Generally, Insiders tend to have a positive view of Islam, Muhammad and the Qur’an. Many believe that Muhammad is some sort of prophet from God, that the Qur’an is at least a partially inspired word from God that points to Jesus, and that Islamic culture is not contradictory to the biblical message. Therefore, they do... Continue Reading

Call it a backlash to change. As familiar protests against the government of a longstanding Middle East ruler began to unfold last month — this time in Syria — hundreds of thousands of Syrians actually turned out in Damascus to protest the protests. And the bloc supporting President Bashar al-Assad included Syrian Christians. “The churches... Continue Reading

Illiana Presbytery of the PCA met on Saturday, October 9 Illiana Presbytery had unanimously voted in October to reject the BCO 14-1 and 14-2 amendments’ AC funding plan. However, they wanted to make it clear that they did not oppose the AC but wanted to consider other options that would fund it. They considered the... Continue Reading

“We’re a former ‘Southern Presbyterian’ (PCUS) church that within eight years following reunion voted for the exception in the Book of Order’s Section G-8.0701 that exempts a former PCUS church from the denomination’s church property restrictions (G-8.0500). Did that action protect us from the ‘trust’ that the Presbyterian Church (USA) has imposed on local church... Continue Reading

“Belhar was a good statement for its time and place, but does it pass the higher bar that we set for a confession to enter the PCUSA constitution? That is the judgment that you, sisters and brothers, will have to make this evening.” The late Richard John Neuhaus, editor of First Things and author of... Continue Reading

A New York church is celebrating after successfully fighting for its right to exist. On March 31, Jermain Memorial Presbyterian Church of Watervliet, N.Y., signed a property and separation agreement with the Presbytery of Albany, ending a two-year battle in which the presbytery tried to shutter the church and liquidate its property and six-figure assets.... Continue Reading

Overture 9 from the PCA’s Potomac Presbytery expresses grave concern concerning the practices of the “Insider Movement” regarding their translation practices and asks for the formation of a study committee to advise MTW on this matter. The “Insider Movement” (IM) is a term for a variety of organizations and philosophies that are attempting to “contextualize”... Continue Reading

Dr. Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, has announced that in the light of the economic recession and a reduction in Cooperative Program funding, the seminary will be cutting some faculty positions and moving others to a part-time status. (Editor’s Note: The Cooperative Program is the denomination’s centralized program to channel funds... Continue Reading

Overture 1 entitled “Multiply Central Carolina Presbytery,” proposed by Central and Western Carolina Presbyteries, would divide Central Carolina, take some counties from Western Carolina, and form Catawba Valley Presbytery. The reasons for the new presbytery boundaries also provide some helpful guidelines for thinking about presbytery formation. Here are their reasons in an ordered list: The... Continue Reading

Pastor Peter James stood before his congregation at Vienna Presbyterian Church last Sunday and paused before giving one of the most difficult sermons of his life. Framed by the light coming through the sanctuary’s huge windows, James spoke of sexual abuse by a youth director, of the church’s shortcomings and of the tormenting darkness that... Continue Reading