KANSAS CITY, MO (PNS) — Bringing rich and poor, black and white, young and old together in communion at the same table is the mission of The Open Table, a 1001 New Worshiping Community of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) planted two years ago by Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Bolstered by a $50,000 grant awarded by Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, The Open Table will continue its nurturing and encouraging mission to advance racial reconciliation and understanding through shared meals and discussion of timely and relevant issues in a casual, comfortable atmosphere where all are welcome and valued. The one-year grant will be used by The Open Table to educate and empower staff leaders, partners in ministry and others in organizing, developing and facilitating a series of training sessions on racial reconciliation. These training sessions also will be used to assist other faith groups seeking to do this important work in their … [Read more...]

(PNS) An estimated 40 to 50 African American clergy gathered on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to speak out against what they call “the immoral” budget proposed by President Donald Trump as well as the “unjust” health bill that currently hangs in limbo. The group of ministers, including the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness, spoke at a news conference before heading to various senate and congressional offices. The faith leaders say the budget will have a negative impact on African American families with proposed cuts in Medicaid and education, as well as community block grants and housing vouchers. “We believe it will devastate life and most of all, it is unnecessary,” said Hawkins. “We don’t believe in just coming together to say some words. We are going to halls of the House of Representatives and Senate to lobby, advocate and talk with members of Congress against this budget.” Other speakers at the news conference included … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) The Search Committee for the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) has finalized the leadership profile for the position and formally launched the search for the next PMA leader. Applications are now being accepted. “On behalf of the search committee, I want to express deep appreciation to everyone who shared their hopes for the next Executive Director via the open online invitation and those in leadership whom we interviewed personally,” said Nancy Ramsay, chair of the search committee. “We listened to you.” What they heard, according to Ramsay, from over 330 responses to the online invitation, as well as those who were interviewed as the leadership profile was developed, was that this is a time of structural ambiguity at the General Assembly level, and also a time of hopefulness and dynamic transformation. Boardwalk Consulting, a national firm experienced in faith-based leadership searches, was selected as the search firm to assist with … [Read more...]