LOUISVILLE (OGA) Newly elected and ordained ruling elders and deacons in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can now access resources that will guide them in understanding the constitutional questions of the denomination. "Coming Alive in Christ: Training for PC(USA) Ruling Elders and Deacons based on the Constitutional Questions" is the first initiative launched as part of the Church’s Year of Leader Formation. The program was announced in December by the Office of the General Assembly to focus on training for this part of church ministry. “The Book of Order provides the constitutional questions asked of leaders when they are ordained, installed and commissioned in the PC(USA),” said Martha Miller, with Ministry and Education Support with the Office of the General Assembly. “This new resource provides a study of these beliefs that are central to our lives of faith in our community.” The free multi-session resource is offered through EQUIP, the Church’s online training … [Read more...]

(PNS) The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations in New York and Office of Public Witness (OPW) on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., have been natural collaborators for years. At events such as Big Tent in the summer of 2019, the office coordinators presented workshops together. Recently, the offices have collaborated on webinars illuminating international issues around the world, and they participate in a Colombia Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry class that includes a week at the UN Office and a week at OPW. Behind the scenes, the offices have collaborated on advocacy pertaining to issues around the world. Late last year, due to some personnel changes and economic realities of the COVID-19 era, the union of the offices became formal. The combined offices are now the Office of Public Witness/United Nations Office under the direction of the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Associate Director of Advocacy for the Compassion, Peace & Justice (CPJ) ministries. “I’m so … [Read more...]

(OGA) What can you learn from the past to help shape the work of the present and future? This topic is of special interest to members of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. Since last June, the organization has been focusing on the call to defund police in light of several law enforcement shootings of people of color and the ongoing conversation about inequity in the U.S. “This call comes from an abolitionist framework. We look back to history to understand, gain inspiration and learn from mistakes to learn how to respond now in light of what happened in Washington recently,” said the Rev. Emily Brewer, executive director of the fellowship. “It’s all connected by white supremacy and anti-Black racism, especially.” Brewer recently moderated a webinar featuring David Staniunas, archivist with the Presbyterian Historical Society, who shared bits of history of Presbyterians and the abolition movement. “My job is to be the first point of contact for anything that can become … [Read more...]

(PNS) Joanne Rogers, who was married for more than 50 years to children’s television icon and Presbyterian pastor Fred Rogers, died Thursday in Pittsburgh. She was 92. “Joanne and Fred Rogers envisioned the [Fred Rogers] Center as host to a child-study center, a resource for college students interested in media and child development, a site that would carry forward the legacy of Fred Rogers and his many contributions to children’s television programming and to children, families and their helpers,” the Fred Rogers Center said in a statement announcing Joanne Rogers’ death. “Joanne helped guide the development of the Center’s mission and vision statements and gave inspiration to our Fred Rogers Scholars and children’s studies minor students.” The Center described her as “a joyful and tender-hearted spirit whose laughter and kindness will be deeply missed.” She was “a trusted anchor whose heart and wisdom have guided our work in service of Fred’s enduring legacy.” “Everyone … [Read more...]

(OGA) Several years ago, I led a group of young adults from the United States on a journey to explore our relationship with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. After a wonderful worship service and dinner hosted by a congregation in Tema, we were sitting at tables with the church leaders. One of the congregation’s elders turned to me and said he was impressed that I listened so well. I thanked him and asked him more about his kind compliment. He smiled and said that in his experience Americans are not the best listeners. He said that often when you see two Ghanaians together, one is talking and the other is listening. When you see two Americans together, one is talking and the other is waiting to talk. For 15 years I was privileged to serve as a professor at Columbia Theological Seminary. One of the last courses the seniors are required to take before they graduate is titled Final Things. In it, we professors try to prepare them for whatever ministry to which God is calling them. One … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) — On Wednesday, Jan. 20, employees and friends of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will celebrate and commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The service this year will be livestreamed on the PC(USA) Facebook page beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The preacher for the service will be the Rev. Timothy Findley, Jr., founder and senior pastor of Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Findley is also a community activist who has been on the frontline of the peaceful protest for justice for Breonna Taylor. Findley has served Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center since March 2008. Under Findley’s leadership, Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center has become one of Louisville’s fastest-growing churches. He has built more than 50 in-house ministries focusing on effective outreach and evangelism, God-centered creativity and high-impact worship. The theme for the Wednesday morning service is “The Power … [Read more...]