Six inches of rain fell in Houghton, causing major damage to streets and roads. (Photo by Suzanne Baroody) PNS — Residents of Houghton, Michigan are still cleaning up from the impact of heavy rains and floods over a week ago. The National Weather Service reports more than six inches of rain fell June 16-17, sending rivers and streams over their banks and causing significant damage to several main roads in and out of town. “Most of our roads were damaged at some level. I live about 10 miles out of town and there were three or four major washouts where asphalt and soil beneath the road completely gave way,” said the Rev. Peter Norland, pastor of the Portage Lake United Presbyterian Church. “There were some small landslides sending rocks all over the road. The landslide resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy.” Norland says a few church members were displaced by the flooding. “Other people saw flooding in their basements,” he said. “One of our members lives in an old … [Read more...]
Faith leaders speak out against Supreme Court decision on travel ban
LOUISVILLE (PNS) — Calling it a “stain on our country’s moral conscience,” faith leaders are speaking out on the Supreme Court decision upholding President Donald Trump’s travel limit into the U.S from several countries. The ruling restricts entry for travelers coming from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea as well as some travelers from Venezuela. Shoulder to Shoulder, a coalition of 34 religious denominations and organizations, issued a news release following the ruling. “Targeting people based on their faith is not in keeping with the American ideals that we as American faith communities seek to uphold and advance,” it stated. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is among the faith groups issuing the joint release. The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the church’s Office of Public Witness, called the decision discouraging. “We are a nation of immigrants which claims values that call us to welcome the immigrant, refugee and alien fleeing persecution and praying for … [Read more...]
YAAD collection at GA goes to three good causes
ST. LOUIS – Young Adult Advisory Delegates put their money where their hearts were during Saturday’s closing plenary, directing a $1,605 special offering they collected toward causes important to the General Assembly’s co-moderators and stated clerk. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance received $535 for Puerto Rico hurricane relief to honor Co-Moderator Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri. PDA’s refugee support efforts received the same amount in the name of the other co-moderator, the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann. The remainder honored Stated Clerk the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson and one of his favorite movements, the Poor People’s Campaign. Kohlmann, moderating at the time of the presentation, teared up for a moment before helping the Assembly conclude its business before closing worship. That business included voting on the new slate of A Corporation members. The class of 2020 will be Julie L. Cox, Presbytery of New Harmony; Bridget-Anne Hampden, Presbytery of Charlotte; Thomas McNeill, … [Read more...]
Regarding ruling elders: Leadership in the church
Leaders Seeking God’s Will Leadership implies movement and change. People who have no desire to go anywhere usually do not need a leader; they will be most happy with someone who functions as a guardian or custodian. Leaders, on the other hand, are heading for a destination and want to take others with them. They see things that could be and are drawn to put their energies into galvanizing others in order to make those visions realities. The main task of a spiritual leader in the church is to lead others to seek and do God’s will. Sometimes people take up this role of leadership eagerly. Others become spiritual leaders only with reluctance. Moses is perhaps the most famous example of a reluctant spiritual leader. He was not looking for a new occupation when he met God at the burning bush. He argued with God about his credentials and his competence for the job. Like Moses, some officers may feel unworthy and unqualified for their call. When we feel this way, it is empowering to know … [Read more...]
Stated Clerk issues statement on separated immigrant families
ST. LOUIS (OGA) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Stated Clerk the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, II, issued a statement from the denomination’s 223rd General Assembly condemning the Trump administration’s new policy of separating young children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. “What has this nation become?” Nelson queried. “How have we wandered so far from Jesus’ kind admonition, “‘Let the little children come to me…’” He also criticized the Justice Department’s stated use of separate detention of parents and their children as a “deterrant” to immigration and accused the administration of selective use of scripture, saying the citing of Romans 13:1 to obey the law (presumably whatever the law says), while ignoring the higher scriptural demand that “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10) is a blatant misuse of the biblical message. The full text of Nelson’s statement, dated June 16, 2018: As Presbyterians gather for the meeting of our 223rd … [Read more...]
New online statistical resource launched by Presbyterian researchers
The new Church Trends website offers far-reaching statistical data about the PC(USA) and its congregations, presbyteries and synods. LOUISVILLE (PNS) – Church Trends, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s new online statistical resource, has bolstered the denomination’s ability to provide Presbyterians accessible, useful and timely information about their church, according to the research tool’s developer. “The church has provided this data to us, and we wanted to give it back to the church in a format that is useful for Presbyterians,” said Susan Barnett, interim coordinator of the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Research Services office. Church Trends replaces two previous online resource called “Ten-Year Trends” and “Comparative Statistics.” The goal of Church Trends, she said, is to provide answers to questions Presbyterians frequently pose. Barnett has kept a notebook next to her telephone for the past four years sand has recorded the questions Presbyterians have asked her. … [Read more...]
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