In a highly-charged debate at the General Synod, the Church’s parliament, members rejected a compromise deal put forward by the archbishops of Canterbury and York which would have averted a schism. The archbishops’ plans would have seen the creation of a new class of male-only bishops to look after conservative evangelical and Anglo-Catholic parishes opposed... Continue Reading

There were fresh calls for unity in the Church of England as traditionalists prepared to lobby for a compromise on the ordination of women as bishops while also warning of the risk of defection over the issue. Traditionalists, made up of two separate groups – Anglo-Catholics and conservative evangelicals – were locked in high-level meetings... Continue Reading

The OPC is meeting through Wednesday on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois (a community about 30 minutes south of Chicago). Returning to the work left over from Friday night concerning an overture coming out of the Presbytery of Michigan and Ontario regarding a defined period of probation for licensed candidates... Continue Reading

Doug Nave told…how he had to “come out of the closet” twice. He “came out” as a gay man, and in…the Presbyterian tradition. As the keynote speaker at the Covenant Network of Presbyterians General Assembly Commissioners Convocation, Doug Nave told the packed sanctuary at Westminster Presbyterian Church how he had to “come out of the... Continue Reading

The OPC is meeting through next Wednesday on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois (a community about 30 minutes south of Chicago). The Assembly returned to its business from the previous night with the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. The Rev. DeLacy A. Andrews, Jr., regional home missionary for... Continue Reading

The OPC convened on Wednesday evening on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois (a community about 30 minutes south of Chicago). Approximate 120 commissioners gathered in this ‘delegated’ assembly, where only those Ministers and Elders elected by their Presbyteries are authorized to attend. The Assembly is meeting in the Ozinga Chapel... Continue Reading

“No one wants to be held hostage to a threat from people who don’t like our actions. We made a covenant to be together even if we’re not of the same opinion. We should stay together.” Increasing Power At The Top By an 84 percent majority, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has... Continue Reading

The dues increase related to this action is capped at one percent of total effective salary and is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2012. The 219th General Assembly approved increasing the mandatory dues congregations pay to the Board of Pensions benefits plan up to one percent to pay for extending spousal and dependent benefits... Continue Reading

“We did find instances of persons,” she noted, “who, when invited by PCUSA congregations, put the PCUSA in a negative light and the EPC in a positive light.” Without a word from commissioners, the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly quickly approved a set of recommendations for handling the delicate topic of ecumenical relations with the... Continue Reading

“It’s nine o’clock and all is bleak!” Were there an evangelical town crier in Minneapolis, that would have been his cry as the PCUSA General Assembly took up the matter of same-sex marriage Thursday night. Earlier, the Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues had launched toward plenary four bad-news items, each propelled by the... Continue Reading