Singapore (ENI) Churches in Malaysia have been full of worshipers despite attacks against Christian places of worship in recent months in a dispute about the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslim minorities.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican office responsible for health care matters has acknowledged that it stopped work on a long-expected study of condoms and AIDS and that “nothing serious” was done on the project.
The General Assembly Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage has approved its final report — ending its journey with civility and mutual respect, but also with the clear possibility of a minority report.
This crowd needed to hear only one thing to fall in love all over again with singer-songwriter Amy Grant, and it wasn’t a particular song she might sing.
Jann Treadwell’s background might not be typical of church educators. She didn’t go to Sunday school or Vacation Bible School. She went to only one youth group meeting. And she didn’t major in education in college.
A formal challenge has been filed to the decision of John Knox Presbytery to ordain Scott D. Anderson, a gay man who has lived in a committed partnership for close to 20 years.
Three members of the General Assembly Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Unions and Christian Marriage have written a minority report making it clear their view that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should not support committed same-gender partnerships.
The General Assembly Middle East study group, whose work already has drawn scrutiny and some controversy, is releasing its final report in three sections, from March 5-10.
LOUISVILLE — Leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have offered a prayerful statement in the wake of the earthquake that struck Chile Feb. 27. The statement is also available in Spanish.
At a specially called meeting March 2-3, the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church released fourteen members of the Board of Trustees of Erskine College and its related institution, Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, S.C.
Beit Sahour, West Bank (ENI) Palestinian activists say they will continue protests against an apparent re-occupation of an abandoned Israeli army outpost on the outskirts of Beit Sahour near Bethlehem, despite being repelled by the Israel Defense Forces.
TORONTO (ENI) — Canadian Jewish groups have been among the first to applaud the laying of hate-crime charges against two men accused of using racial epithets, and burning a cross at the home of an interracial couple in the country's Nova Scotia province.
LOUISVILLE — Four years ago, the General Assembly Mission Council had just undergone a major downsizing and budget reduction — 75 layoffs and $9 million worth. The staff structure at the Presbyterian Center had been dismantled and the entire senior GAMC staff saw their positions eliminated.
LOUISVILLE — The General Assembly Mission Council voted 24-9 on Feb. 26 to approve a recommendation that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denounce Caterpillar Inc. for continuing to profit from “non-peaceful” use of its bulldozers and other equipment in Israel.
Update: The General Assembly Mission Council voted 24-9 on Feb. 26 to approve the recommendation from the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Commitee that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denounce Caterpillar, Inc., for continuing to profit from “non-peaceful” use of its bulldozers and other equipment in Israel-Palestine.
MELBOURNE (ENI) — A group of "traditional Anglicans" in Australia has voted to accept the recent invitation of Pope Benedict XIV to convert to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, whilst retaining their membership of the Anglican Church.
LOUISVILLE – The exact state of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) budget troubles won’t be known for a few months — the General Assembly Mission Council is expected to approve the budget for 2011 and 2012 in May.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the eve of the Bi-Partisan Health Care Summit in Washington, D.C., the faith community is delivering a letter from thousands of people of faith, national and local organizations, and prominent national leaders to the Obama administration and Congress urging them to “complete the task at hand on behalf of the millions who are left out and left behind in our current health care system.”
LOUISVILLE – Once again, relations between the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and American Jewish leaders have hit a rough spot – with criticism emerging of a not-yet-finished report on the Middle East that’s headed to next summer’s General Assembly.
When it comes to wrestling with hot button issues, Presbyterians also wrestle the theological issues underlying them. Nowhere is that more true than when looking at conflicts in the Middle East. Religion and politics weave intricate and clashing patterns in the homeland of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
LOUISVILLE – Recognizing that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in a time of real change — and that some of its traditional approaches are not working well — the General Assembly in 2010 will be asked to consider some new ways of doing business.
NAIROBI (ENI) — Church leaders in Kenya have warned that a dispute between the country's president and prime minister, who are in a government of national unity, could destabilize the east African country, and should be resolved urgently.
(ENI) — An Islamic group is recommending that Muslims avoid the new full-body scanners at airports, and opt for body frisk searches instead because the new technology violates religious teachings.
