(OGA) Building on the momentum of the past year, the Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will lead a group through the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, next week, calling for an end to the cash bail system. Nelson has been actively raising awareness on the issue since a march in downtown St. Louis at the 223rd General Assembly (2018) last year. The PC(USA) has been working closely with The Bail Project, a nonprofit organization that is committed to helping people get out of jail who cannot afford bail. The Louisville march will be held on Wednesday, June 12, from the PC(USA) offices to the center of the city’s government and legal district, beginning at 1:00 p.m. EST. Several local faith and government leaders will also participate in the march and rally. Donations are being accepted to help provide the cash for bail. Click here for more information. In his monthly “Conversations with the Clerk,” … [Read more...]
Presbyterian Foundation reaches out to small churches
LOUISVILLE (PNS) — Where does your congregation see itself in 20 years? Chances are, an answer to that question doesn’t come quickly. After all, discernment takes time and thought. And sometimes, difficult circumstances must be acknowledged and tough decisions have to be made. Small Church Forums, sponsored by the Presbyterian Foundation, are designed to help small churches identify who they are and where they’re going. (Contributed photograph) Rev. Meg Flannagan, the pastor at the Presbyterian Church at Sweet Hollow in Melville, N.Y., has been working with her congregation on discerning who it is and where it’s going. Flannagan has served at the church for four years and she and the congregation have done “a lot of work” in that time, she said. She describes the church as being “between times” with diminishing resources, time and people. But the work it was doing simply wasn’t enough. In January 2019, Small Church Forum started working with Sweet Hollow and a dozen … [Read more...]
Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri credits family and church for call to ministry
(OGA) For Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, family and her church in Puerto Rico have been the foundation of her faith. In the twelve months since she became the Co-Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Cintrón-Olivieri has taken what she learned at an early age and has shared it with the church worldwide. In the second of two videos, the Office of the General Assembly shares a glimpse into her life and her call. by Office of the General Assembly … [Read more...]
José Luis Casal announces his retirement from World Mission
LOUISVILLE (PNS) — After nearly a half-century of service to the Church, the Rev. José Luis Casal, director of Presbyterian World Mission, has announced his plan to retire, effective Aug. 15. “José Luis championed World Mission with imagination, enthusiasm and a deep love of Jesus Christ,” said the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, executive director and president of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “I want to extend my deep gratitude to him for two years of service to the mission agency and 48 years of service to the Church.” In his remaining 2½ months, Casal will wrap up his work with staff and global partners aimed at setting a new course for World Mission’s work around the world. He will leave after the conclusion of World Mission’s strategic planning process, which began last fall. “The prospect of retirement fills me with both joy and sadness,” Casal said. “Joy, because retirement allows me to spend more time with my family. I’m also relieved that I will not have to participate in … [Read more...]
Presbyterian Historical Society executive director to leave
(OGA) The Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) will be losing its executive director. The Reverend Dr. Beth Hessel, who has served in the leadership capacity for four years, has resigned to take a similar position with the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a historic member library and architectural archives. “It has been an honor to serve God’s people, the PC(USA), and the larger research community,” said Hessel. “We have made great strides toward achieving our vision of being an inclusive, relevant, and responsive archives that collects, preserves, and shares the fullness of American Presbyterian History.” The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), credits Hessel with generating new sources of revenue and expanding historical collections for PHS. “During her four years with us, PHS have seen increased funds development, acquisition of several prestigious grants, the development of strategies for expanding … [Read more...]
Ecumenical and church partners gather in Louisville to celebrate life of Robina Winbush
(OGA) They’ve traveled from across the country. Ministers and ecumenical partners are in Louisville this week to pay tribute to the Reverend Robina Winbush. The Associate Stated Clerk and Director of Ecumenical and Agency Relations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of the General Assembly died suddenly in March after returning from a visit to the Middle East. The Peace Choir sang several of Robina Winbush’s favorite hymns during worship at the PC(USA) Chapel Thursday. -Photo by Angie Stevens The group is joining PC(USA) staff for worship and conversation around the future of ecumenical work. Participants include representatives from the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Moravian Church, Reformed Church in America, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, as well as the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A., Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Progressive National Baptist … [Read more...]
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