Rescue teams in Christchurch, New Zealand were digging through rubble on 23 February, searching for survivors of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 75 people and destroyed and damaged many buildings in the city on 21 February, among them a number of historic churches. The death toll on the second day after the quake... Continue Reading

A small gesture can make a big difference in the life of an American soldier stationed overseas. It can also be an effective way to share the Gospel, according to Pat Kellenbarger of the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel (PCCMP). Along with lobbying support for the PCCMP, Kellenbarger has been busy in recent... Continue Reading

How can our church do a better job of embracing the new immigrants among us? Unity Month is a not only a time to celebrate progress, but to strategize for a better future. We realize that with new immigrants, there are fresh tensions that warrant a new era of multiracial dialogue. Our denomination needs participate... Continue Reading

The CMC sub-committee will consider a number of possible plans and make a report to the January 2012 CMC meeting. Since any matters requiring Assembly action must be reported to the Assembly by an appropriate committee (RAO 7-3 c.), the 2012 CMC will make recommendations to the AC for Assembly action in 2012. At its... Continue Reading

Is there a good reason why Presbyterians in median sized congregations of about 200 members should have three to four times the representative power of Presbyterians who have happened to join 2,000 or 4,000 member congregations? Is it any wonder that these larger-membership churches would feel disenfranchised, and that some of their pastors would sign... Continue Reading

One of the people who helped open the service was prison warden Burl Cain. He has introduced significant changes that have led, among other things, to the establishment on the prison grounds of several chapels where Christian worship services are held on a regular basis. On Sunday, February 6, the members of Elmhurst (Ill.) Christian... Continue Reading

The Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) has started the first orthodox Anglican parish in Hawaii – Christ the Foundation Anglican Church – begun entirely by the laity. This week the AMiA (AKA TheAM) ordained The Rev. Heath Hale as a Deacon at its Winter Conference in Greensboro, to lead the new fledgling parish of... Continue Reading

The vote of Presbyteries on the BCO 14 amendments as of February 19 is 39-33 against adopting the amendments. For the amendments to be have been approved 2/3 of the 79 Presbyteries (53) had to vote in favor. Now that over 1/3 of the Presbyteries (27) have voted against approving the amendments, they have not... Continue Reading

Here, however, is the technicality that spared Southard: The Spahr case was decided on April 28, 2008—seven weeks after the Duhamel-Herwig ceremony in Waltham. The 2011 GAPJC found that the unequivocal prohibition in the Spahr decision could not be applied retroactively to condemn Southard. Therefore, she was “not guilty.” Many traditional Presbyterians have been upset... Continue Reading

Heated debates and friction within the PCA might be mollified if elders and church members better understood—and practiced—“practical Presbyterianism.” That’s the premise behind the recommended fourth theme of Practical Presbyterianism to the 2010 PCA Strategic Plan. …According to the proposal, the goal is to “foster a cordial and practical commitment to the formal values of... Continue Reading