President Obama designates historic civil rights sites including black churches

(RNS) In one of his last official acts, President Obama has designated Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and other civil rights landmarks in..

Presbyterian News Service

PC(USA) signs on to climate and justice letter to President-elect Trump

LOUISVILLE (PNS) – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), via its Office of Public Witness, has joined 30 other faith communities endorsing a letter to President-elect..

News from other sources

Unity prayers to recall Reformation, celebrate reconciliation

(WCC) The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated worldwide from 18-25 January, will be hosted this year by the Council of..

Presbyterian News Service

Fort Worth Presbyterian church vandalized

(PNS) In an apparent random act of violence, the education wing of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas was extensively vandalized last..

Presbyterian News Service

MLK Weekend: A Call to Action

In August of 2015, Montreat Conference Center hosted Dr. King’s Unfinished Agenda, a three-day conference commemorating the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s address to..

Voices

A better way? An idea for a new way for small churches to call pastors

Guest commentary by Proctor Chambless Having served in small churches and on Committees on Ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for a..

Book Reviews

C.S. Lewis’s “Mere Christianity”: A Biography

George M. Marsden Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J. 280 pages Reviewed by Michael Parker The “Lives of Great Religious Books” series..

Looking into the lectionary

2nd Sunday after Epiphany – January 15, 2016

John 1:29-42 Is John as surprised as everyone else that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of God? It would..

Outlook Reporting

Renouncing jurisdiction: Two proposed amendments go to presbyteries for vote

Presbyteries are being asked to vote on a sensitive polity question involving teaching elders who renounce the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian..

Religion News Service

McDonald’s next to Vatican to offer free meals to the homeless

VATICAN CITY (RNS) A McDonald’s opening in the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica is to offer free meals to the homeless in..

Religion News Service

Israel’s High Court orders Western Wall rabbi to explain why women can’t pray

JERUSALEM (RNS) Israel’s High Court has ordered the government and the rabbinic administration of the Western Wall to respond by Feb. 1..

Book Reviews

Aging Matters: Finding Your Calling for the Rest of Your Life

R. Paul Stevens Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Mich. 160 pages Reviewed by Ted Wright R. Paul Stevens is a grandfather, pastor, tradesman and..

Outlook Features

Purpose in practices: Spiritual landscapes of older adults

We are always searching for answers about the meaning and purpose of our lives, and we seek to express those answers in..

Presbyterian News Service

Amanda Craft named manager for advocacy in the Office of Immigration Issues

(PNS) Amanda Craft, a global mission professional in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has been named manager for advocacy in the Office of..

Presbyterian News Service

PC(USA) pastor receives high honors from Korean government

(PNS) For the past seven years, the Rev. Byeongho Choi, pastor of the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia, has served as the board..

Presbyterian News Service

Presbyterian churches near Fort Lauderdale offer pastoral support following airport shootings

(PNS) Presbyterian churches located within a few miles of the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport are still trying to wrap their minds..

Religion News Service

The Obama presidency: ‘War on religion’ or ‘Amazing Grace’?

WASHINGTON (RNS) He had done it before, after Tucson, Aurora, Fort Hood and Sandy Hook: taken on the mantle of the pastor-in-chief before..

Presbyterian News Service

Real life ‘Hidden Figures’ mathematician is longtime Presbyterian

LOUISVILLE (PNS) – “Hidden Figures”—the movie about a group of brilliant female African-American mathematicians that aided NASA during the space race—took the second spot at..

Voices

“Mission outposts” in Lebanon and Syria

This fall I took a 2-week trip to Lebanon and Syria. One fact I learned on that trip is that a congregation..

Presbyterian News Service

Way Forward Commission establishes process to encourage engagement

The General Assembly Way Forward Commission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has released its process for receiving initial communications and suggestions from any interested..

Religion News Service

Gay couple will pastor historic Baptist church in Washington

WASHINGTON (RNS) Calvary Baptist Church, a progressive Baptist landmark in the heart of downtown Washington, has named a gay couple as co-pastors. Sally..

Presbyterian News Service

Presbyterian Panel study shows Presbyterians agree on the centrality of Christ for salvation

LOUISVILLE(PNS) – In a recent denominational survey, nearly three-quarters of Presbyterians said that “Jesus Christ is the only Savior and Lord,” a finding..