Easter congregations: New beginnings, new hope

Resurrection, when you think about it, can be very specific: one man, one cross, one life sacrificed for others.

But the Easter celebration also is a story across all time, a story of rebirth and new beginnings and hope.

Some Presbyterian congregations have their own Easter stories to tell. Some are of brand-new life, some of exciting new combinations, some of coaxing fresh growth out of old roots. In each case, these are Christians willing to do what Jesus did at Easter: to listen faithfully for God's voice, and to follow.

“Monologue of the Religious Right” over, Jim Wallis tells LPTS

LOUISVILLE -- Jim Wallis, the editor-in-chief of Sojourners Magazine, is a man who once was arrested in the Capitol rotunda, in front of eighth graders studying civics, while demonstrating against tax cuts for the rich. He describes himself as "a 19^th century evangelist born in the wrong century."

Because Wallis is the kind of evangelical Christian who stands in the streets and speaks up for what he thinks is right, who thinks religion should always inform politics, who resonates in his bones with those 19^th century Christians who fought for the abolition of slavery and for women's right to vote and for child labor laws.

He's in the midst of a book tour for the just-published and best-selling "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It."

Torrance inaugurated as PTS president

Iain R. Torrance, a former moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, a scholar and writer with a deep interest in ecumenical concerns, was inaugurated and installed on March 11 as the sixth president of Princeton Theological Seminary.

In structuring his inauguration, Torrance clearly paid attention to today's ecumenical realities. The inaugural events included presentations from Christian, Muslim and Jewish theologians. And the audience as Torrance gave his inaugural address included a Greek Orthodox leader from New Jersey and more than 60 representatives from institutions of higher education, including the four ancient universities of Scotland as well as U.S. schools not directly connected with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), such as the divinity schools of Yale and Howard universities.

Majority of PC(USA) lay persons unaware of divestment vote, says poll

Despite the flap it's caused even internationally, many Presbyterian churchgoers are not aware of the vote the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) took last summer to authorize a process of selective, phased divestment in some companies doing business in Israel.

And among those who did know, there were differing opinions about the wisdom of what the assembly had done. A survey found ministers and liberals tending to favor the divestment action, and laypeople and conservatives tending to be opposed.

Stone Age Theology

The response to the tragic tsunami on December 26 in a wide area of southern Asia has been overwhelmingly positive as the United Nations, numerous countries around the world, non-governmental agencies like the Red Cross, Oxfam, Catholic Charities, and United Jewish Appeal, orchestras in Vienna, celebrities and school children have donated generously to save lives and rebuild destroyed cities and villages.

Task Force names writing teams; Vote scheduled August 24-25

The Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced on March 10 the members of teams that will work over the next few months to write draft sections -- possible approaches that the task force will consider for inclusion in its final report to the denomination.

The task force will vote on its report to the denomination on August 24 and 25, in a meeting in Chicago added to its schedule specifically to take that vote. The report is to be presented to the church by September 15

Taco Bell boycott over; wage increase OK’d

The three-year Presbyterian boycott of Taco Bell has ended, after the restaurant chain's parent corporation agreed to a deal that will increase what farm workers are paid by a penny for each pound of tomatoes they pick. That may not sound like much, but representatives of the farm workers say it can make a real difference in the amount of money those workers will earn.

Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), called it an historic agreement, and said its real significance is in the promise it holds on two fronts: for encouraging others in the food industry to also insist on fair wages and working conditions for farm workers; and for sending consumers a message that they should be responsible in spending their money with companies that require fair treatment for workers.

Charles W. Baird: Eutaxia and liturgy

Presbyterian clergyman and professor, Charles W. Baird, shook up Presbyterian worshippers just 150 years ago with his historical study, Eutaxia ("good order"), in which he investigated Calvinist liturgical inheritance.

American colonial Presbyterians, highly suspicious of Roman Catholic and Anglican practices, were, on the whole, "low church" in their worship. The First and Second Great Awakenings-- with their emphasis on preaching, reading the Scriptures, Psalm singing and long, pastoral prayers--influenced them. When Presbyterians organized a General Assembly in the 1780's, they considered and adopted a Directory for the Worship of God (1788). At that time they considered discretionary prayers, but eliminated them for a book of directions only.

Charles Baird and his family lived under this Directory in the early years of the nineteenth century. Baird was Princeton born. His father, Robert, was a Presbyterian minister. Robert, with his French spouse and family, spent much time in Europe, living in Paris and Geneva and visiting other places. The senior Baird promoted a revival of religion among Europeans. Son Charles studied at Union Theological Seminary (N.Y.) and at New York University, where he was recognized as a brilliant student. After brief service as chaplain at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, he returned to America and finally settled down as pastor in Rye, N.Y. During this time he published a history of the Huguenots, with whom he had been acquainted in Europe. He gave faces to those from the old world who had immigrated to this country. With this background he was able to help Presbyterians appreciate the richness of their heritage.

ADL leaders balk at PC(USA)’s explanation for divestment

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) explains why it's considering pulling investments from some companies doing business with Israel, and Jewish leaders dismiss the church's position as unfair and misguided.

The story was no different Feb. 11 when Jay Rock, the PC(USA)'s interfaith relations coordinator, addressed ADL leaders to tell the church's side of the divestment story and to discuss interfaith relations. The ADL invited Rock to speak at its annual National Executive Committee meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Church confessions–when, what, why–Explored by PC(USA) Task Force

At certain times, Christians have felt compelled to speak out -- compelled by difficulties in their world to write a statement confessing what they believe (and often what they oppose) and why.

Some 20^th century examples:

·     Germany in 1934, as Hitler rose to power (The Barmen Declaration).

·     South Africa in 1986, in the midst of apartheid (The Confession of Belhar).

·     Korea in 1988, as people longed for reunification (The Declaration of the Churches of Korea on National Reunification and Peace).

·     So what can the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with its own basket of troubles, learn from such confessional statements-- known by the Latin term "status confessionis"?  (The term basically means "a situation in which confession is demanded," according to theologian William Stacy Johnson.)

Task Force deliberates on nature of church questions, divisions

The Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gathered again in Texas beginning March 2 -- and this is considered to be a crucial meeting, coming just six months before the group's September 15 deadline for releasing its report to the church. Its only other meeting before the deadline is scheduled for July.

But the heart of this meeting -- the most serious discussion -- will be held behind closed doors. The task force has voted unanimously to close basically half its meeting to observers.

Dubuque faculty, trustees respond to Layman claims; Outlook assessment

The President, Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, and Faculty/Staff Council of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary are greatly disturbed by the false claims published by The Presbyterian Layman Online regarding classroom teaching by Dr. Mark Achtemeier, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, and by the false claim that members of the seminary faculty spoke with The Layman. 

The President, Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, and Faculty/Staff Council unanimously affirm their full confidence in the integrity of Dr. Achtemeier as a presbyter and Doctor of the Church.  We join with Dr. Achtemeier in calling for a retraction of the article and a formal printed apology from the editors of The Layman.