The Presbyterian Outlook

News and Articles from the The Presbyterian Outlook

Register Login Donate Subscribe

Top Search/Contact Area

  • Be A Fan

  • Follow Us

  • Photos

  • Pin It!

    • Home
      • About us
      • Advertise with the Outlook
      • Submissions
    • Presbyterian Hub
      • Editorials
      • Outlook Features
      • Digital Issues
      • Editor’s viewpoints
      • What’s right?
      • About People
      • Calendar Check
    • News +
      Current Affairs
      • Outlook Reporting
      • Presbyterian News Service
      • Religion News Service
      • News from other sources
    • Ministry + Theology
      • InSights Opinions
      • Benedictory
      • Guest commentary
    • Faith + Culture
      • Book Reviews
      • Those with ears to hear (music reviews)
      • He/She Said
      • Movie Reviews
    • Ministry Resources
      • Outlook Standard Lessons
      • Outlook Horizons Studies
      • Looking into the lectionary
      • Bulletin Inserts
      • Webinars
      • Hymns
    • Outpost Blog
    • Classifieds
      • Classified advertising

    News in Sum: The PC(USA) in 2013

    December 31, 2013 by Leslie Scanlon, Outlook national reporter Leave a Comment

    The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)Screen Shot 2013-12-16 at 3.34.58 PM

                    has the feel of a denomination in transition —

                with congregations leaving

            and others reinventing themselves;

         with financial struggles and innovation;

    with both hope and uncertainty about the future.


    Here are some of the big stories of the year.

    Departures.

    Week by week, the list of congregations leaving the PC(USA) for other denominations grows — including some particularly large and influential churches. In 2012, the PC(USA) dismissed 110 congregations to other denominations, many to ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians and to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Large congregations now considering departure include St. Andrews and Menlo Park churches in California; Highland Park in Dallas; Christ Presbyterian in Edina, Minn.; and First Presbyterian in Houston.

    Marriage.

    With 15 states already having approved same-gender marriage and overtures in the works, there’s no question the 2014 General Assembly (meeting June 14-21 in Detroit) will consider whether Presbyterian ministers should be allowed to perform same-gender marriages. That discussion will take place against a dramatic backdrop of change in the secular world, with the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the Defense of Marriage Act last June and with public opinion tilting increasingly in favor of legalizing same-gender marriage. That leaves a tough question: in states where same-sex marriage is legal, what are Presbyterian pastors to do?

    Property disputes.

    Many church departures have proceeded with pain but a minimum of rancor under gracious separation policies that some presbyteries have adopted. But there has also been litigation over property as well — with a major case pending between Highland Park in Dallas, which wants control of its $30 million campus and which filed suit against Grace Presbytery in September to keep the presbytery from taking any action involving the property. A trial is scheduled for March.

    ECO.

    The new ECO denomination is up and running. With more than 60 congregations having formally joined, and others on the way, ECO has created two presbyteries, begun ordaining ministers and will hold a national meeting August 18-20 in Dallas. Other congregations have aligned with the Fellowship of Presbyterians, seeking to build tighter relationships with other evangelicals within the PC(USA) but not to switch denominations — at least not yet.

    1001 New Worshipping Communities.

    One source of excitement for the PC(USA) has been a push to start new worshipping communities, some supported by denominational seed grants. The new communities reach out to college students, immigrants, inner-city residents and more; taking root everywhere from cafes to trailer parks. Other congregations use the New Beginnings program to give prayerful discernment to reinvention and faithful use of assets and energy.

    World Council of Churches.

    The 10th assembly of the World Council of Churches drew delegates representing the council’s 345 member denominations to Busan, South Korea, in November. The ecumenical assembly, reflecting the concerns of global Christianity, bore in on peace and justice issues around the globe, including climate change; the suffering arising from conflict in the Middle East; human trafficking; and AIDS. The assembly typically meets every seven years.

    Hymnal.

    With great celebration, the PC(USA) released “Glory to God,” its first new hymnal since 1990. Available with both red and purple covers, the new hymnal includes more than 850 songs (up from about 600 in the last version) and is the culmination of work begun when the 2004 General Assembly asked that research on the project begin. The new hymnal is being launched with six national celebrations, including three still to come — in Fort Worth Jan. 9-10; Atlanta Feb. 21-22; and Louisville March 14-15.

    Health insurance.

    The Board of Pensions first considered, then decided to hold off on, a revision of its medical dues structure, following an outcry over whether the proposed changes would have been too expensive, particularly for young pastors with families. The proposal under discussion would have required higher dues for ministers and other church workers and would have provided optional coverage for dependents — with individual congregations choosing to either bear that cost or pass it on to the employees. Responding to concerns voiced both privately and via social media, the board decided to keep the existing dues structure in place through 2014 but to increase dues on January 1.

