GA NEWS: Wedding performed at More Light dinner June 21

A same-sex wedding made possible by a recent California Supreme Court decision was held June 21 at the conclusion of the More Light Presbyterians’ traditional reception and dinner during the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

         After First Church, Palo Alto, Calif., received the More Light Presbyterians’ Inclusive Church Award, two of its members, Derrick Kikuchi and Craig Wiesner, received the National More Light Presbyterians David Sindt Leadership Award. 

GA NEWS: Walton Award winners announced, Four new church developments honored for innovative ministry

SAN JOSE — Four Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) new church developments — two in California and one each in Pennsylvania and Oregon — have been named winners of the 2008 Sam and Helen Walton Awards, it was announced June 21.

GA NEWS: World mission personnel honor six mission co-workers

SAN JOSE — From near and far, recent and past, they gathered for the World Mission Personnel and Alumni Reception Saturday night, June 21 at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly meeting.

GA NEWS: New San Jose Presbytery, exec cheers Micah theme

PNS/SAN JOSE — For Joey Lee, the new executive presbyter for the Presbytery of San Jose (www.sanjosepby.org), it is appropriate that the presbytery is welcoming the 218th General Assembly with the theme of Micah 6:8.

GA NEWS: Cliff Kirkpatrick recipient of E.T. Thompson Award

The board of directors of The Presbyterian Outlook has awarded its 2008 Ernest Trice Thompson Award for church leadership to Clifton Kirkpatrick, an ecumenical leader who has served as stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for the past 12 years.

GA NEWS: Same-sex marriage performed at More Light banquet

Hundreds of More Light Presbyterians filled the ballroom at the Marriott Hotel Saturday night for their traditional General Assembly Reception and Dinner.  Once the dinner plates had been cleared, and the cake was eaten, it began to look like the reception was almost over.  But the marriage ceremony had not yet begun.

GA NEWS: Joe Small honored with Festschrift

SAN JOSE - Surrounded by about 40 colleagues, friends and family members, Joseph D. Small was honored at a gathering of his peers June 20. Small was presented a Festschrift, a book of collected theological essays honoring Small’s achievements and leadership in the field of ecclesial theology.

GA NEWS: “You have a tiger God:” GA plenary opens June 21

SAN JOSE – The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) kicked off this morning with some bursts of hope – with voices from the leadership of the denomination telling of their work and their conviction that, in the words of Robert Wilson, vice-moderator of the 217th General Assembly, “we are better together.”

GA NEWS: Joan Gray addresses FOG issues at Pre-Assembly gathering June 20

SAN JOSE – “We have presbyteries crying out for this kind of thing” and “now is as good a time as any,” said Joan Gray, moderator of the 217th General Assembly – speaking of the proposed revision to the form of government of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Kirkpatrick, Valentine praise renewal, collaboration PC(USA) poised for growth and greater unity, leaders tell Assembly

SAN JOSE, June 21, 2008 — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in “deep need of renewal” and is on the verge of just such a renewal, outgoing General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick told 752 commissioners and 274 advisory delegates and corresponding members to the 218th General Assembly of the denomination during Saturday’s orientation.