The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the merger of two local Pittsburgh area churches, one PCA and one OPC. The article begins: Presbyterian congregation lost its building to a fire two years ago. At about that time, another congregation had endured splits and lost its entire pastoral leadership. Neither church initially was looking for changes to its... Continue Reading

President Barack Obama plans to call for an improved dialogue with Islam in his upcoming speech in Egypt. All faiths would benefit from greater understanding. Yet no conversation will be complete if it does not address Islam’s persecution of Christians, Jews, and other religious minorities. Western efforts to reach out to Islam are increasing. However,... Continue Reading

Although Calvinism is shrinking in western Europe and North America, it is experiencing an extraordinary success in China. The churches that follow Calvin are the third largest Christian grouping in the world. In China they hope to become the religion of the elite. Go here to read more.

The decision of the California Supreme Court on May 26, 2009 not to interfere with the right of the citizens to amend the state Constitution confronts us with our culture’s confusion about the marriage relationship. The majority of people in the U.S. still define marriage as a relationship of a man and woman only. Californians... Continue Reading

In the concluding paragraph of my article about President-elect Obama’s constitutional philosophy, I opined: “Our Constitution has been terminal for a long time.” President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court provides a timely opportunity for me to explain what I meant. Liberals and progressives believe that the Constitution is a living, breathing... Continue Reading

Mr. Wayne Sparkman, director of the PCAHistorical Center, has recently begun two new web logs that should be of interest to those interested in the history the Presbyterian Church in America and related historical events. The first is http://pcahistory.wordpress.com/, set up specifically to provide a convenient place for the founding fathers and interested others to... Continue Reading

“A kind and merciful Providence.” To my knowledge I first encountered that phrase reading a biography of Robert E. Lee. A little quick research indicates that the phrase was often used in the 19th century. People thanked “a kind and merciful Providence” in their last wills and testaments for what he had entrusted to them.... Continue Reading

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is widely regarded in the media as the ultimate authority on climate change. Created by two divisions of the United Nations, and recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, its pronouncements are received as if they come down from Mount Olympus or Mount Sinai. The common presumption is... Continue Reading

The Church of Scotland has approved the appointment of an openly homosexual minister – the latest case of tensions over sexuality to prompt division in the Anglican Communion. The church’s ruling body voted May 23, 2009 by 326 to 267 to support the appointment of the Rev. Scott Rennie, 37, who was previously married to... Continue Reading

This news from TE Tim Bayly of Bloomington, Ind. TE Larry Allen was home in his chair on May 21, 2009, on the phone with a friend (Built to Lead’s Chet Scott) with whom he was planning a bike trip to France. They were both laughing–and God took him. An autopsy is being done, but... Continue Reading