From the outset, it was clear that Caterpillar would be the villain and that the committee had punishment in mind. The only question was one of degree. By a vote of 34 to 17, the Middle East Peacemaking Issues Committee will recommend that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) “denounce” Caterpillar Inc. for... Continue Reading

“…not yet baptized persons who present themselves … be warmly received and invited into conversation on the significance of the sacraments.” The Theological Issues Committee (No. 16) on Tuesday substantially amended and then sent to the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly pastoral advice on how to deal with unbaptized individuals who seek to receive the... Continue Reading

‘Application’ is an old word, and ‘contextualization’ and ‘philosophy of ministry’ and ‘strategic plan’ are new ones, but I think they all mean the same thing. What makes a good sermon? It must be clearly based on the Bible. If it doesn’t, it may have a lot of practical wisdom in it, but there won’t... Continue Reading

On the last day of the PCA GA, the Assembly approved a motion to send a letter of petition to the President and other civil and military leaders regarding the possible repeal of the law regarding homosexuality in the military. Often couched in terms of a repeal of the policy of “Don’t ask, don’t tell,... Continue Reading

When PARO met Monday, two armed security officers—one in a no-nonsense bullet-proof vest—guarded the meeting-room doors at nearby Westminster Presbyterian Church. This is General Assembly? It is a strange experience to be sternly scrutinized upon entry and watched like a hawk for suspicious behavior. Reaching for a camera in a bulky bag, one almost expects... Continue Reading

“Everything worth doing comes with a cost,” Joey Bailey, of the General Assembly Mission Committee told commissioners during the opening session of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Bailey was explaining to commissioners that most items of business before the assembly have financial implications, or costs that will affect the two budgets... Continue Reading

The General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations heard open testimony Monday morning from a broad spectrum of people concerned about “Christians and Jews: People of God” and “Understanding Christian-Muslim Relations.” The paper on “Christians and Jews” resulted from criticism of previous actions of the General Assembly in which the governing body was accused... Continue Reading

The Louisville-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is half the church it used to be, at least in terms of numbers. The church lost nearly 3 percent of members from 2008 to 2009 and now has 2,077,138 on its rolls, according to a report issued last week from its office of the General Assembly. With that figure,... Continue Reading

“…the assemblage faced east, west, north and south while praying for the Holy Spirit to come and watching people in animal costumes march up the aisles and wander through the worship space.” The sermon and infant baptism focused on the future of the denomination – but not before the assemblage faced east, west, north and... Continue Reading

She will fulfill her responsibility for moderatorial neutrality, thus helping to create an even playing field for those supporting and opposing the replacement document. Newly-elected General Assembly Moderator Cynthia Bolbach has solved an initial conflict of interest. At the moderator’s press conference following her election Saturday night, The Layman magazine (the voice of Evangelicals in... Continue Reading