30 years ago — July 16-30, 1990 Religious “leaders from the United States gathered in the chapel of Riverside Church in New York City to greet and to be greeted by Nelson Mandela.” Sponsored by the National Council of Churches, this gathering brought together Christians from across the denominational spectrum as well as Jewish and other faith leaders. In Mandela’s address, he thanked U.S. religious communities for their support against apartheid in South Africa. After his address they proceeded to the sanctuary for worship. “The air was festive as four choirs and African drummers led the gathering in joyous praise. … Soloist Patricia Ann Barnes moved many to tears with her strong and soulful rendition of ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ and Gardner Taylor, renowned preacher and pastor, … brought the crowd to its feet with his humorous and passionate introduction of Mandela. ... Using familiar words from the prophet Isaiah, Mandela expressed the hope of his people saying: ‘We have … [Read more...]

10 years ago — June 28, 2010 “One of 18 General Assembly committees will spend hour after hour in July debating, yet again, whether the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should keep the requirement that those being ordained practice fidelity if they are married and chastity if they are single. … The 30-year conversation will continue. It will be this way because the PC(USA) is, along with other mainline denominations, locked in a struggle that reflects both theological teachings and changing views in the secular culture over homosexuality. In some ways, the debate seems to have gone on forever — renewing the arguments, year after year, arguments that for some cut to the heart of what they believe about scriptural authority and what the Bible teaches about inclusiveness and God’s love for all.” Lutherans, Episcopalians and Methodists have all been wrestling with the same issues about ordination of gays and lesbians and same-sex marriage. There will be 15 overtures on this topic coming … [Read more...]

80 years ago — June 5, 1940 As the United States heard the devastating news of European country after country falling to Nazi Germany, the Outlook brought voice to the words of a dissenting group of German Christians. “The German Confessional Church, composed of evangelicals who oppose Nazi domination of the church sent out an Easter message … ‘Wartime is a time of heavy responsibilities. … The preacher must seek to avoid misunderstandings. It must be clear that [the person] is proclaiming the gospel and not human opinions and judgements. It must be clear that [the preacher] is standing with burning heart in the power of the love of Jesus helping to bear its burdens and fight its fight. … The power for such genuine spiritual discipline can only come from prayer. May we ministers of the Word in this time be found to be true [people] of prayer, who make intercession … for all who hold authority in the German nation. May Christ grant us all the spirit of true intercessory … [Read more...]

70 years ago — May 22, 1950 In 1866, David Livingstone returned to Great Britain after years as a mission worker in Africa. He went to Glasgow to receive a doctorate. Livingstone stood before students as they “looked upon his tall wasted figure; upon his arm, mutilated by the attack of the lion and hanging useless by his side; upon his face, furrowed deep with marching and fever.” He told them of his years in Africa of “hardship and home sickness, and then he said, ‘Do you know what made me strong to face and endure and love it all? It was the constant presence of him who said, ‘I am with you always.’” The days in Africa “had been to him days of heaven upon earth, because of the unseen presence that marched beside him. Days of heaven do not depend upon golden streets and jasper walls. … The soul who is living close to him need not wait till death to taste the bliss of the redeemed. Here upon this earth, walking these common streets, doing day by day our weary tasks, we may stand in … [Read more...]

60 years ago — April 25, 1960 “Presbyterian students in Alabama have a feeling that they have been encouraged to bear courageous Christian witness and have failed to get needed support from some of their leaders. They are saying this in view of cancellation of a scheduled meeting on the campus of Stillman College.” Stillman is a historically black Presbyterian-related college in Tuscaloosa. These students planned an interracial meeting on the campus of the University of Alabama, but were refused and moved it to Stillman College.  “The Alabama Westminster Fellowship has been holding integrated meetings for several years. The 1959 meeting of the Synod of Alabama was featured by an attack upon phases of this program and the Synod rejected critics.” Despite threats and warnings from the Ku Klux Klan and White Citizens Council, the planned meeting at Stillman had not been deterred. As pressure mounted to the synod’s committee, they ultimately gave in and canceled the interracial meeting. … [Read more...]