About half of St. Jonah Orthodox Church’s congregation in Spring are converts who, with immigrants, have fueled a 16 percent rise in the number of U.S. Orthodox parishes in the past decade. Like many of his parishioners, Father Richard Petranek came to the Orthodox Church in search of the past. After 30 years as an... Continue Reading

In conjunction with its campaign to defeat proposed amendments to the Presbyterian Church (USA) constitution, the Presbyterian Renewal Network is seeking a way to be in, but not of, the denomination. The effort as part of the Campaign to Reclaim Biblical Teaching, which is working to educate voters and encourage the defeat of amendments to... Continue Reading

The vote of Presbyteries on the BCO 14 amendments is now tied 18-18 on adopting the amendments. On January 8 Metro New York Presbytery voted in favor of the amendments. On 14-1: Yes 42; No 2; Abstain 1 On 14-2: Yes 36; No 5; Abstain 0 On January 11 the following Presbyteries voted against: Grace... Continue Reading

In 1997, The Mississippi Joint Committee unanimously opposed the proposed change for the restructure of Reformed University Ministries as it applies to the Mississippi Joint Committee. Also, the Committee is prepared to voice this opposition to the member Presbyteries. TO: The MNA Appointed Study Committee for Reformed University Ministries to Study Presbytery Overtures 17, 18,... Continue Reading

Stetzer points to what he calls the “Willowback phenomenon” as a cause. Thousands of churches now follow the methods of two super-size megachurches — Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Ill., and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Both stress contemporary music and sermons and services that make the unchurched feel at ease. Both downplay... Continue Reading

More fundamentally, the new mandate by the Presbytery of Wabash Valley also violates state and federal constitutional guarantees. Just as the state cannot tell a pastor what he must preach, so an ecclesiastical body cannot order a civil corporation to amend the deeds to its property. Just a few days before Thanksgiving 2010, at a... Continue Reading

The committee appointed to investigate the allegations raised in the Letter of Concern reported its findings in a 51 page report. At a called meeting of Missouri Presbytery on January 8, 2011, TE Jeffrey Meyers was exonerated of allegations that had been raised against him. Meyers is pastor of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church in St.... Continue Reading

I think one of the most distressing and unexpected things I have experienced in 25 years of ministry in Gospel ministry in an evangelical Reformed, Bible believing denomination, is the occasional tendency towards petty legalism. By this I don’t mean what I would call Gospel legalism (an oxymoron but you know what I mean) –... Continue Reading

Initially ordained in the PCUS in 1970, John Holmes served as a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America from 1973 until 2005 when he and the church he pastored withdrew from Pittsburgh Presbytery for independency. Years ago, Rev. John Holmes was pastoring a church in Tennessee when two members volunteered as tutors at... Continue Reading

Editor’s Note: The following is a letter sent by a Session through its pastor to the PCA Administrative Committee through the Stated Clerk, Dr. Roy Taylor. The proposed AC Funding Plan is included in the amendments to Book of Church Order 14-1 and 14-2. “Dear Dr. Taylor, “Our treasurer is sending the Administrative Committee a... Continue Reading