LOUISVILLE (PNS) — On behalf of Presbyterian Mission Agency, during its latest grant cycle the Mission Development Resources Committee  (MDRC) recently approved 19 Mission Program Grants to worshiping communities. Thirteen $7,500 seed grants were awarded to help a diverse number of 1001 New Worshiping Communities get started in various presbyteries across the country.  In addition, two existing worshiping communities will receive $25,000 investment grants to help them live into their mission and ministry. Four will receive $25,000 growth grants as they work toward becoming viable Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) communities. The worshiping community grant recipients are listed below, followed by their presbytery and synod: Seed Grants Agape is Love (Minnesota Valleys, Lakes and Prairies) provides spiritual guidance and faith formation to the LGBTQ+ community in Marshall, Minnesota and the surrounding area. AthleteLife/Vida Atletica (Riverside, Southern California & … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE — In the wake of recent shootings in Gilroy, Calif., in the Texas communities of El Paso and Odessa and in Dayton, Ohio, and with the advent of the Season of Peace, the Compassion, Peace & Justice Ministryprograms of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) are providing congregations and mid-councils a robust package of resources to help congregations put thoughts and prayers about gun violence into obedient action. The resources are being mailed this week, so congregations can expect their packet to arrive by the end of the week. In a letter accompanying the resources, The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, express their gratitude to previous General Assemblies for the wisdom and faithfulness that helped create the programs and initiatives, which enable the church to help “overcome evil with good.” The package contains nine … [Read more...]

(PNS) - The Presbyterian Church’s Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment has completed its first round of scoring corporations’ environmental records, finding some are making progress and others are at risk of potential divestment recommendations.  The committee’s guideline metrics were set up in response to a directive at the 222nd General Assembly (2016) to establish standards to evaluate companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. At the 223rd GA in 2018, commissioners approved the framework for those metrics and Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) set out on its first round of evaluations.  “After the 223rd General Assembly, the committee communicated the GA’s action to all nine companies named,” said Rob Fohr, Director of Faith-Based Investing and Corporate Engagement for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “MRTI leadership also sent letters to the mid-council leaders where the companies are headquartered, making sure they were … [Read more...]

(PNS) Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with a colleague to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and how it connects to the church. I am in no way an expert on the entirety of the Black Lives Matter movement. However, I have been a social justice faith abolitionist for many years and share a perspective that is grounded in my belief in Jesus and the practical side of the justice God calls forth. My colleague’s questions are in bold. My answers follow each question. So, tell me a little bit about how Black Lives Matter started. Where did it come from? Black Lives Matter was started by three black queer women after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the execution of Trayvon Martin in 2013. It was an act of resilience of life and a defiance of the status quo of black lives not mattering at all. This is the modern-day civil rights movement in that it not centralized in a person or institution like the church. Rather it is predicated on the idea that … [Read more...]

(PNS) Last week, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced the formal withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill that launched massive protests earlier this summer. But there is still considerable unrest. Sunday marked a peaceful protest march to the U.S. Consulate in hopes of generating support from Washington, D.C., for democratic reforms. On Monday, thousands of students formed human chains to show support for the pro-democratic protests. Those leading the protests believe that Lam’s withdrawal of the bill is too little too late and does not address the other demands made for an independent inquiry of police actions, retraction of the term “riot” to characterize the protests, unconditional release of all who have been arrested for protesting, and dual universal suffrage, which would include the right to vote for both the Legislative Council and the Chief Executive.  The protests began on June 9 over a proposed law that would allow the Hong Kong government to send … [Read more...]

(OGA) The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is remembering a former Moderator who died this week in McAllen, Texas. William H. Wilson, a church elder, served as Moderator of the 197th General Assembly (1985). “I first met Bill when he was elected Moderator and I was serving as a TSAD [theological student advisory delegate]. That was at the same assembly where we voted on the new PC(USA) logo, and as I remember, we also voted to establish this fledgling program called Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program,” said Sallie Watson, general presbyter at Mission Presbytery in San Antonio. “The new denomination was only two years old when Bill assumed leadership. He was all business, which is exactly what we needed at that time. His leadership was solid and strong, and after his moderatorial year, First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville was once again the beneficiary of that wise leadership. He will be missed.” Wilson was elected Moderator during a rare first-ballot victory. Prior to his … [Read more...]