Synod overturns Sacramento Presbytery post-PUP policies

SACRAMENTO -- The Synod of the Pacific handed down a ruling June 20 that overturns all four policies adopted by the Sacramento Presbytery as it sought to respond to actions of the 2006 General Assembly. 

At stake were four resolutions approved at the SP's called meeting last Sept. 9.  The presbytery voted 1) to require all candidates for ordination, installation, and or membership in the Presbytery to comply with all standards in the Constitution, i.e., allowing no "scruples;" 2) to not receive into membership, nor recognize as a member, any minister who had been ordained elsewhere, "under a scruple that is taking exception to any of the ordination standards;" 3) to allow churches to withhold per capita support of upper governing bodies and not to make up the difference for doing so; and 4) to allow congregations wishing to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to go with their property,

All four resolutions were overturned by the synod's permanent judicial commission. 

Lausanne Comm. for World Evangelization hosts church leaders to plan 2010 meeting

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY -- More than 360 Christian leaders from 60+ countries participated in the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE) Bi-Annual International Leadership Meeting, a week-long planning session that ended here June 22. The meeting was an opportunity for leaders to pray, plan, and work together toward Lausanne III: Cape Town 2010, the Third International Congress on World Evangelization to be held October 16-25, 2010.

The Budapest meeting of global Lausanne leadership discussed the potential barriers and opportunities of global evangelization, and how the Church can share the hope of the Gospel with every nation on earth. The Rev. S. Douglas (Doug) Birdsall, LCWE Executive Chair, urged the leaders to work together for the cause of Christ "because there is so much at stake. The task is bigger and the urgency more obvious."

Evangelical Presbyterian Church GA approves New Wineskins proposal

Commissioners to the 27th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church approved June 22 a proposal to ease the transfer of churches into the EPC from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The proposal, developed and approved by delegates to the New Wineskins Convocation this past February in Orlando, calls for the formation of a transitional, non-geographic presbytery. It will provide a "haven" for up to five years for PC(USA)-departing churches to explore whether the EPC is where they wish to join permanently.

Woodland legacy

LILLEY CORNETT WOODS -- Clifford Cornett has been gone for a long time, but his heart still knows every step of these woods.

His grandfather, Lilley Cornett, once owned this land in Letcher County in eastern Kentucky -- and as he walks the flatland, Clifford points out where the barn used to stand, where the iron clanged in blacksmith's shop, where the mill ground grain into flour and cornmeal. His grandfather once tried to dig out a lake in a swampy bottom, Clifford grins in remembrance. He just managed to sink a tractor instead.

The family grew or harvested everything they needed on this land -- traveling to town just twice a year to buy big sacks of sugar and staples.

His family moved away in 1966 so his father could work in the coal mines in Illinois, as did others from the region -- Clifford calls them "migrating coal miners."

Christian Reformed Church to study kids and Communion

(RNS) "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them," Jesus told his disciples. But should that include taking Communion?

A lot of people in the Christian Reformed Church think so, but a lot don't. So now a committee will help the church decide. The Faith Formation Committee has five years to come up with a statement on when youths should take Communion. At issue: whether children first must make a profession of faith, as now required, or whether being baptized is sufficient.

"This is an issue that gets to people deeper than who can serve in office, because it gets to the heart of the sacraments," said the Rev. Tyler Wagenmaker, of Hudsonville, Mich.

In a survey of CRC pastors, 25 percent said their churches' children take Communion before a public profession of faith. Children begin taking it anywhere from ages 5 to 18, said John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

A community says farewell to a beloved neighbor, friend

MONTREAT -- How can a tiny alpine village of Switzerland or Austria transform itself into a host city for the winter Olympics?  Only the local residents know for sure.

But the locals in Montreat, N.C., have an idea. Their tiny town -- 697 counted citizens in 2005 -- is hosting the funeral of Ruth Bell Graham today. Their preparations have taken on Olympic proportions.

When Mrs. Graham's health turned more precarious six months ago, the needed preliminary decision-making began. Through these months, Montreat leaders met repeatedly with leaders from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, based in Charlotte; with staff from the Billy Graham Training Center, i.e., "The Cove", based in nearby Asheville; with state and local law enforcement agencies, and with representatives of the U.S. Secret Service. 

