MALIBU, Calif. (RNS) — Two hours before the sun set over the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 8, the Rev. Joyce Stickney, rector of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Malibu, received word about wildfires that had broken out 30 miles away in the hills above the Simi Valley. Hot, dry Santa Ana winds were howling that day, which meant that a fire that began an hour away could pose a legitimate threat to seaside Malibu, where wildfires are a perennial concern — the 1993 Old Topanga blaze raged for 10 days, destroying more than 350 homes and leaving three people dead. So Stickney headed for St. Aidan’s sanctuary where, from its hillside perch a few hundred yards above the Pacific Coast Highway, with the Santa Monica Mountains in the distance to the east, she prayed for her city of about 13,000 souls. Parish administrator Nathaniel Sherrill, whose home in Newbury Park, Calif., was close enough to the fire’s origin that it already had been evacuated, joined her to recite an evening meditation … [Read more...]
PDA responds to needs following both natural, human-caused disasters
(PNS) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance uses terms like “unprecedented” and “all-encompassing” when referring to the destructive fires still burning both in Northern and Southern California – especially the Camp Fire that destroyed much of Paradise, Calif., a fire that had claimed at least 79 lives as of Tuesday and destroyed more than 10,000 homes. Fires in Southern California ignited just a day after a gunman killed 12 people at a country music bar in Thousand Oaks. “It is unusual for a wildfire to have such an all-encompassing effect on human habitation,” said the Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, PDA director. “The concern is that if rains come afterwards, we are looking at mudslides.” Four California presbyteries — Sacramento, Santa Barbara, San Fernando and Pacific — have requested National Response Team members be sent in following the Thanksgiving holiday. PDA is increasing by $10,000 the amount of an initial grant that’s usually up to $7,500 for each of the affected … [Read more...]
Workshops and worship create full agenda at Moderators’ Conference
LOUISVILLE (OGA) Policies and procedures, workshops and worship made up the two-day Moderators’ Conference in Louisville, Kentucky over the weekend. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of the General Assembly hosted 110 moderators from across the country. Worship services were led by the Co-Moderators of the 223rdGeneral Assembly, the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann and Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri. In addition to presentations from other PC(USA) agencies, attendees were presented with the necessary tools to officiate meetings in their own presbyteries and synods. Most of Friday afternoon was spent educating the new moderators on how to conduct meetings, including a review of Robert’s Rules of Order and proper procedures for handling motions, substitute motions and discussion. Much time was dedicated to ensuring inclusivity and civility in meetings. During the Friday evening meal, the attendees had an informal conversation with Kohlmann and Cintrón-Olivieri with … [Read more...]
Co-moderators pull next “one church, one book” title following workplace allegations against the author
LOUISVILLE – The co-moderators of the 2018 General Assembly are pulling the book they asked Presbyterians to read over the next year, after allegations surfaced that the book’s author, Noel Castellanos, had created a hostile workplace environment for women. The co-moderators, Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Cindy Kohlmann, told participants at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Moderators’ Conference Nov. 17 that they could not proceed with recommending the book, since the allegations involve reports of a pattern of behavior extending over a dozen years. “Toxic leadership that abuses power and authority has no place within the church and is anathema to the body of Christ,” Cintrón-Olivieri said. The co-moderators acknowledged that some presbyteries or congregations may have already begun working with the Castellanos book, and apologized for the inconvenience. “We are even more deeply sorry that cultures of abuse towards women and those of less privilege are allowed to continue in … [Read more...]
Co-moderators share what they’ve seen and learned since General Assembly
LOUISVILLE – Dinner was over, parliamentary training was done. And it was question-and-answer time for the co-moderators of the 2018 General Assembly, Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Cindy Kohlmann. They gathered in Louisville Nov. 16 with the moderators of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mid-councils at the annual Moderators’ Conference. Here’s some of what the elected church leaders from presbyteries and synods wanted to know of the General Assembly leaders. How did you meet? The short version: a mutual friend, who knew that Kohlmann was considering standing for moderator, introduced them. “I felt overwhelmingly that I wanted to stand with someone who was Spanish-speaking,” and from Puerto Rico, said Kohlmann, who’s a minister and mid-council executive. So the friend, who knew of Cintrón-Olivieri’s years of service as a ruling elder in the denomination, an English as a Second Language teacher and a conference administrator, asked if she would consider standing as well, and if … [Read more...]
Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri teaches the importance of pronouns at PC(USA) Moderator’s Conference
LOUISVILLE (PNS) Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, co-moderator of the 223rd General Assembly, told the 110 or so presbytery and synod moderators attending the Moderators’ Conference Friday that the way she understands her favorite chapter in the Bible – Romans 8 – has understandably changed and deepened since she was a teenager in a new member class at her church in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Paul’s words to the church in Rome are familiar to most Christians: “If God is for us, who is against us?” “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Except that young Vilmarie saw those as personal promises. The co-moderator said she now gives the verses a literal read, with an emphasis on the plural pronouns that are on the page, not the singular ones that spoke directly to her. “Sometimes you’ve just got to sit down and scrutinize the text,” she preached during a joyous opening worship service, … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 735
- Next Page »
Tweet With Us
Be A Facebook Fan
Our World in Photos
Pin With Us