    Seminary presidents.

    Two seminaries welcomed Presbyterian teaching elders as their new presidents in 2013. Fuller Theological Seminary inaugurated Mark Labberton as its 5th president in November, and Princeton Theological Seminary installed M. Craig Barnes as its 7th president a few weeks before that.

    Papal example.

    One of the biggest religion stories of the year isn’t directly Presbyterian — but involves the way Christians around the world have embraced Pope Francis. His humble ways — greeting children, embracing a man disfigured by facial tumors, eschewing lavish quarters at the Vatican — along with his gestures of welcome across dividing lines have got people of faith thinking. What does it mean to really follow Jesus after all?



    Want to share this recap with your congregation?  Click here to order a specially formatted bulletin insert.

    ShareShare on Facebook
    Facebook
    Tweet about this on Twitter
    Twitter
    Email to someone
    email

    Outlook Features

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Related Posts

    • History, Mystery and the Christmas Story

      Wise men from afar, angel visitors to shepherds in the night, a child cradled in a manger — through what lens shall these stories be viewed? Are they to be placed in the same mental file with "The Legends of King Arthur" — or are they events with names and…

    • Earning hope

      These are cynical times, and this is supposed to be a season of hope. We have people who’ve worked hard all their lives not sure if they’ll be able to afford medicine and health care in their "golden years," even with the changes in Medicare. We have people who get…

    • Ash Wednesday: What do Presbyterians do?

      Lauren McFeaters remembers exactly when she learned about Ash Wednesday. She grew up in Pennsylvania, in a community near Pittsburgh that was about evenly split -- folks were either Scots Presbyterian or Catholic, only a sprinkling of anything else. And when she was in sixth grade, the Catholic kids began…

    Current Issue

    • February 11, 2019
    • January 21, 2019
    • January 7, 2019
    • December 17, 2018
    • Subscribe
    • Give a Gift
    • Read Online
    • Most Commented
    • Most Popular
    • PC(USA), A Corporation: Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask Confused, confused, confused. So many say they are confused by the octopus-like discussions involving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) corporate structure. (Others...
    • Vision before structure: Presbyterian Mission Agency Board scrutinizes recommendations from other groups CINCINNATI – The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board is considering asking the 2018 General Assembly to take the next two years...
    • Presbyterian leaders clarify what’s at stake in debates over restructuring LOUISVILLE – While no blazing agreement was reached, participants in an April 8-9 conversation regarding the corporate structure of the...
    • Prayer for Pittsburgh Lord, we know your power, your promises and your presence, but on days like today when your chosen people are...
    • 2018 GA bulletin inserts What happened at the 223rd General Assembly? Post-GA bulletin inserts What will they hear? Who will tell them? Give your church members...
    • 2017 PC(USA) membership statistics released The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) continues to lose members — with a decline of 67,714 members and the loss of 147...

    Keep the Faith

    Sign Up for Updates and Breaking News in your inbox

    Facebook

    Tweets by presoutlook
    Follow Us

    View Stories From

    • Presbyterian Hub
      • Editorials
      • Outlook Features
      • Digital Issues
      • Calendar Check
      • About People
        • Anniversaries
        • Ordinations
        • Retired
        • Deaths
        • Transitions
      • Archives
    • Faith + Culture
      • Book Reviews
      • Movie Reviews
      • He/She Said
    • Ministry + Theology
      • InSights Opinions
        • For Church Leaders
        • Faith Matters
        • Multichannel Church Report
        • #amen
        • Commentary
        • Benedictory
      • Liturgical Year
        • Advent
        • Lent

    The Latest:

    Pope demands ‘concrete’ response to abuse crisis at Vatican summit

    February 21, 2019

    Church of England’s synod takes on Brexit divisions as zero hour approaches

    February 21, 2019

    PC(USA) leaders advocate for change for migrant families

    February 21, 2019

  • Tweet With Us
  • Be A Facebook Fan
  • Our World in Photos
  • Pin With Us
  • CONTACT US:

    1 N. 5th St., Suite 500

    Richmond, VA 23219

    T: 800-446-6008F: 804-353-6369

    [email protected]

    Or ▶ Fill Out Our Contact Form

    © Copyright 2019 The Presbyterian Outlook. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement. Website Design by Poka Yoke Design

    • About us
    • Presbyterian Hub
    • Ministry Resources
    • Classifieds
    • Advertise with the Outlook
    • Submissions
    7ads6x98y