In Havana, a Pentecostal pastor and 60 members of his church have been holed up for more than three weeks under the watchful eye of police. The purpose: to conduct a religious retreat. Cuba’s government said that members of the Assembly of God Pentecostal Church are not there against their will, but added that police... Continue Reading

TE Greg Lawrence, pastor of Christ Church (PCA) in Mankato, Minn., was found not guilty of five charges related to Federal Vision by Siouxlands Presbytery at its meeting on September 22. The trial was conducted by a Presbytery judicial commission on September 12-14. The Presbytery approved the judicial commission’s recommendations by a vote of 24-6.... Continue Reading

On Oct. 5, 2011, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could help determine how much latitude religious organizations have in making employment decisions about clergy and others who perform religious duties. The case centers on a legal doctrine known as the “ministerial exception.” The Supreme Court has never expressly ruled... Continue Reading

Spartanburg Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church has submitted a proposed ‘Memorial’ to Second Presbytery asking that Directors of the EC Foundation, all Elders in other APR Churches, be investigated for the use of funds raised for legal defense of those who sued the denomination. The Presbytery meets on October 11 to decide whether or not to... Continue Reading

Attendance is limited to “those pastors and elders who currently serve a congregation that is interested in realigning its denominational affiliation from the PCUSA.” The New Wineskins Association of Churches (NWAC) has announced an event designed for Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations that want to pursue dismissal to either the Fellowship of Presbyterian’s (FOP) proposed New... Continue Reading

I will hazard a prediction that PCUSA’s Book of Order will not be regarded as establishing a self-actuating trust in Indiana. And if that is the result, then the Dennis Canon will be dead in that State, as well. As readers of this blog are aware, your Curmudgeon is no fan of the Dennis Canon,... Continue Reading

Ironically, some of the most powerful forces that threaten these churches are the efforts of outsiders to help the region — such as missionaries sent to evangelize the locals or social-justice activists who want to help the locals escape their own way of life. Travelers who frequent the winding mountain roads of Southern Appalachia know... Continue Reading

The Presbyterian Church in America’s Metro Atlanta Presbytery (MAP) on September 20, 2011, rescinded a six-point resolution it had adopted in April 2009 allowing for different interpretations on who may be chosen or elected to serve as deacons and deaconesses in local churches. The resolution that had originally been adopted allowed for the following possible... Continue Reading

If every man, woman, and child is going to have an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel, it must be taken to them within the context of their own culture. In order to accomplish this, we need to plant the Gospel among these groups by planting churches. Ifind it difficult to believe Christians... Continue Reading

Are there other partnerships in jeopardy? It does appear that there are. Without being specific, in the webinar Maria Arroyo does say that some partners in the Caribbean and Latin America will be considering their relationship with the PC(USA) at their upcoming General Assemblies or General Synods. Over the last few months a couple Presbyterian... Continue Reading