Nairobi, Kenya (ENI) As the smoke dies out at the bombed United Nations headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, faith leaders are seeking urgent government action to end a recurrent and bloody cycle of religious violence in Africa's most populous nation.
On Aug. 25-26, about 1,900 people came to Minneapolis to learn more about what the Fellowship of Presbyterians is proposing, and to help sort through their own decisions about whether to stay in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or to leave.
Those attending included pastors and elders, as well as some presbytery and synod executives and national leaders of the denomination. While no details were released on demographic factors such as age, race, and gender, the crowd included people from all 50 states and 3 countries beyond the U.S., and appeared to be predominantly white and male. The list of speakers was somewhat more diverse.
This was a meeting primarily for discussion of ideas – not for voting on a particular course of action. Here are some of the highlights:
MINNEAPOLIS – Hearty applause greeted biblical scholar Ken Bailey when he was introduced at morning worship at the Fellowship of Presbyterians meeting Aug. 26. 
Bailey recently completed decades of study by publishing his new book, “Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in I Corinthians."
His teaching, writing and biblical interpretation have nurtured many Presbyterians. And his message to participants at this gathering – some of whom are angry with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – dealt with reprocessing anger into grace.
Bailey pulled together lessons from a number of scriptural passages – stories of fathers and those in power turning aside from an angry response, and instead showing grace. He said he has tried for years to come up with a theological formula – one as significant as Einstein’s E = mc2 has been for scientists. The closest he has come has been to see the grace of God in Christ as a costly demonstration of God’s love.
Many Americans are angry these days, Bailey said – angry at job losses and a sluggish economy, at political gridlock, at a decade of war and its fallout. Presbyterians, he said, are angry at a “diminished sense of belonging in our own spiritual home.”
MINNEAPOLIS – When Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, was asked to speak at the Fellowship of Presbyterians’ big gathering in Minneapolis, organizers asked him not to say what he personally thinks Presbyterians ought to do in response to the latest crisis.
Mouw is well aware that many congregations and individuals are considering leaving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), part of the fallout from the denomination’s recent decision to lift the categorical prohibition against the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians.
So Mouw spoke instead during evening worship Aug. 25 about what Presbyterians should hold in their hearts and minds as they consider their options – and in doing so, he issued a call to theological orthodoxy, expanded ecumenism, a renewed commitment to the ordination of women and increased efforts to care for the world. He challenged evangelicals now in the PC(USA) to learn from those both more conservative and more liberal than themselves.
And he exhorted them to stand firm in their conviction regarding the unique, atoning work of Jesus Christ as the only Savior. “If you dilute lost,” Mouw said, “you will inevitably dilute saved.”
MINNEAPOLIS – Leaders of the Fellowship of Presbyterians began to add details to their proposal for creating a new Reformed body – which they describe as more a movement than a denomination, saying it would be built around a common theological core.
LOUISVILLE (PNS) Responding to the decision by the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico's (INPM) to sever ties with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the PC(USA)’s World Mission ministry area has released the following statement:
LOUISVILLE, KY (PNS) More than 100 Protestant leaders from 12
countries in Latin America, representing diverse denominations and
ministries, have written an open letter expressing their concern over the
economic crisis in the United States and the decisions being made by the
U.S. Congress to deal with it.
New York (ENI) An unusual magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck in central Virginia on the afternoon of Aug. 23 significantly damaged the central tower of Washington National Cathedral in the U.S. capital, about 84 miles northeast of the epicenter.
Vatican City (ENI) Pope Benedict XVI lamented the "superficiality, consumerism and hedonism" of contemporary society while offering a message of Christian hope to young Catholic pilgrims gathered in Madrid on Aug. 18.
Blog post by William R. PhillippeWhen you are 80 you have a bit of trouble looking far ahead, but you have a..
Nairobi, Kenya (ENI) The Dadaab refugee complex in northern Kenya, where several Christian relief agencies are delivering humanitarian aid to Somali migrants fleeing drought, war and disease, has become Kenya's third-largest "city."
WASHINGTON (ENI/RNS) O ften accused of ignoring religion as they craft foreign policy, the White House and State Department are trying to show that religion is a rising priority for U.S. diplomacy.
The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (known as INPM) has voted to end its 139-year partnership in mission with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in response to the PC(USA)’s decision earlier this year to allow the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians.
Let’s all take a deep breath. In the run-up to our time in Minneapolis, we must ask ourselves what has changed and what has remained the same.
What has changed is that a majority of PCUSA presbyteries have voted to remove the requirement from our Book of Order that all ministers, elders and deacons practice fidelity if they are married and chastity if they are single. The substitute language that is now part of our constitution calls upon leaders “to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.”
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (PNS) As anyone who’s ever been to a church potluck knows, food that looks good can taste terrible. The same can be said for our lives, said Kim Hammond, speaking Aug. 11 at the New Church Development Conference here.
Six newly appointed Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission workers, along with another mission worker who is assuming a new role, attended orientation last month in preparation for their assignments.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (PNS) Although the term tentmaking — serving as a minister while earning a living in another field — is often only applied to church leaders, all Christians should be tentmakers, said the Rev. Dan Kimball, speaking at the Engage Conference for new church development leaders here Aug. 10.
LOUISVILLE (PNS) Sixty-eight young people will gather at Stony Point Conference Center later this month for orientation as Young Adult Volunteers (YAVs) for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
BAJA CALIFORNIA, Mexico (Special to PNS) Twenty years ago, the ideal candidate for a church-planting pastor in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was a 34-year-old married male with two or more kids, a dog and a mortgage. He was a charismatic leader who could draw people to himself, according to research done at the time.
Written by Jack Haberer, Outlook editor
Friday, 12 August 2011 14:55
The Minneapolis gathering of nearly 2,000 Presbyterians on August 25 and 26 looks to be a potentially historic event, perhaps the beginning of yet another denominational division to rock the Presbyterian world. Yet leaders of what formerly called itself “Fellowship PC(USA)” and now is using the name the “Fellowship of Presbyterians” are acknowledging that unity among its own supporters will be tested, given that the participants come to Minneapolis with a diverse set of expectations of what they hope will result.
They are coming to Minneapolis like stars flooding the night sky.
JOPLIN, Mo. (General Assembly Mission Council) The scores of spring
tornadoes that swept through Eastern and Midwestern states this year left
widespread devastation, nowhere worse than in Joplin, Mo.
Louisville, Ky. (Office of the General Assembly) I am now a little more than halfway through my term as Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). What have I learned over this past year?
London (ENI) Many faith communities in England are working
together on the front line this week after days of rioting in which
hooded youths ransacked hundreds of businesses and shops in many parts of
London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Nottingham and smaller towns.
Nairobi, Kenya (ENI)- As Christians in South Sudan mark one
month after independence, churches in the Muslim North are facing pressure
from government officials and members of the public who are demanding their
closure.
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