Last respects paid June 16 to Ruth Bell Graham

MONTREAT -- They affirmed the resurrection, proclaimed the gospel. The familiar, deep voice of George Beverly Shea was lifted in song once again. The crowd sang hymns and nodded in agreement to the preaching. Funny stories abounded -- the kind that sisters love to tell on one another, and that children love to tell on their famous parents. Put it together, and the funeral service for Ruth Bell Graham painted all the right colors and touched all the gathered hearts.

Ruth Bell Graham, one of the most famous Presbyterians of our day, was honored and her faith proclaimed in the Anderson Auditorium at Montreat Conference Center June 16. 

Church group makes environmental tour to mining-scarred mountains

EOLIA, Ky. -- Sam Gilbert made his living mining coal from the mountains of eastern Kentucky -- that's how he fed his family and paid his bills. He lives in the hills along Rocky Branch on Black Mountain and loves this piece of heaven.

He also sees what's happening at the top.

Before he retired, Gilbert was a strip miner. Now, in the push to dig the coal out faster, driven in part by consumers' incessant push for "cheap" energy, the coal companies have speeded up the process by blowing off the tops of mountains to get at the coal seams. It's a technique, aided by big machinery, known as mountaintop removal. It is transforming the landscape in these hills.

On an overcast Friday afternoon, Gilbert -- tall and lean in his blue jeans -- stood in his neighbors' front yard, leaning against a tree, telling visitors from Yale University and from Crescent Hill Church in Louisville about his efforts to take on the coal company and protect his property. This spring, Gilbert and his wife, Evelyn, pushed elected officials from Letcher Fiscal Court to block Cumberland River Coal Company from dumping debris from the top of Black Mountain down the creek behind their house, and also into another nearby creek.

The Gilberts and their allies from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (www.kftc.org), a grassroots group working on justice issues, prevailed this time -- but stopped the dumping of mining debris into these two creeks only. The debris will be diverted to places where the coal company had already been at work.

Methodist Task Force Issues divestment recommendations

LAWRENCE, Massachusetts -- The New England Conference of The United Methodist Church has issued its Divestment Task Force report, including recommendations for divestment from twenty companies identified as supporting the Israeli occupation in Palestine.

Based on the research and findings of the Conference's Divestment Task Force, the report outlines the process and the recommendations for divestment. The company listing with details on each company and the reasons for the divestment recommendation can be found at www.neumc.org/divest. The Web site also includes the original resolution, a full copy of the report and recommendations of the Divestment Task Force, and additional supporting documentation and resources, including statements from Jewish organizations in support of divestment.

The Divestment Task Force was created to implement Resolution 204, which was passed during the 2005 New England Annual Conference session (RS-204: Resolution on Divesting from Companies that are Supporting in a Significant Way the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories).  This resolution followed on the heels of Resolution 312, which was passed at the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

California church youth killed in fatal crash

An adult and three teenagers from Upland, California, congregations, including First Church in Upland, died June 23 in a church van -- pickup truck collision west of Barstow, Calif.

Rebecca Vetterani, 28, a seminarian intern at First Church, died in the three-vehicle accident that shut down U.S. 395 west of Barstow for hours, according to a Los Angeles Times report. Her husband, youth director Tom Vetterani, was severely burned and in critical condition following the crash.

Synod courts hand down mixed messages on ordination standards

LOUISVILLE -- A church court has concluded that Pittsburgh Presbytery cannot "elevate" language from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Constitution to make compliance with ordination standards "essential" and that it must apply the guidelines to ministerial candidates on an individual basis.

The May 16 ruling by the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) of the Synod of the Trinity followed a two-day hearing in Camp Hill, Pa., regarding a resolution that Pittsburgh Presbytery adopted on Oct. 12, 2006.

The presbytery's resolution called compliance with the PC(USA)'s ordination standards from the Book of Order, which require chastity in singleness or fidelity in heterosexual marriage, an "essential of Reformed polity." It stated that no exceptions would be permitted within the jurisdiction of Pittsburgh Presbytery.

This ruling runs contrary to one handed down March 20 by the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Alaska-Northwest.