial had not established an implied trust with the PCUSA since the denomination did not furnish the original deed and that Colonial had always retained title to property. “The court finds that it would be [the PCUSA] who would be unjustly enriched by taking possession of [Colonial’s] property,” the judge stated.... Continue Reading

The Board of Pensions made no comment when asked how the committee planned to hear from other Presbyterians — many of whom are not on presbytery staffs or members of presbytery committees and who were not able to attend the two events. Although they’ve listened, members of a Presbyterian Church (USA) special committee of the... Continue Reading

The National Association of Evangelicals is siding with Jews and Muslims in opposition of a proposed ban on infant male circumcision in San Francisco. “Jews, Muslims, and Christians all trace our spiritual heritage back to Abraham. Biblical circumcision begins with Abraham,” NAE President Leith Anderson said in a statement. “No American government should restrict this... Continue Reading

(T)he Gilcomston South congregation have written to Aberdeen Presbytery confirming their intention to leave. There is a chance they could now join another denomination. It’s thought another Aberdeen church, Hilton High, may do the same. A minister and his flock are quitting the Church of Scotland in protest at plans for gays in the pulpit.... Continue Reading

It was a long, slow, painful death. In the end, the patient pulled strongly on the plug and what little life was left exited the body with a tragic gasp. May the Presbyterian Church, USA rest in peace. But there will be very little peace in this pathetic death. Ratified by a majority of presbyteries... Continue Reading

“It would take two denominations and create three: the new union, those on the left and those on the right that couldn’t go along with it,” Borgdorff said. Merging colleges, seminaries, pension plans and the like also would create “endless problems,” Granberg-Michaelson added. But neither rules out a possible future merger. On the morning of... Continue Reading

But the congregation also wanted to affirm the Christian teaching that “the body is something beautiful and, in Christ, God has taken on human form,” said Wheatley, now pastor at Salt Lake City’s New Song Presbyterian (PCA)Church. “(That act) gives our lives a dignity and beauty that is blessed by God.” The Rev. France Davis... Continue Reading

The SBC Executive Committee found that nearly one in five affiliated churches is predominantly African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native-American or some other ethnic group, yet those groups are underrepresented in convention leadership. A seminary professor says the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention should be an African-American. Russell Moore, dean of the school of theology... Continue Reading