70 Years Ago — September 13, 1948 The World Council of Churches met for the first time in August 1948. “For ten years, during which the war intervened, the Provisional Committee has been working in preparation for this organizational meeting. It wrought wonders in service and the maintenance of inter-church relationships during the war and in concerting a prodigious amount of preparatory study by church leaders over the world. But at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 23, 1948, when 1,450 representatives of 151 churches from 42 nations voted with spontaneous unanimity and thunderous applause to constitute the World Council, the committee’s labors were crowned and the prayers of thousands answered.” They understood the difficulties “arising from differing points of view among the constituent churches and … that an ecumenical organization is only a means and not an end. Yet the atmosphere of hope and determination now prevailing in Amsterdam … bespeak a will to unity which can surmount all … [Read more...]

60 years ago — August 4, 1958 Toyohiko Kagawa, noted Japanese Christian leader, is waging a vigorous struggle to keep Japan from revising its constitution so as to permit its rearmament … . Dr. Kagawa … has spent much of the past three years working to elect members of the Japanese diet (parliament) who would vote to preserve the article in the Japanese constitution that declares: “The Japanese people forever renounce war, and the use of threat of force in settling international disputes. To this end, arms will never be maintained.” … Dr. Kagawa believes that if the peace article can be kept long enough in Japan’s constitution, it will lead to a world constitution with a similar provision … . International government and international economic cooperatives are advocated by Dr. Kagawa as necessary for world peace. He has taken a leading part in arranging congresses for a federal-type of world government held in Japan in 1952, 1954 and 1957. From the article, “Kagawa seeks to … [Read more...]

50 years ago — August 5, 1968 “We heard the cry of those who long for peace; of the hungry and exploited who demand bread and justice; of the victims of discrimination who claim human dignity; and the increasing millions who seek for the meaning of life.” We hear God say, “I go before you. … Anticipate my Kingdom in joyful worship and daring acts. The Lord says, ‘I make all things new.’” All people “have become neighbors to one another. Torn by our diversities and tensions, we do not yet know how to live together. But God makes new. Christ wants his church to foreshadow a renewed human community. Therefore, we Christians will manifest our unity in Christ by entering into full fellowship with those of other races, classes, age, religious and political convictions, in the place where we live. Especially we shall seek to overcome racism wherever it appears.” From “The message from Uppsala,” an excerpt from the closing statement of the Fourth Assembly of the World Council of … [Read more...]

40 years ago — June 26, 1978 With the United Presbyterians having held the national headlines on the issue of homosexuality in their recent San Diego General Assembly, there was some interest in what Presbyterians, U.S., might do about the same question. True, there was no major report coming before the Shreveport meeting to force a position, but there were eleven overtures from as many presbyteries, seeking some kind of clear statement. It was apparent that it could not be avoided. The issue appeared on Thursday afternoon with the report on Justice and Human Development … . The standing committee proposed that the overtures, with their varied topics, be answered by referring them to the Council on Theology and Culture which has been working on a report on this subject for submission to the 1979 Assembly. Second, it called for a reaffirmation of the 1977 statement: “That the 117th General Assembly express love and pastoral concern for homosexual persons and the need for the church … [Read more...]

30 years ago — June 1988 Thirty years ago, the 200th General Assembly met in St. Louis. The June issues of the Outlook were full of the news of the time. The National Black Presbyterian Caucus announced the presentation of the Edlar G. Hawkins Award for “extraordinary service in helping to achieve full and equal participation by black Presbyterians” to four people: H. Eugene Fairlough, pastor of Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond, California; Robert Coleman, Synod of the Trinity; Jesse C. Swanigan, consultant for McDonell-Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis; and Otis Turner of the denomination’s racial/ethnic ministry unit. The Outlook announced a new editor, Robert Bullock Jr., pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Allen, Texas, to replace retiring editor George Hunt (honored by the assembly for his service to the church). The assembly elected C. Kenneth Hall, pastor of Hill United Presbyterian Church in Butler, Pennsylvania, as moderator and re-elected James E. Andrews for … [Read more...]

20 years ago — April 27, 1998 “She was remembered by her students as a teacher ‘who always looked out for us.’ At around 12:42 p.m. on March 24, Shannon Wright of Jonesboro, Arkansas, threw herself in front of 12-year-old Emma Pittman to shield the young girl’s body from a sniper’s bullet.” Two male students, a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old lay in ambush for students and teachers at Westside Middle School after luring them into the schoolyard with a phony fire alarm. In the aftermath of the carnage, a news commentator asked Americans to wake up to the “fact that we live in a culture that glorifies violence.” A great deal of that violence is directed to females. “Of the five dead and 10 wounded, all but one were female. … Rachel weeps for her children (see Matthew 2:18). In schoolyards in Jonesboro, Arkansas; Paducah, Kentucky; Pearl, Mississippi – 11 bloodstained playgrounds since 1993 – Rachel weeps for the young boys who have turned their rage into revenge.” She weeps for her … [Read more...]