Before some 60,000 supporters met together at Houston’s Discovery Green park to join the family of George Floyd in a peaceful march to City Hall this week, about 200 clergy from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds gathered in the ballroom of a nearby hotel to pray. The Rev. Dr. Jim Gill, interim pastor of Joyful Life Lutheran Church in Magnolia, Texas, and a retired minister of several Presbyterian churches over his 40-year career, learned about the clergy gathering through the Rev. Lynn Hargrove, general presbyter for the Presbytery of New Covenant. Hargrove was notified about the event by Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, a United Way Agency. Gill gathered with other clergy leaders who met for prayer in the ballroom of the Hilton-Americas Hotel, across from Discovery Green. A rabbi, an imam and a Protestant minister prayed, as the other faith-based leaders — wearing masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and following social-distancing protocols — shared their … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) — In a very real sense during the colossal challenges of coronavirus and civil protest, God is calling the church out, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II said during a Vital Congregations webinar Wednesday. Following more than a week of protest that started with the death of George Floyd at the hand of Minneapolis police on May 25, “no longer can we hide behind not being controversial,” said Nelson, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “We are all caught in this quagmire now.” “We are waiting for answers from old sources we have depended on for so long,” he said. “How deep is our faith? How deep is our commitment to get into places we aren’t familiar with and proclaim the gospel?” The church, he said, is “called to dismantle structures that put people in poverty and pain,” to not only “share the gospel, but share ourselves.” “We should not be out here being told to go back to barber shops and beauty shops when you’ve … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE — The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, released this statement Wednesday about the deep pain and anger that’s led to demonstrations and violence in cities across the county since the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police: “My soul is troubled. With the COVID-19 pandemic raging, killing over 106,000 people in this country and disproportionately impacting communities of color, and with the slayings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and just this week David McAtee, my cup runneth over with despair. “Most of you know the stories that have caused so much unrest in our nation and around the world. White vigilantes killed Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. Breonna Taylor was gunned down by undercover Louisville police officers who entered her home in the wee hours of the morning with a no-knock warrant. George Floyd, handcuffed with his face to the … [Read more...]

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (PNS) — As plans were being made for the 224th General Assembly in Baltimore, a synergy was forming with another event down the interstate in Washington D.C.: The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival was preparing to hold its Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington during the GA’s opening days, giving folks a chance to shuttle down to the like-minded event. Then the pandemic hit. Along with General Assembly, the COVID-19 crisis has also forced the Poor People’s Campaign event online. That actually makes it even more accessible to Presbyterians, who will see church leadership involved in the assembly. The event is now just a few clicks away, and taking place on Saturday, June 20, which will not be an active day for the online General Assembly. “Presbyterians are engaged in the Poor People’s Campaign and the synergy it is creating,” said the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness … [Read more...]

  The National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is grieved and angered along with our African American sisters and brothers because of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others. As a Middle Eastern community, we stand in solidarity with all people of color seeking justice through actions, not just words and promises. It is time for all communities to unite not only in prayer, but also in tangible ways that support, protect, uplift and advocate for those who have been suffering from systemic racism, injustice, oppression and discrimination throughout the entire history of this country. We reject all forms of dehumanization, discrimination and violence against people who are created in the image of God. We affirm the inherent value of all human beings and their right to the breath of life given to us by God. The NMEPC urges lawmakers and the leaders of the United States to take practical steps towards … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (OGA) The 224th General Assembly (2020) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will have a number of firsts later this month. Everything connected to the shortened assembly will be online, including Bible study. Earlier this year, the Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) of the PC(USA) selected James Elisha Taneti and Mary Florence Taneti as Bible study leaders. At the time, no one knew how the COVID-19 virus would drastically change everything about the assembly. “When thinking about the possibility of a digital General Assembly, Cindy and I felt strongly that, like the worship experiences, the opportunity for Bible study should be offered as part of the official assembly activities. As Presbyterians, we value the study of scripture as a vital spiritual practice as we engage in the words that speak to and nurture our spirits and lives,” said Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Co-Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly along with the Rev. Cindy … [Read more...]