LOUISVILLE (PNS) — Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries (RE&WM) of the Presbyterian Mission Agency has a new name. The ministry area is now Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries (RE&WIM). The change in language was approved by the 223rd General Assembly (2018) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which agreed to no longer use the term “racial ethnic people.” Rather, the Assembly adopted the terms “people of color,” “communities of color,” “congregations of color” “leaders of color” as more appropriate. The assembly also approved the name change of one of the advocacy committees. The Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns (ACREC) will now be referred to as the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee (REAC). The rationale presented in support of the General Assembly action noted, “Being able to self-name and self-identify is important and empowering for people of color. And, it is always appropriate to ask individuals how they prefer to identify. Also, … [Read more...]

HAVANA, Cuba (OGA) When the psychological help “hotline” was started at Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada de la Habana (First Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Havana in 1995, there were virtually no telephones in Cuba, “so we had to adapt,” says Martha Rodriguez, one of two psychologists who run the unique counseling service today. The psychological counseling service—the first “hotline” service of its kind in Cuba—was inspired by the Reverend Dr. Héctor Méndez, longtime pastor of First Presbyterian Church who recently retired. Based on similar hotline services in the U.S., First Church’s service now draws callers from all over the island in addition to walk-in clients here in the nation’s capital. All services are free. Not allowed by the Cuban government to advertise, word of the hotline service spreads entirely by word-of-mouth. Since its founding twenty-three years ago, the hotline has served nearly 10,000 Cubans. “We hear three main complaints,” says Myriam Álvarez, … [Read more...]

(PNS) The wildfires raging in parts of California are being described by some state officials as among the most destructive in the state’s history.  More than 100,000 acres have been charred by the flames, including over 1,300 structures, mostly homes. At least six people are known to have died and nearly 20 were reported missing since the fires broke out. Firefighters have been working around the clock to try and contain the separate blazes but are being hampered by hot, dry and windy conditions. The Presbyteries of the Redwoods, Sacramento, Stockton and San Joaquin are dealing with the brunt of the fires. “Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been in touch with the four presbyteries impacted by the recent fires that have destroyed buildings, homes and disrupted the air quality,” said the Rev. Dr. Jim Kirk, PDA’s associate for national disaster response. “We will continue to be in touch with presbytery leadership and monitor their needs for as long as … [Read more...]

For the first time ever, representatives from the five “ages and stages” ministry associations that work in Christian formation were in the same room, at the same time, with the same goal: to figure out how they might more collaboratively work together with the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA). Ministries represented were: Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) Presbyterian Youth Workers Association (PYWA) UKirk Network–PC(USA) Collegiate Ministries (UKirk) Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association (PCCCA) Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network (POAMN) Each group was invited to send representatives to Stony Point Center recently for a two-day gathering organized by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Christian formation team, which is led by the Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos. “We’re all working on various ages and stages of formation,” said Santos. “My question for all us was, ‘Why aren’t we doing more of it together?’” Aware that … [Read more...]