Dear Friends in Christ, Deeply troubled by recent events in Cameroon, I would invite all Presbyterians to join me in praying for justice, peace, and security for the people of Cameroon. I know that there are many in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who are painfully aware of the ongoing legacies of colonial rule in Cameroon, a modern nation created with regionally distinct French- and English-speaking communities. We have watched with alarm as initially peaceful protests by lawyers and teachers concerning the erosion of the Anglophone identity in the judicial and educational sectors were met with force. In the absence of dialogue, positions hardened and violence has intensified over the past three years with a call to create an independent nation and the formation of militias. Since the presidential elections in October 2018, violence and armed attacks have spread from rural areas into cities such as Buea and Bamenda, regional capitals for areas that are home to the country’s … [Read more...]

The Honorable Michael R. Pompeo Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230 Dear Secretary Pompeo, The announcement from the current U.S. Administration that there is no such thing as “occupied territories” in Israel is abhorrent as well as foolish. It suggests that there is no such thing as a centuries-old Palestinian community that is entitled to live securely on the land on which they have lived for generations. It violates the fundamental right of people to own, tend, and hold their land, and forbids encroachment and occupation by other hostile entities. This decision is a direct violation of internationally recognized agreements. It questions political wisdom and demonstrates no regard for the Palestinian people and their civil and political rights. The pandering to current Israeli leadership carries the foolish assumption that such violations of Palestinian rights will generate political support in the United Stated in … [Read more...]

(OGA) Dear Friends in Christ, Your Moderators and I are greatly troubled by the political struggle that is underway in our nation’s capital, as well as other developments in the U.S. and around the world, and we feel led to call upon all Presbyterians to join us in a season of prayer. As the struggle in the U.S. Congress over the question of articles of impeachment for President Trump moves forward, it is easy for our Christian faith to take “second place” behind our political views and preferences, and when that happens, it is very hard for the Holy Spirit to break through and lead us in the path of God’s will. That struggle is made more difficult given the degree to which many of us have linked our own political preferences to our faith, suggesting that what we wish for is the will of God. May God save us from that trap as we pray for God’s guidance that transcends our political bias. While the political struggle goes on, consuming time, money, and political energy, we do … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (OGA) The six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and two entities (Presbyterian Women and A Corporation’s Administrative Services Group) were directed by the 223rd General Assembly (2018) to take the necessary steps to become racially just and equitable employers. This action reaffirmed our approach to be all-inclusive and to tear down any and all barriers that keep our siblings from the love of Christ. With the input of several leaders within our church, including the Diverse Voices Table, the agencies and entities unanimously agreed to pursue a race-centered audit, select a vendor, and finalize a budget and an aggressive timeline, so that we could report our findings to the 224th General Assembly (2020). There was focused discussion about disability and LGBTQIA+ inclusions, and some raised liability concerns around asking employees about disability and sexual identity in a focus group recruitment survey. All agencies, except the Board of Pensions, were … [Read more...]

Friends, There is growing and widespread concern in the wake of Alabama’s recent anti-abortion legislation, which, if implemented, will have the effect of almost total prohibition of any such procedure and remove from the pregnant woman and her attendant physician any choice in the matter whatsoever. As Presbyterians, we are part of a church that has wrestled with this issue for decades, guided by actions of our General Assemblies on the matter. Perhaps the most important action was taken by the 195th General Assembly (1983), which addressed abortion in the context of the plight of women who had limited access to medical care during pregnancy, or who did not feel they had the resources to raise a child. At the center of that approach was the effort to respond to the 1973 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court referred to as Roe v. Wade. It provided a legal framework to guide those trying to make responsible decisions regarding the possible termination of a pregnancy and it … [Read more...]